Drug Ratings for DEPAKOTEAverage Rating: 3.1 (487 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 4 | Bipolar 2 | Astoundingly, none! Maybe a little tiredness in the afternoon but nothing to speak of... | After 5 days, no effect. The sixth day the effects kicked in: first time in a year and a half I didn't wake up with horrible suicidal thoughts. Much more stabilized mood in the daytime, much less physical/mental agitation, more concentration, more calm at bedtime, much less racing thoughts/projects, I now can wait my turn in a bank without feeling I'm going to explode like before. I just can't believe a stupid pill did all this! I am currently at 750 mg. I have suffered SO much for SO many years (ruined my career MANY times, lost over 50 000 $ in Forex bidding over a few months, hang around in the red light district in Montreal chasing prostitutes 18 hours a day for 5 years like a sex maniac, etc. etc.). WHY NO DOCTOR TALK ME INTO TAKING THIS PILL BEFORE! All those lost years, almost a whole life fucked up... Is this a miracle pill? No: to soon to tell. But if this last for the months coming, I'll rate it 6. | M | 55 | 9 days | 5/12/2007 | 4 | Bipolar 2 | Slight weight gain. Made my hair curl | Great mood stabiliser | F | 52 | 3 years | 5/11/2007 | 4 | Daily Migraines | Weight gain!!! Sleepiness, even-calm moods | It has worked wonders for my migraines. One 250mg ER at night and I'm set- way better than Topamax for me. HOWEVER, the weight I've put on in the past two months is amazing and ever so hard to fix. The calming mood feeling is nice, not too inabling, and it is definitly harder to wake up. | F | 22 | 3 months | 5/7/2007 | 4 | Migraines | Rapid Weight Gain (30lbs in 2 months), Always Hungry , Hand tremors tend to go unnoticed. Legs fall asleep easily. It's even harder to get out of bed in the morning but no fatigue otherwise. | 1500mg/day - This Medicine worked wonderfully. One week into starting this medicine my migraines were gone (coming from 5-6 migraines a week this was a huge step). I've felt them coming before, but they never arrive. Unfortunately, I've traded that pain for 30 pounds of unhappiness... Strict diets and exercise only slows the weight gain and fighting the hunger urges make me miserable. | M | 22 | 2.5 months | 5/5/2007 | 5 | Major Depression (Poss. Bipolar II | Appetite/weight gain and significant hand tremor (the latter may also be related to the Imipramine I take with it). Note that my dosage is a relatively high 1500 mg./day. | Addition of Depakote to my antidepressant has given me the most consistent relief from severe depressive episodes I've had in years. | M | 50 | 2 years | 5/4/2007 | 3 | mixed state bipolar/add | Rapid and significant weight gain, carb cravings, mood flatness, some loss of libido, change in hair texture as well as hair loss. I can't tell if it has made my hair curlier, but it is definately finer and more prone to breakage. Depakote ER is at 1500 mg and Seroquell at 400 mg. Xanax 2-3 time per day. Adderall at 40 mg. Temazepam at 15 mg. | I have tried, from what I can remember, at least abilify, geodon, lamictal, topamax, seroquel, xanax, lexapro, adderall, temazepam, effexor, and zoloft. After my most recent episode, depakote and seroquell seemed to quiet the agitation and have leveled mood in general, xanax attended to the anxiety and temazepam lets me sleep. Often, when I don't have anything in particular to attend to, I feel flat. I paradoxically still have the occasional big jump or dump in mood, too. I am trying the South Beach to lose 50 lbs. I may try rogaine for my hair. I am going to ask my Dr. if I can reduce my dose of depakote. | F | 28 | 3 months | 5/4/2007 | 3 | Bipolar 1 | Wieght gain, 45lbs (uncontrollable). I excersise 6-7 times a week, 2-3 hours a day. Liver is still okay. No hair loss. Extreme fatigue. Did I mention fatigue?? Nap anyone? Also the hidden side effect: The way society treats the depressed. I thank everyone who gets the help they need! I have tried 10 different medications since I was 15 (and still no one knows what TRULY causes depression)? Ironic? | For those it works for, thank GOD! I will say this; it has helped my mood swings! Otherwise, I have taken Depakote ER 500MG since my cry for help when I was 21. This was not my choice, but by the Psychy who presented it to me (it can be intimidating going in there sometimes). By her recommendation, I quit my habits of drinking and marijuana for this medication. 