Drug Ratings for DEPAKOTEAverage Rating: 3.1 (487 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Age from youngest to oldest (no age reported listed first) 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 | | | | |||
| 2 | er | Weight gain, tremmors still headaches and blurr vission. Feel weak all the time | Dr tried to reduce and switch and felt worse and had siezure and They feel the side effects out way benefits. | M | 44 | 1 years 1500 1X D | 4/22/2011 | 2 | bi-polar | It is making my hair thin especially in the part and I have gained 20 pounds, I have trouble communicating my mind is sometimes in a fog, I know have worst depression but less manic, just dont feel very much, diareaha ,memory problems | My mother is on it she has parkinsons disease she was on the lithium and haldol for years She cant walk and in nursing home now I think its working for her she takes depakote but it is a dangerous drug | F | 44 | 6 months 1500 mg 1X D | 5/19/2010 | 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 | 5 | Migraines | Weight gain (45 lbs), crazy dreams and sluggish reaction | After 6 mos. of daily migraines, my neurologist put me on Topamax. I gave it a good effort of about 8 months but I had to give up daily life. I lost 20 lbs and my hair. After weaning off the Topamax, my doc put me on Depakote ER 500 mg, she added Inderal after a couple months. My hair has come back but it is "perm" curly, I have gained 45 lbs. My docs have been diligently treating me since 7/06 but it worked. I average 2 migraines per month now and after 3 months of cutting back on the Depakote and Inderal, my neurologist had taken me off it. Also, for those who suffer from migraines, check out allergies (find a doc who will also look at delayed allergies), TMJ, etc... I found I had delayed allergies to beans (all beans) Also, STAY AWAY FROM KNOWN TRIGGERS. All I can say, is search for good docs and research, research, research!!!!! | F | 45 | 10 months | 12/21/2007 | 4 | Bipolar -more depressed, less manic | Itchiness started after 3 weeks on med. Hungry more than usual(I weigh 110 and am 5'0 so am curious how this will play out). Ringing in ears. Am going to ask MD about this itching as it is bothersome now. | Will see about this weight gain and hair loss many others are bothered by. Have had none thus far. Am less irritable and moods are more even. Started w/ 750 mg a day and am now taking 500 mg. Also take 100 mg Wellbutrin that I LOVE for enhanced orgasms. Miracle drug! | F | 45 | 3 weeks | 1/3/2009 | 4 | bipolar | fatigue, dizziness that comes and goes, a little weight gain | 250mg a.m. 500mg p.m. Rapidly brought me out of a mixed state and keeps them away, even if the dose has to be occasionally increased for a short time. Have tried other mood stabilizers, this works the best for me. Just wish I didn't have to stay tired all the time to be balanced. | F | 45 | 10 years | 12/22/2008 | 3 | Anxiety and depression | Right now I feel like I want to eat any and everything that is around me. My appetite has picked up. It does not make me sleepy at this time and I don't notice hair loss. I just started taking it and we will see how it works. I will be getting on a diet plan at this moment. I cannot afford to gain any weight. | F | 45 | 1 months | 12/11/2008 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | I had some weight gain and too much hair loss. My daughter also tried Depakote. She also had weight gain and major hair loss over time before she realized what was causing it. | F | 45 | 6 months | 7/17/2005 | 3 | Bipolar | weight gain, forgetfulness, hand tremor Lithium also caused weight gain and hand tremor, but I had no forgetfulness. | If you have the choice, take lithium instead. I was on Li for 19 years and because you cannot take it longer than that (poss. kidney problems), I got stuck with this pill. My psych. said that Li has some antidepressant qualities while Depakote does not...just a mood stabilizer. | F | 45 | 300 4X D | 7/26/2011 | 2 | Migraine | Initial severe stomach cramping and diarrhea. No appetite for the first 2 weeks (on 250 mg ER) - upped to 500 mg after first 4 weeks. Also difficulty falling asleep. Possible sexual side effects (inability to orgasm). | Depakote has not yet made an impact on my migraine frequency or severity. (Though my Dr. feels it should take 12 weeks to see). At this point I am not seeing any weight gain or additional hair loss (I already suffered from the hair loss from something else). I am on 100 mg Topamax daily so that makes me a little foggy, but Depakote hasn't made it any worse. My biggest concerns are the sexual side effects which don't seem to be definitively linked to Depakote. Will be speaking to my neuro. soon. | F | 45 | 6 weeks 500 mg ER 1X D | 8/16/2010 | 2 | uni-polar disorder | I have had a total lack of sexual libido and erectile dysfunction. I have been given Cialis for this but it helps little. No weight gain at all on this actually I have a total lack of appetite. This reeks havoc with my type one Diabetes. | After a break down I was prescribed 1500 mg of Depakote which was lowered to 1000 mg after regulation blood levels to approximately 78. With this I also take 3600 mg of Neurontin. (3 900 mg 4x's a day) I am not certain which one or both are causing the sexual dysfunction but after checking it out I think I need to get off both. | M | 45 | 6 months | 6/24/2006 | 2 | severe daily migraines | weight gain, hand tremors, hair loss, fuzzy vision, indigestion, confusion | Doc put me on Depakote as a last resort in addition to 400 mg/day of Topomax to try to break the cycle of 24/7 migraines. He started low, but within 2 months I was on 1500 mg and my life was impossible. I couldn't think, wake up, have a social life, and was still trying to work and raise 4 kids. I asked for a second opinion, and was seen by 2 other docs. One was out of state at UC-San Fran. He was awesome and set me up with some "rescue" painkillers. He suggested I start weaning myself off of the high levels of drugs I was on and take the painkillers only when needed. That's what I've done. I'm now on 200 mg. of Topomax and 500 mg of Depakote and still trying to work my way down. I THINK I WAS OVERMEDICATED AND HAVING REBOUND HEADACHES IN BETWEEN DOSES. Now I can take one of my painkillers in between doses if I need one (maybe 2x/week). GET A SECOND OR THIRD OPINION!!! GOOD LUCK!!! | F | 45 | 18 months | 1/16/2010 | 1 | bipolar/psychosis | no memory at first, but,later, (in hosp) didnt know who or where i was, didnt recognize dgtr.,was unable to dial a phone but desperate to reach husb. for answers. now, 2 yrs later-off drug-forget family ph. no's,list ideas on hands to not lose,lose track mid-sentence,severe confusion, forgetfullness-a nightmare!!!! | turns out, thanks to a devoted husb.,i was poisoned by a highly TOXIC level, d/t dr. not doing blood tests.ended up in locked unit,husb. nearly forced to assault dr. for answers,still wouldnt speak to him, banned from my hosp!! husb called abbott for advice,now wish to seek retribution and SUE their as. off!!! please dont take without trusted,wise dr.!!!! | F | 45 | 5 weeks | 3/13/2009 | 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 | 1 | Siezures and headaches | Weight Gain, Hair loss weight gain, low motivation and lower back pain | Stay away and do not take generic form That I had to switch to since insurance would not cover and over $100 difference | M | 45 | 12 months 1500 1X D | 7/11/2011 | 1 | seizures | terible memory loss.......my main reason is that it causes birth defects.. my son was born with crainosynotosis and now has cerebral palsey..he is 12. also a daughter with boutneirs deformity and autism..she is 8. please do not take if your planning to have a baby.. im now in a lawsuit with depakote… God bless.....brenda .........ps I do not have emal husband has email work. my phone is 704 283 8609.. call please if u hav had simulair experiences.. | F | 45 | 1 days 1000 | 2/5/2012 | 1 | Bipolar | Depakote Helped only help bring me out of manic mode and it was only temporary. Little did I know it would destroy my life forever! Symptoms, I became suicidal, Lost most of my Hair gained weight never really balanced my brain as the so-called Doctors who really did not care said it would. Over time I noticed I had very short-term memory. Always had pain in my side as well as my back kept going out! I muscle relaxes for back issues. This cost me a 15 year marriage which we were together for over 20+ years Lost my Kids as I could not take care of my self anymore more or even help my kids. I pretty much lost all will to live. I am now on natural things, which I am a lot better, but now I need answers. I have a burning sensation in my brain all the time, which I never had before I took Depakote. Did Depakote ruin my brain? This burning sensation is mentally taking a toll on me and is like a chronic brain pain. Some days I seem better and it seems more and more days it is getti | My only comments Why take a Drug in the first place if I only would of known the natural ways which do work. For me-drugs have