5 years later I can honestly say I am happy I don't drink anymore, but I still feel like I forgot what it was like to TRULY feel normal (without medication)! I do love how it works for seizures, please don't get me wrong, but for depression? I believe there has to be more to it. Be strong everyone, you know how hard it is to be positive sometimes (especially in our society). PS-Marijuana should be prescribed for the depressed, for medicinal purposes (and I don't even smoke it)! | M | 26 | 5 years | 5/2/2007 | 5 | bipopar disorder and migraines | weight gain is the biggest one I notice | has cured me of migraines, I use to be on Lithium and had migraines for almost 10 years. However, weight gain has been hard to shed, hard to distinguish exact cause | F | 31 | 4 months | 5/1/2007 | 3 | Mood Disorder/Depression | Was great for a year or so on 500 ER and Effexor, and Remeron, went into terrible depression and anxiety,prescribed Lamictal with it, felt great, hair started falling out IN CLUMPS, just went off it a few weeks ago and onto Tegretol XR 200 increasing to 400, so far feel good. | VERY VERY UPET THAT I WAS LOSING SO MUCH HAIR BECAUSE IT MADE MY HAIR SO CURLY AND BEAUTIFUL FOR THE 1ST TIME IN MY LIFE. Didn't notice a wight gain different from any other med and have been on most for depression, mood disorder, and anxiety and panic disorder. | F | 43 | 1 years | 5/1/2007 | 1 | bipolar 1 disorder/mood instability | weight gain, constant tiredness, hair loss | I just want to warn young women that this drug has been known to cause Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; my best friend and I are two of those cases. Because of depakote,I will now have problems conceiving and have to make very unpleasant trips to the obgyn every month. I have been off the drug for 3 years and have just recently found this out. I saw no positive effects for the year I was on it, except for when I took it with effexor. | F | 19 | 1 years | 5/1/2007 | 5 | Mood/Slight EEG abormalities | I have not gained weight or lost any hair but I only take 750mg of the extended release. What I notice ometimes is that my mind is very calm but I feeling like moving around. Also, occasional slurred speech. | No cognitive impairment is big for me. I have taken Dilantin, Tegretol and Lamictal. Lamictal sucked, Tegretol gave me acne I never had before so that was bad. Dilantin was OK but Depakote ER is much better to me. I never took the regular version but I hear the side effects are worse with those. | M | 35 | 7 years | 4/30/2007 | 4 | dysphoric manic and anxiety | Mild nausea at 500mg/day which went away after about a week. Titrating to 750mg brought back the nausea (still mild), some morning lower back pain & intermitttant dark feelings so I went back to 500 mg/day. No weight gain, no hair loss. | I'm also taking 1.5 mg/day Xanax, down from 2.5mg/day before starting Depakote 7 weeks ago. So far I wouldn't call it a miracle drug but I do feel more in control, more confident, less anxious and generally better than I did before I started taking it. I'm still hoping for the "curly hair" side effect though LOL! | F | 56 | 7 weeks | 4/29/2007 | 5 | Myoclonic Jerks/Chorea | It always seemed like I was excited before taking this and worried about a sudden movement or non stop twitching. It really slows the abnormal electrical activity as evidenced by EEG's. Seem more focused, sometimes get angry. Hair is thick. Sometimes a tremor, lasts 10 or less minutes off and on. | I hve taken Dilantin, Tegretol, Lamictal, Topomax, Neurontin. All of them either created a rash, lower IQ, nervousness or erratic moods. Depakote has never done this, I guess what I mean is my cognitive ability seems as good or better than with nothing and I think it's awesome | M | 24 | 3 years | 4/28/2007 | 5 | Anxiety | Not much because it helped so much. Once in while maybe a slight tremor. Same weight as before. | Maybe I am just a lucky one who does not get anxiety as a side effect. This makes me confident and controlled beyond belief. I take it with Remeron to help me sleep. Greatest drug I have ever taken. Dosage 250mg 3x a day Extended Release. | M | 7 years | 4/28/2007 | 4 | Seizure Disorder | Tremors in hand. | Led to 6 months of no seizure activity, then seizures resumed but at a lower rate. | M | 38 | 7 months | 4/27/2007 | 4 | Bipolar 1 | Weight gain of