done there Damage and I need answers help and the real truth. Did Depakote stave my brain from the natural things I was lacking. Why the Burning sensation after Drugs? I will never work again or better myself as it is a struggle to hold onto my only Job. | M | 45 | 3 years 1250MG 1X D | 7/18/2012 | 5 | Bipolar I | Hair loss | I've been taking 750 mg of Depakote for over seven years now and the only side effect that I've noticed is hair loss. I've heard it can cause weight gain but I've never had a problem with it. The hair loss seemed to come and go in the past but recently I've been losing quite a bit of my hair. The drug itself has worked a miracle on me as far as my manic episodes are concerned, so I suppose my next step is to find a wig shop. But then... I'll save a lot on shampoo! :) | F | 46 | 7 years | 8/29/2005 | 5 | Migraines | Tender breasts, some hair loss, some fatigue, but a really content and mellow feeling, which is a great side effect for me. Some minimal weight gain in the first 2 months (2 kgs), but I workout daily and eat very healthy, so it has gone down again. I slept more with the almost daily migraines and its just hair, and I still have enough, so I am definitely not complaining! The only thing is if I forget to take it, I immediately get a headache. Also, I talk a lot more in my sleep and have more vivid dreams, but my hubby calms me down, so I go right back to sleep. But my quality of life is so much better with this medication and its the only medication I take, so maybe that's why it works better on me than most people here. I'm very happy with it! | F | 46 | 4 months 500 | 3/9/2013 | 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 | 2 | Bipolar II | weight gain (20 pounds in 3.5 months), increased hunger some of the time (crazy hungry pre period time), tiredness, bloating | Feel more "in control" than I was on Lithium. Helps with anxiety. Would prefer to have stayed on Lithium, but had to switch due to potential kidney problems (on it 19 years). Lithium also caused weight gain and hunger. | F | 46 | 1.5 years 250 4X D | 1/28/2012 | 1 | Migraine | Severely aggrevated existing pancreatitus, I believe it was a major factor in her death 6 months after starting the drug. She was age 46. | My wife was prescribed this drug by a PA, who was well aware that she had chronic pancreatitus (although in remission at the time, she was relatively healthy using digestive enzymes). She was not experiencing migraines but was deathly afraid of them. Within a week of starting this drug, she became very ill, experiencing pain from the pancreatitus. After this, she had difficulty eating, and died about 6 months later. Message is DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG IF YOU DRINK ALCOHOL IMMODERATELY OR HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY PANCREATIC SYMPTOMS. Doctors are too stupid to read the warnings of even the greedy drug manufacturers. | F | 46 | 2 months 150mg 1X D | 7/8/2010 | 1 | migranes | severe migranes first two days, severe stomach cramps, feeling like being stabbed in the stomach and diahhrea up to 10-12 times a day | I had been on 200 mg topamax and was experiencing cognitive issues, I would rather have that problem then ever have to go through this, I have rolled around crying on the bathroom floor for 4 days in pain worse than childbirth. | F | 46 | 4 days 500mg 1X D | 12/21/2010 | 5 | Epilepsy | Initally some tiredness and minor weight gain. These, however, are side effects I've experienced with every anti-seizure medication I've ever taken. | Have had epilepsy since I was 10 when diagnosed with petit mal. At 16 had my first grand mal seizure. From age 10 through 35 I was on many different meds--phenobarbitol, dilantin, zarontin, tegretol, etc. This is the only medication that has controlled my epilepsy without debilitating side effects. Other meds were over perscribed producing toxicity levels which in turn caused depression, exhaustion (sleeping 18-20 hours per day), clumsiness, etc. In my experience, starting with a low dosage and working up is preferable to starting high and working down. Find a doctor who will work with you. I have been taking 500 mg per day for 12 years. Note: Over the years I have noticed that if I forget a full days' dose, I run the risk of a seizure the following day. I attribute this to one of two things: 1)I'm purposely on a low dosage thus I don't have much left in my system after 24 hours, or 2)Depakote moves through the system fairly rapidly. Either way, skipping a day/dose for what | F | 47 | 