about 3 lbs. per month leveling out at 20 lb. overall gain; lethargy; flat feeling(no joy, just on auto pilot); irritablity, increased anxiety, reduced cognative abiltiy (ha!). | Despite the side effects, Depakote has helped me quite a bit. I have had allergic reactions (rash) to Lamacit and Tegratol. Topamax gave me vision problems. My body will at least tollerate Depakote. | F | 41 | 4 years | 4/25/2007 | 5 | Bipolar | Slight weight gain managed by diet and excercise. Constant lower back pain. Some hair loss. | I have never been this alive in my entire life. The side effects suck but i'm willing to worth around them/with them because this drug works for me and i've tried many others over the past 10 years. This medication isn't just one that "makes" you not sad by numbing you to the world, it helps to get you to a place where you can make yourself happy. There is a difference! | F | 21 | 2 months | 4/23/2007 | 4 | bipolar manic depression | Glad to finally know why my hair is so curly! Fatigue, indigestion, vivid dreams & weight gain. | My dose has been between 1500 and 2000 mg; seems a lot for a 125 lb female but the increase along with the 120 mg of Cymbalta for depression has given me a sense of "normalcy" again. | F | 38 | 18 months | 4/22/2007 | 2 | Bipolar | This drug does its job INCREDIBLY BUT HAS SIDE EFFECTS: WEIGHT GAIN:( Tremors. | When I was diagnosed in 2000 and was put on this medication, I weighed a healthy 145 lbs. By July 2001, I weighed 220 lbs. Ive been working out for over 10 years but the side effects are a hinderence despite the success of the drug. I tried Topamax with a doctors word in September 2003 and by December 2005 I was 165 lbs and still stable in mind and healthy. However, when you take these meds - you must get ample sleep. Because of my previous job - I wasnt getting a lot of sleep and started taking Hydroxycut because I started gaining wt because of my wacked out schedule/different hrs in the day eating my meals. I should have read the label twice because this caused myself a one week breakdown. Taking hydroxycut with antidepressants is fatal. I ended up having to increase all of my meds dosages. And the side effect was wt gain. I went from 170lbs in Jan 2006 to 197 lbs now in April. I am healthy mentally. But inside Im unhappy of what I see because Im athletic and a workout enthusiast and | M | 28 | 7 days | 4/22/2007 | 3 | Bipolar | Daily Migranes, Insomnia.. I'm taking lunesta &/or unisom & I still can't sleep some nights, I sleep 10+ hrs & am still fatigued, Verrry unusual dreams, My eye has been twitching the past 3days, Suddenly I got dandruff? My fingers & toes go numb sometimes, I had severe lower back pain 1 day so far, I noticed I can be forgetful at work, Deffinetly increased appetite which will lead to weight gain if it hasn't already. | My doc. prescribed me to zoloft & geodon, I had SEVERE side effects from the geodon to the point I stopped taking it on my own & just the zoloft but apparently the zoloft was making me extremely manic where I didn't sleep for 2-3 days at a time. She then switched me onto the depakote 250mg 2x a day since then I'd say my moods are pretty stable I have to go back & see her soon, she wants weekly-monthly blood tests done now? I'm not looking forward to that.. With reading everyones hair loss & EXTREME weight gain comments.. I'm not so sure if I want to stay on this anymore though :( I was also informed if I stopped taking this medication on my own like the geodon it was likely I could have seizures since this is a seizure medication also.. epp! | F | 22 | 3 weeks | 4/21/2007 | 3 | biplolar | Weight gain (just watch what you eat more-or workout if possible, this will actually aid in you becoming muscular, b/c you intake a lot of calories), hair has more curl to it. | Feel tired in the morning due to taking a dose @ night and also morning. Get blood work done to ensure you are @ the proper level and this should be a little bit better. Overall Depakote is good though, I had 2 manic episodes; got on meds after the first one, then I was taken off after improvement. 2nd episode was far worse: hallucinations, spending sprees, get rich quick ideas, very little sleep, unbelievable sex drive,et cetera. Since then moved up to Asst. Mgr. @ a 5-star well-known restuarant, working a campus job also dealing with my major, and now graduating from LSU in May. Anything is possible I feel better about the person that I am now. I would have most likely been dead if it was not for GOD and also family intervention. I am on Seroquel also, and I love being able to get a full night's rest on it- (knocks you out,drowsiness). | M | 25 | 10 months | 4/19/2007 | 5 | Bipolar I | Weight gain (40 pounds); very sleepy in the morning. I take one in the morning and one in the evening (500 mg). | This drug really helped me to stabilize. I lost my depression, and am feeling great! I don't like the side effects, and am trying to take an appetite suppresant to lose the weight. I'm going to go down to only 500 mg a day and I hope to continue the same feelings--creativity and no depression. | F | 41 | 6 months | 4/18/2007 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder/Manic | Weight gain, memory loss, slight swelling of feet and hands and decreased libido. | I was first put on this medicine after a severe breakdown. The difference is night and day. I am lost without this medication! I am now completely stable, manic phase has completely vanished and for the first time in my life I feel like a normal person. Thoughts are clear, emotions are controlled. I take this along with Klonopin for anxiety and Trazadone for sleep disorder. Depakote works with both medications and I feel it's a miracle drug. The side effects are well worth it. | F | 26 | 4 years | 4/17/2007 | 5 | Mood | They were all pretty mild. I take the ER version 750mg a day. I like the way it effects my mind. It calms everything down but my body still wants to move. I don't get confused and I sometimes tend to over analyze details which is OK. | It helps me greatly. | M | 35 | 7 years | 4/16/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | Significant weight gain (50 lbs in 1 yr, but weight has stabilized & have lost 5 lbs). Major hair loss; hair grew back in a short period of time and has better texture & appearance than before (made my hair curly). Excessively tired & some days feel like I'm moving in slow motion. Vivid dreams that can interfere with sleep. Mild tremors of arms/hands. | I take 1000mg Depakote ER at bedtime in combination with Neurontin 600mg for mood stabilization. Before starting these meds I had almost lost the ability to function. I was severely manic, pyschotic, delusional and I was extremely agitated and lashing out at everyone. Now my mood is stable. I am at peace and content. The side effects only seem like a minor inconvenience to me now. I feel like I live a different life now, like I'm a complete person. | F | 43 | 1 years | 4/16/2007 | 5 | benzo withdrawal, anxiety, mania? | none | After 10+ years of taking Xanax for panic attacks and anxiety I had become addicted. 2000mg of Depakote daily helped me go from 4mg Xanax a day to none in 6 weeks. I'm now taking a lower dose of Depakote alone and I feel better than I have in years. Maybe I was misdiagnosed? At any rate, I'm going to stick with Depakote | M | 30 | 4 months | 4/13/2007 | 4 | Bi-polar | At initial 750mg level curly hair. Had a breakdown (psychosis)a year ago and was upped to 2000mg. Within hours couldn't stop shaking, feeling sick, but had incredible appetite increase for sweet sugar and carbs. Wanted to sleep all the time for about a month. Eventually settled down. Yr on still on 2000mg (apparently I'm still manic) but I don't see it. Weight gain horrendous for me plus my hair is even more curly. Loss of libido, but that could just be the illness. | Have never had a bad word to say for evening out mood swings. Weight gain for me is a killer and I miss the mania's. Would definitely recommend. | F | 35 | 8 years | 4/13/2007 | 4 | bipolar disorder | No side effects after the first couple of weeks, but I did experience some nausea and clumsiness at first and it took about a month to start seeing any real change in my moods. I almost gave up on this drug but now I'm so glad I didn't! The bi-yearly blood tests are kind of a pain but that's a small price to pay for sanity. | Works very well at leveling off my moods. No weight gain, no hair loss, no more clumsiness. I'm no longer crazy-manic but my energy level is still high enough to work all day then dance the night away. I'd actually like to give a 4.5 rating; the only downside was those scary first month side effects. | F | 31 | 2 years | 4/12/2007 | 5 | mood swings | None now. While in search of right dosage, titrating too high made me unusually