12 years | 7/20/2006 | 5 | mood disorder | hair loss | worked great otherwise | F | 47 | 6 days | 11/14/2003 | 4 | bipolar 2 | 10lb weight gain, tiredness, bad dreams. | it definately helps but i find the weight gain hard to deal with, i go to the gym 3-4 times a week but have to starve myself to drop any weight and it soon returns. | M | 47 | 4 months 750mg 1X D | 5/20/2010 | 4 | bipolar | severe hair loss. noticable waight gain. sleepiness. | I had been misdiagnosed for 8 years before starting depakote. I was being treated for severe depression when I was actually bipolar so the medications I was on was actually increasing my manic episodes. After starting depakote my mood did stabalize. I feel calmer and less out of control. I am hoping my hair grows back like others have said. | F | 47 | 5 months 750 1X D | 5/7/2010 | 4 | daily h/a, migraine & cluster-like | A little "zing" or "buzz" in my head when the dose I take kicks in; weight gain, frequent, intense hunger! | At 250 mg, I was having improvement, but break-thru headaches every day, and no weight gain. At 500 mg, the break-thru's are even milder, but all of a sudden I started gaining weight. I have worked hard since adulthood to keep up good eating habits, and really "checking in" with my stomach to see if I am hungry before I eat that snack. So when I saw I gained 5 pounds in the last week, I was baffled. Then I started reading about the hunger, and realized I have been crazy hungry lately, just an hour after a meal, and so I was eating. Wondering if I can train myself to ignore the hunger, and wondering if that will keep me from gaining weight.... | F | 47 | 6 weeks 500 ER 1X D | 4/14/2010 | 4 | 2500mg daily | Tremors, weight gain, decreased sex drive | When I first started taking it my doctor just prescribed 1 250mg daily. It helped some but she wasn't very aggressive in my treatment. I changed doctors and he finally got me where I needed to be. The tremors are bothersome at times. The decreased sex drive is probably a good thing because that was a major problem when I was manic. I also take Wellbutrin to help with the depression. | F | 47 | 3 years 500 5X D | 6/14/2012 | 4 | severe migraines | confusion, unable to concentrate, hair loss, weight gain, loss of memory, | At 1500mg daily for 1 month I could not function period, the most basic things I could not do. Now going on 6 months @1000mg as a migraine preventative. The side effects at this point are "ok". I would get locked in migraines; migraine that lasted 30 days or more. Now I average 1 or 2 migraines a month and use Zomig & Arthrotec when one comes on. All prescribed by a neurologist. It works. I have blood test to check the liver. | F | 47 | 6 months | 5/11/2009 | 4 | Cluster Headaches | very mild lethargy | I've only been on for a week now - quickly went from 250mg to 1500mg/day. But the clusters are in remission. I've read a lot of the comments on this page and it seems as if some people are reporting clusters as severe migraines.. hope the world realizes they are much worse than migraines!! Any, have gone from 8-10 attacks every 24 hours to just 2.. if they continue to taper off I will be very happy indeed! | M | 47 | 5 days | 2/20/2009 | 4 | bipolar | I have had a little of everything. I gained about 20 lbs at the start, once in awhile dizzy, my hands tremble a lot, losing some hair (but also runs in family), and I need a lot of sleep (most bipolars do). Good sleep is key. I am worried about my memory and job performance. I can be unusually unmotivated, too. No stomach/internal problems. | I tried lithium, prozac, lexapro, welbutrin. None of it worked. Then I tried depakote and have been on it for 2 1/2 years combined with welbutrin. I am continually trying to engage more at work, it's a tough battle with 3 young children, too. I am taking 500mg in the morning with 1 welbutrin and 750mg at nite. I might try to cut back a bit, not without Pysch approval, though. I started more exercise and intense vitamins, that seems to help a lot with mood and weight. | M | 47 | 2.5 years | 1/25/2008 | 3 | Migraines | Outbursts of frustration, reduction in memory and other cognitive functions, but no migraines after taking 500 mg daily for one week. | After reading other comments, I have concerns about staying on this medication. | M | 47 | 7 days | 2/13/2009 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | M | 47 | 1000mg 1X D | 6/29/2010 History | 2 | epilepsy | tremors,panic attacks,nervousness,memory problems,trouble speaking and confusion. | im in a real catch 22 