hungry but when I tapered back to 1000mg/day, my appetite returned to normal. I don't think I've gained any weight in the 5 years I've been taking this drug - my 2002 jeans still fit. | I love this stuff, it makes me feel "normal." I have enough energy to do what I want to do with no megamoodswings. | F | 41 | 5 years | 4/11/2007 | 5 | Bi-Polar II | So far none! | Love this drug! Yes, I have a mild bipolar issue, mostly depression, but this drug also cured my daily headaches and Trigeminal Neuralgia. What a god send! The decrease in daily pain has probably done more for my mental health than all the Anti-D's ever did. | F | 50 | 8 months | 4/11/2007 | 2 | migraine prevention | daytime sleepiness | did not work for me, i still had migraines about every day | F | 19 | 3 months | 4/10/2007 | 5 | bipolar disorder, anxiety | None | I take 2 500MG doses of DepakoteER per day along with an antidepressant and antipsychotic. I had been taking Lithium but Depakote is much more effective for me without the side effects. | F | 39 | 4 years | 4/9/2007 | 4 | bipolar | I take 1500mg per day (which seems like a lot for someone my size, I only weigh 110lbs, but it doesn't work for me at the lower levels) The only side effect I've experienced is minor intermittant hand trembling. Sometimes I miss those extreme euphoric ups but I guess I can't really call that a side effect! | Maybe I'm odd, but I was kind of hoping I would gain a little weight on this med since I'm on the skinny side but I haven't gained an ounce! It's a wonderful drug for the manic side of bipolar disorder though. Zoloft helps with the depression. | F | 25 | 2 years | 4/9/2007 | 5 | bipolar | None. No nausea possibly because I titrated up very slowly from 250mg/day and always take it with food. I haven't gained any weight or lost any hair. I'm on a relatively low dosage of 750mg/day which works well for me. | I'm bipolar but with many more manic than depressed episodes and my depressions were usually irritated, angry things. Depakote evens out my moods; things don't get to me as much and I'm coping with life much better. I wish I'd found it sooner! | F | 35 | 1 years | 4/8/2007 | 4 | bipolar, anger issues | My pdoc did the loading dose deal with me, from 500 to 2000mg in a week. What a godawful week! I was majorly manic and calmed down quick all right but was also sick as a dog with no energy and just wanted to sleep. And when the nausea eased up, I just wanted to eat. But after about a month, my energy level started increasing and appetite decreasing. I started working out again which I couldn't get myself to do at all that first month and lost the 10 pounds I'd gained pretty quickly. I've been on this stuff for almost 2 years, haven't gained any more weight and my hairline is exactly where it was when I started. | Getting through the first month was hell but once my body got used to this stuff I started liking myself again. I'm calmer, more in control and with better focus since my thoughts aren't racing all over the place any more. | M | 27 | 2 years | 4/8/2007 | 3 | aggression/bi polar/alcohol severag | Like many i've noticed lack of concentration,forgetfulness and tiredness.Can sleep almost 20hrs a day and still feel tired.Also noticed it has cut my ability to share everyday things with friends and people around me.Sudden mood swings lke surfing i suppose.For a while i can on the top of the wave the next i can be drowning in sympathy.Not for others but for myself.I've been taking 1500mg for almost 18months and when i tried to cut down i couldn't cope with everyday situation but knowing how it makes me feel i'd rather bare it.Sometime confusing as i can't really say if it comme depakote as i'm taking paroxatine for depression and alprozolam for anxiety. | has helped in controlling agression but have lost sense of the speed of things.Feel slower than i was.Spending curbs,where i don't realise what i spend or where the money goes but don't pay bills on time yet without stressing when in debt.Not sure if it come from depakote but loss of sexual feelings.Yes excitement at the thought but can longer without having my orgasm.Doc has said its the paroxatine but is really this as i need boths meds. | M | 18 months | 4/8/2007 | 3 | dysphoric manic, anxiety | Mild nausea at first but that went away after the first week. No weight gain so far. I do feel a little more tired than usual and am sleeping longer, but for me that's a good thing as I'm usually very hyper and a terrible insomniac. | I'm not as anxious/fearful, haven't had any PAs and have even been able to cut down on xanax (just a little... from 2.5mg to 2mg) But I still think I'm just as irritable and bitchy though my husband says my temper doesn't seem as extreme/out of control as usual. I still feel pissed off much of the time though, like this med is handling the anxiety but not the agitation. I'm going to see the doc this week for a blood test and dose adjustment. I'm only taking a total of 500mg, divided into 2 doses and I'd like to add another dose and see what happens. I'll come back with an update in another month or two. | F | 56 | 26 days | 4/7/2007 | 1 | Bi-polar disorder | Severe memory loss, extreme social anxiety, tremors, depression, inability to cope with just about everything. | I've been taking Depakote for six months and it has turned me into a bumbling idiot. I used to love to be around people. I now want to be as far away from people as possible. I recently lost my job because I kept forgetting just about everything. This drug has screwed things up big time. I quit taking it cold-turkey about a week ago and haven't seen any improvement yet. | M | 29 | 6 months | 4/1/2007 | 5 | grand mal seizures | major weight gain(25 Lbs.) sleeping 11-12 hours a day, tremors in hands, joint and muscle pain. | Depakote works well at controlling seizures, but the side effects are terrible.The newer drugs don't work as well, and have just as many side effects | F | 49 | 1 days | 3/30/2007 | 5 | Seizures | Nothing noteworthy | Never had a seizure on it. | F | 39 | 13 years | 3/26/2007 | 5 | Simple partial seizures | i had heartburn that was mild for abut a week | i like it | M | 20 | 1 years | 3/26/2007 | 5 | Gran Mals | Was hungry at first but this went away, have not gained weight. Works like Dilantin but I am more stable, less jumpy than when I was on Dilantin. | I have to take something. This works the best for me | M | 27 | 4 years | 3/26/2007 | 5 | Anxiety / Mood Swings | Mild heartburn. Occassional tremor. Modest compared to why it is prescribed. | I take the extended release 750mg a day and the occassional heartburn that lasts 10 minutes or the occassional tremor that hangs around for about an hour are worth it. The positives are how my anxiety and mood swings are suppressed without knocking me out. A real normalizer. I like it and actually weigh less than I did 5 years ago. | M | 34 | 5 years | 3/25/2007 | 1 | Migraine prophylaxis | Horrendous mood swings; weight gain | My neurologist switched me to Depakote as my first anti-seizure med for migraine prevention (off-label use at the time). Total disaster! After two months of dose titration, I'd gained 15 pounds, and my mood would switch from cheerful to vicious in seconds for no apparent reason. Worse yet, it didn't have much effect on my migraines. Five days after stopping Depakote, my mood evened out again and my eating patterns returned to normal. | M | 44 | 2 months | 3/25/2007 | 3 | mood stabilizer | extreme fatigue- could not finish a short day without having to sleep in between, but it is getting better. i am also taking 80mg of prozac daily so i am not sure which side effects are from what. my tongue is currently broken out in bumps and cracks with the appearance of dark blackish veins on the underside. i do not know if this could have anything to do with my medication. | i have been doing much better since ive been taking it. no severe side effects, no hair loss as many mentioned. however some negative mental/emotional effects seem to be present. | F | 17 | 4 months | 3/22/2007 | 2 | Chronic Migraines | Moderate drowsiness, diarrhea type incontinence | I have had chronic migraines for most of my life and have taken just about everything imagineable. Mostly the meds I have had were for stopping the ache after it started. I was first put on increasing doses of topamax which did not work. So far, I have been on 1000mg depkote for 2 months and still have a migraine each day and need to take imitrex to stop it. Seems that the headaches are weather related, but are definitely not sinus related. I have had three sinusectomies for sinusitis in the past and no longer suffer from that problem. Do not notice any inhibitive effect for the headaches yet from the depkote. About to stop it due to mentioned diarrhea side effects which