situation.depakote redused my seizures by 50 percent but it is almost impossible to function as a normal human being with these side effects. | M | 47 | 9 days | 12/1/2005 | 2 | Migraine Maintenance | - gained 20 pounds - developed terrible hand tremors - always tired and sleepy - terrible memory & scattered thoughts - bladder leakage - muscle aches, cramping | I still have severe migraines which require infusions and/or pain intervention shots. I asked my neurologist who prescribed this medicine what was causing the tremors and she tested for diabetes twice and NEVER mentioned they were a side effect of depakote. My internist had to help me figure it out. I'm disabled due to gentamicin poisoning and was told that I would never get any worse than I was at the time of poisoning. I was afraid that the doctors were wrong about that but everything I've read hear fully explains why I feel worse since beginning this last August. | F | 47 | 9 months 1500 mg 1X D | 5/18/2011 | 2 | bipolar 2 | I felt like it negated the good effects of my Lexapro and Straterra. I was agitated and angry. My counselor recommended that I avoid any possible confrontational situations. | I had only been on it for about 3 days and noticed when I forgot to take one of my two daily doses, I felt way better. I started taking only 1 a day and quit altogether after a total of about 6 days. I left for a trip to Florida and had to share the driving. I didn't think Depakote and road rage (mine and others') was a good combination. So far, I feel better without than with. My husband says I'm much better without it than with. | F | 47 | 6 days | 1/23/2005 | 2 | epilepsy | I took 1500 mg a day to stop my seizures (tonic clonic and petite mall). I slept a LOT; got sick to my stomach a LOT (had to take promethazine and ranitadine for stomach problems). I stopped weighing myself at 205. I was a small woman...5 | PLEASE tell your doctor what's goiung on! With your weight AND your seizures. As far as headaches and Depakote...I seemed to get worse headaches. It DID affect my moods...I was sleeping all the time. | F | 47 | | 8/24/2005 | 2 | Bipolar 1 | Severe weight gain...........over eating. Next visit w/ Dr. will ask to take me off. I need a med.........but this symptom is causing me too much grief. | Also take Wellbutrin, and Seroquil for sleep | F | 47 | 2.5 years | 2/24/2005 | 1 | BP II | I hate this drug. I have been on it for a year, trying to figure out the right dose. IT MAKES ME WANT TO KILL MYSELF. Aside from a dozen side effects, the worst being enlarged prostate, bursitis in my shoulder and tired all the time, it creates severe depression. I started with 250mg 3x a day and it took away my anxiety, but worsened the depression. I tried the ER in doses of 500,then 1000, then 1500. My psychiatrist said I was having mixed symptoms and once I was adapted, the side effects would go away. I started experimenting with doses and found that I felt better within days of decreasing the dosage until I was down to 250. The problem with 250 was that the anxiety came back too much. The depression nearly went away. I tried 500mg of the regular release, taking them at night and it fixed the anxiety, but the depression came back. This drug trades anxiety for depression - at least for me. If you are thinking about killing yourself, try going down on the dose for a few days and see i | Very dangerous - for me causes obsessive thoughts of suicide. | M | 47 | 1 years | 9/9/2006 | 1 | biolar rapid cycler | I thought this Med worked at first stopped major mania and finally slept. However I read pharmacy info. Never see hair loss or half symptoms people say on This site. Over time I noticed bruising. Excessive bleeding from like a shaving nice. Recently broke pinky toe. 6 weeks later feet and ankles of BOTH FEET SWOLLEN AND BRUISED. been in er for chest pain. Got all. Heart attack tests-deakote. I have occasional tremors. Handwriting no one can read. My almost photographic memory-gone. Just called my doctor wean me off This poison. I seem to get ant weird side effect it can cause sinus infection which I get ear infection. My main point its POISON Ans has cost me tons of ER visits . Primary care dr visits. Hair loss. Friends -GONE. FAMILY-stressed. Caused nothing but trouble | F | 47 | 9 years 1500 mg | 7/20/2012 | 5 | seizure disorder | weight gain | I've been on Vimpat, Keppra, Lamictal and Zonegran ALL with most or all of the awful side effects described about DEPAKOTE. My doc wanted me to take 1000 mg. per day. But instead of starting high I TOLD HIM that I wanted to start low and dose up if needed. 