are progressively getting worse. At my age that is more than an inconvenience. | M | 73 | 2 months | 3/11/2007 | 4 | Frequent Migraines | Ever since, even with a good sleep schedule, I've been tired, and if anything else I get headaches every now and then. | Other than that it didn't really do anything bad and I don't have migraines anymore, I used to have about 3 a week ever since I was about 10. I think being tired is better than waking up with migraines. | M | 13 | 1.5 years | 2/27/2007 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder I | Weight Gain (60 Pounds) Lethargy Hypersomnia Diminished Activity | When I began taking Depakote ER I was a complete mess. I had completely destroyed my life due to my Bi-Polar tendencies. Depakote ER changed my life for the good within weeks. It was a drastic change to my personality. It also has some severe side effects that you need to consider. I have gained a lot of weight, lost my job, feel tired all day, and 90% of the time I'm numb to everything around me. I also feel very lethargic. | M | 20 | 1 years | 2/23/2007 | 3 | Basilar Migraines | Hair Loss, Drowsiness, Weight Gain | Prescribed to control basilar migraines that were increasing in severity and number. So far, only 1 migraine and it was less painful and of short duration. However, reading about all the side effects of this drug makes me nervous. I need to lose weight and have been cutting calories, but I'm steadily GAINING weight since taking depakote. It goes up 1/2 pound every other day or so. That's very stressful, but my migraines and auras were so scary that I'm accepting this side effect for now. My md said he may switch me to Topamax. Good luck to all. | F | 46 | 26 days | 2/19/2007 | 5 | epilepsy | none that i know of. i have been taking this since i was 15 years old, So, anyside effects are just part of "me" | I have been taking this drug for my epilepsy for 20 years. I love it!! it works for my petit mal and grand mal seizures. I have only had 1 seizure since taking Depakote... a new dr. had taken me off it, it took 4 days before i had a seizure. i will never go off it as long as i live. | F | 36 | 20 days | 2/16/2007 | 3 | Migraine prevention | significant weight gain and water retention. I gained about 30 pounds in the first two months, and it has nothing to do with increased appetite; my husband agrees that I am eating much less. | Oddly enough, although I read that it might cause hair loss, it has made my thin, fine hair a little thicker and a little curly. I was taking topamax, and it realy gave me trouble thinking; the depakote cleared that up, but with the other side effects, I'm looking for something else. I have constant migraine without any medication, and depakote has me down to a few a month, but I still have to make trips to the ER. | F | 40 | 6 months | 2/14/2007 | 1 | seizures | I gained 35 pounds during the 3 months I was on Depakote. I literally couldn't stop eating. I think it also messed my metabolism up because I haven’t been able to shed any of the weight I put on, no matter what I try to get rid of it. I also suffered from extreme fatigue, tremors all over my body, extreme short term memory loss and severe mental confusion- which was the scariest part. Taking this medication also seemed to make the depression I have suffered from for years, and always been able to successfully treat with anti depressants- much much worse. I basically could not function while taking this medication- at all. In the end, I also started experiencing hair loss. Even now that I have been off of the Depakote for a good two months, my hair is still falling out by the handful. I am not sure what that is all about. The negative side effects were so awful for me; I basically refuse to try any other anti-convulsent medication- even though I know I should be taking som | F | 37 | 3 months | 2/12/2007 | 1 | seizures | I gained 35 pounds during the 3 months I was on Depakote. I literally couldn't stop eating. I think it also messed my metabolism up because I haven’t been able to shed any of the weight I put on, no matter what I try to get rid of it. I also suffered from extreme fatigue, tremors all over my body, extreme short term memory loss and severe mental confusion- which was the scariest part. Taking this medication also seemed to make the depression I have suffered from for years, and always been able to successfully treat with anti depressants- much much worse. I basically could not function while taking this medication- at all. In the end, I also started experiencing hair loss. Even now that I have been off of the Depakote for a good two months, my hair is still falling out by the handful. I am not sure what that is all about. The negative side effects were so awful for me; I basically refuse to try any other anti-convulsent medication- even though I know I should be taking som | F | 37 | 3 months | 2/12/2007 | 1 | Migraine Prevention | Total opposite of drowsy - my heart races and it feels like I've had about 4 cups of coffee. Also, diarrhea. | F | 45 | 2 days | 2/7/2007 | 2 | BPD | Weight gain, lethargic and tired most of the time | I felt better after a week of taking Depakote. Suicidal thoughts were minimal and was happy with it for a while until lately. My mood has gone up and down and I'm very emotional and frustrated at times. | F | 30 | 3 months | 2/5/2007 | 4 | Cough/exertional headache | Major weight gain (>20 lbs) and constant hunger, tremor in hands, vivid dreams, libidinal depression and orgasmic difficulty. TERRIBLE leg cramps that wake me up at night. Sleep difficulties. Lethargy and need for frequent afternoon naps. | I developed a rather strange syndrome known as "cough headache" and Depakote ER was prescribed. I've only been on it about 2 months; started at 1000 mgm/day - no help. Dosage gradually increased to current 2500 mgm/day (3 a.m., 2 p.m.). It has proven to be quite helpful with the headaches, which were EXTREMELY painful and debilitating and I'd not trade them for the side effects. That said, Depakote is obviously not a drug one would consider to be without consequence, especially at higher doses. My doc and I are considering reducing the dosage to 2000 mgm/day to see if that helps with the leg cramps. | M | 68 | 2 months | 1/16/2007 | 3 | MIxed State Bipolar Disorder | Well, since I have no side-by-side comparision with my former self - that "before" illness and medication - I cannot definitively attribute any experiences to the drug. Anyhow, while on a 1500mg daily dose of Depakote ER I've experienced the following: -Grainy vision -Mild fatigue -Increased penis length (not really) -'Excersize' tremor (after lifting) -Some forgetfulness -I suppose "confusion", though an emotion, could be added as it is among the listed side-effects associated with the drug. I don't really understand how confusion can occur unless there happens to be a causal side-effect of short-term memory inhibition or a inhibited thought process. I guess "confusion" sounds more easily controlled by the patient... as compared with the term "stupor" listed among lithium's side-effects. -Scapegoat syndrome: This is a sydrome in which the syndromist blames his or her deficiencies on an external object; in my case, Depakote. -Complac | If you don't have insurance and you are taking as much Depakote as I, a 6' 3" musclebound maniac, you are likely paying close to $300.00 a month for this medication. Depakote is a gold mine! Good work Abbott!! Way to take advantage of inelastic demand. | M | 24 | 4 years | 1/11/2007 | 3 | Bipolar II and BPD | chest pain, dizziness, spacing out | I've only recently started taking this medication, but I've noticed 2 fairly disturbing side effects of dizziness and spacing out. i can watch tv for two hours or so and it'll feel like only a half hour has passed. i can't drive because i can't piece together how fast cars are moving and how far away they are. also my short term memory is almost non-existent after about the 3rd day into taking it. however, it has improved my disorder quite a lot. | F | 18 | 10 days | 1/5/2007 | 4 | BiPolar | nausea if I dont eat within the times i take it. hair loss, tremors in my hands and feet bruise easy | i take it with welbutrin. i am not really sure if it is working, i dont know what normal is anymore | F | 24 | 2 years | 11/30/2006 | 3 | Bipolar I | HORRIBLE FATIGUE, increased lethargy/depression, weight gain, hair loss/change in texture, hand tremor, GRINDING of teeth at night (sore jaw) | It worked really well in managing a severe dysphoric mania that I experienced after the birth of my child. I am on 1000 mg and trying desperately to convince my doctor to let me be on just lithium and my anti-depressant. I cannot continue to function at this low energy level...especially with a toddler! | F | 28 | 2 years | 11/28/2006 |