500 mg has been keeping my seizures under control! What I've learned?? At least for myself, I had to have some control over my meds. I fear now that maybe one or more of the other above drugs would have been helpful but that I was taking too large of a dose that caused awful side effects. You know yourself better than your doctor does. For instance, one drug was causing severe shortness of breath and I went months having a very difficult time breathing. When I told the doctor this his response "that's not listed as one of the side effects". It may not be "listed" in his journals but when I got on-line to investigate plenty of other people on the same drug had shortness of breath! TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MED DOSAGE under the watchful eye of your doctor. About the weight gain. I had lost 15 pounds on the other meds and have gained it back since being on Depakote. I do seem to crave sweets more now though. We'll see how this goes. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU! | F | 48 | 3 months 500 1X D | 4/23/2011 | 5 | Epilepsy | None known. | I have been taking sodium valporate for over thirty years and have not had any significant side effects. While taking the medication I completed two undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree from a top 10 university. I have my CPA and work for a Fortune 500 software company developing accounting software. I don't suffer any ill effects that I am aware and I don't think the drug has limited me. | 48 | 30 years | 3/13/2009 | 4 | Bipolar II | Food cravings - gained 65lbs in no time. Hair fell out, but grew back with more body & shine. Hand tremors | I call it depabloat because of the way I craved food. My doc said that it disabled my "full button," so I didn't know when to stop eating. For a while it increased my libido. Unfortunately that did not last. | F | 48 | 5 years | 8/29/2006 | 3 | bipolar disorder | dizziness, diarrhea, edema in feet and lower calves, unsteadiness & weakness while walking, increased appetite, incredible weight gain: 50 pounds in 9 months and see no end in sight | On the plus side, Depakote brought my mental state back from a severe depression to "myself." Last summer I couldn't function at all and needed a case manager to help me do the simplest things, and now I'm completely independent. | F | 48 | 6 months | 7/4/2006 | 3 | brain surgery | Weight gain of 50 lbs. Try to hold off of all drugs for as long as possible. I tried Kepra and it reacted badly in my system. | Gets one tired so take before going to bed. Will help you fall to sleep/ Hard to lose weight. I gained 50 pounds. From 210 to 260 over the last 10 years. . However does not seems to be causing any other negative health consequences. It causes a burning which makes one hungry after taking. Try to take it after eating. Really hard to lose the weight after taking Depakote. | M | 48 | 10 years 250 4X D | 6/12/2010 | 5 | bipolar disorder II | Take 1350mg Depakote ER, one 450mg in a.m., two before dinner. Hand tremor, fatigue, aphasia (past year or so), moderate weight gain, change in hair texture (for the better!), increased sensitivity in areas that effectively increase my libido | It has been very effective in controlling the manic phase; my mental state is pretty consistent now, a little slower than I would like, but I can work more effectively, etc. My bipolar is comorbid with ADD, for which I take 450mg Wellbutrin XL. I don't believe Wellbutrin has side effects for me, so I attribute the ones I do have to the Depakote. I have never taken the Depakote without another medication, however. | M | 49 | 3 years | 6/25/2006 | 5 | Bipolar II | Weight gain, itchy/dry scalp (don't know if my hair has fallen out because I have VERY thick hair) | Since recently being diagnosed with Bipolar II, this stuff has made a 100% improvement in my life. After trying what seems like a zillion antidepressants, none of which worked, depakote worked after only 2 tablets. I use it in combination with Cymbalta, as the Cymbalta doesn't completely control my depressive episodes. I'm only on 500 mg/day, but it seems to be working very well. I finally feel like I'm on the right track! | F | 49 | 3 weeks | 9/7/2006 | 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 | 3 | Grand Mal Seizure | Weight Gain, tingling in my legs and feet, tingling in my head in the last 8 hours of dose. | I had my first and only Grand Mal Seizure in Oct.2009. I had just stepped off my motorcycle. I have been becoming unmotivated and my short term memory is becoming a real issue. I just dont feel like myself. My body clock has always woke me up at 6 am. and now I am not awake until 8am or even as late as 10am. I also have the dizziness. | M | 49 | 3 months | 1/24/2010 | 2 | Hypomania | Memory problems that get worse the longer I take the med. Severe lack of motivation.Sleep problems,hair loss,cannot concentrate | I have been taking Depakote for 6 mos for hypomania. At first I had some minor memory issues but now I am having severe problems with abstract thinking, completing a sentence or a thought. The first 3 months I slept well but now I only sleep 4 hours a night and I am tired all day. I have always had a little paranoia but this is more severe now. The minor things like reflux and hair loss do not bother me. I do not get as anxious or irritable now but the trade off is that I feel foggy, my family notices it. | M | 49 | 6 months 1000 mg 1X D | 5/28/2011 | 5 | daily migraines | Some sleepiness, but it's getting better. | I started on Depakote ER after waking up in the morning with a migraine 17 days in a row. Never even read up on it until now, but I was in so much pain, I would have swallowed cow dung if I thought it would give me relief. I'm now 8 days in a row headache free! I'm up to 500 mg a day, and see the doc next week to have my liver function checked out. Weight gain and hair loss? Great, my two worse nightmares! Right now, I'm a fan of the drug, but my doctor said he might switch me to Topomax. | F | 50 | 12 days | 10/28/2006 | 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 | 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 | 5 | bipolar | the drug has completly balanced my moods and cured my depression but weight gain, swelling of hands arms and legs a problem also extreme tiredness. going to docs for advice on weight gain. | F | 50 | | 3/23/2009 | 4 | migraine prophylaxix | Swelling around eyes and limbs; some muscle cramping--these symptoms made me think I was hypothyroid (although I am taking Synthroid). Severe diareah and rampant hair loss first few weeks, then constipation after one month. I have gained about 5 pounds in 3 months taking 2 Depakote ERs and feel "full" all the time. I am dreaming very bizarre dreams every night, and wondering if Depakote worsened my hypnic headaches for which I am taking Indocin SR prophylactically. | It is helping my hormonal migraines (first 8 days of cycle)which now respond to triptans (they had ceased responding prior to starting Depakote); is has reduced my visual auras and also visual sensitivity. It did not help my hypnic headaches (15 days per month), and many have possibly worsened them. | F | 50 | 90 days | 11/30/2007 | 3 | bi-polar | weight gain - some tiredness during day | I am so sick of goiing off and on meds but this seems to be working and I have gone back to work. 250 mg in am and 500 mg at nite | F | 50 | 30 days | 5/31/2007 | 1 | Bi Polar | MASSIVE HAIR LOSS began about two weeks after stopping the high dosage of 3 time 500 mg. per day (on in the AM, two before bed). I stopped because I was lethargic. I also gained weight but thought it was the Wllbuterin. The hair loss is making me more stressed, anxious and depressed than I was before I started taking it. I am told the hair loss is "Telogen Effluvium". Ive had every possible blood test and seen a dermatologist, acupuncturist and holistic doctor. Im taking Biotin and Prenatal vitamins. My hair is still faliing out and I have lost about half of it. The hair loss started four weeks ago. I am MISERABLE!!!! WHEN WILL IT STOP???? | I was taking Wellbutrin for extreme anxiety and depression. I was angry and very irritable so the Dr. perscribed Depakote to offset those effects. I had no emotions, no laughing, felt like I was in a fog. I could not find the appropriate words to speak. It was like being in a bubble. I stopped taking it - cold turkey. I am told the hair loss is "Telogen Effluvium. | F | 50 | 2 months 2000 1X D | 5/11/2011 | 1 | bipolar 2 depression | spaced out, tired, could not move, could not concentrate,loss hair, weight gain. I was so out of it family made me get off of iy | F | 50 | 6 months 1250 1X D | 8/28/2010 | 3 | Bipolar disorder | Massive weight gain, feeling like I had the flu, hair loss, significant memory loss, extreme fatigue | I did have some stability with this medication, but I gained 90 pounds in 7 months, and the side effects were almost intolerable. There was a long period of time when I could barely get out of bed. | F | 51 | 7 months | 5/19/2004 |