DEPAKOTE ER Reviews (DIVALPROEX SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.2 (182 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare DEPAKOTE ER with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE ER | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | partial seizures | groggy and nauseated in the beginning. Stated taking whole dose of 1,200 (even tho it was ER) at night and that eliminated the nausea, but worsened the grogginess in the morning. Overall, this drug probably saved my life. I was comorbid with epilepsy and bipolar 2 and able to have monotherapy for both disorders with this drug. It's not perfect, but it has helped me to live a normal life. Someday I would like to be medication free, but am not willing yet to experiment by going off Depakote. No weight gain whatsoever, btw, nor have I had any hair loss in 4 years. | Overall, saved me. Works like a miricle drug for some, a living hell for others. I was one of the "lucky" ones. | M | 20 | 4 years | 3/14/2007 | 1 | bipolar | dramatic weight gain, tremendous hair loss, dry skin, along with a whole host of additional problems. Side-effects place one at risk for the development of diabetes. | This medication promotes weight gain to the same degree as anti-psychotics. I believe major metabolic changes have occurred due to my old methods of weight loss no longer applying. Based on personal experience it's the type of weight gain that sticks and is extremely stubborn. Went from a solid 6'1" 215 to 265 since late September 2006. I stopped the medication in December 2006 after the realization that my physical health was in rapid decline. A sound physical body takes years to achieve. An ambitious Doctor and prescription pad can erase those hard-earned gains in months. | M | 29 | 3 months | 3/12/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | No side effects. It has worked well for me and I've taken it for 19 years. | F | 50 | 19 years | 3/6/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | No side effects. It has worked well for me and I've taken it for 19 years. | F | 19 | 19 years | 3/6/2007 | 3 | Severe migraines | Major hair loss. Constipation. Difficulty having an orgasm. | I would have loved to stay on this medication because it really helped my migraines more than any other medication I have taken BUT I lost over 1/3 of my hair. I was told this only occurred on high doses - not true. I was told this was temporary but it was not in my case so I finally stopped. Now my migraines are back. | F | 39 | 2 months | 2/28/2007 | 5 | bipolar II | maybe gained 5 lbs, not too many side effects I can think of... | Depakote changed my life, lifted the veil of darkness and left me functioning like a "normal" person. | F | 27 | 12 years | 2/25/2007 | 1 | Manic Depression | Disorentation | I am on more than depakote and combined with Seroquel, Zoloft and Trileptal there were devastating effects. | F | 16 | 6 months | 2/22/2007 | 4 | Bipolar | Weight gain; drowsiness. | Is a good mood stabilizer for Bipolar I. Was relatively stable on it for years. I have recently gone back on it after Topamax. | F | 41 | 5 years | 2/11/2007 | 1 | Bipolar type II | EXTREME lethargy; excessive sleep; terrible nightmares | 1000mg/daily. My doctor prescribed this as a supplement to Lamictal to prevent mood changes. Fairly soon after taking this medicine I was nearly unable to function. At first I was instructed to take this at night before bed. When I would wake up in the morning it was absolute hell; I could not pull myself out of bed. I was completely exhausted, no matter if I got 8 hours of good sleep. If I were to take a nap and set an alarm, there was no way I could wake up. Waking up from sleep on depakote was like trying to get out of bed with a 6 ton weight on top of me. To make matters worse, I experienced very frightening and realistic nightmares several times a week - the worst dreams of my life. My dr suggested taking it in the morning yet that did not help - I only suffered lethargy throughout the day and was not capable of functioning. | M | 19 | 1 months | 2/8/2007 | 4 | Bipolar II | Weight gain, hair loss, hand tremor, mental dullness...YET pulled me out of a complete mixed episode (1 week in hospital) in just 2 months. Hoping to counter hair loss with vitamins. Weight gain seems to come when I change doses (1500 right now). Taking Concerta to counter mental dullness. Also take Wellbutrin EX for depression half of bipolar. Haven't ruled out lowering dose or switching to different med, as I am newly diagnosed. If I can't get weight off with diet/exercise and hair back with vitamins, I'm not sure I will stay on it. | Regarding recent comment on this site that "women should not take Depakote", it could be said if you were a woman of childbearing years and had NOT had children yet or were hoping to have them soon (next 1 - 2 years). You SHOULD NOT GET PREGNANT on Depakote ER, the inserts with the med states that it is KNOWN (not possibly, in mice) but KNOWN to cause birth defects. While I am of childbearing age, I have 2 children and have no plans to get pregnant. My Drs. explained to me the protocol for an "unplanned" pregnancy wouldn't be pretty: immediate removal of Depakote, probably within the safety of a hospital and a switch to a different med or no meds at all - but would be humanly possible with a probability of no ill effects on the child. OBVIOUSLY, I don't plan on taking the risk but accidents do happen. I can imagine for those who have not yet started their families Depakote might be a difficult choice. | F | 32 | 11 months | 1/11/2007 | 5 | migraines | Initially I had heartburn, but it was mild and went away in time. I was also very tired but that wore off after 2 weeks or so. | I'm only taking 250mg at night but I don't notice any side effects. I think it has helped reduce the severity/frequency of some of my migraines. I still have menstrual migraines that are hard to control. I should be taking 500 mg a day but I just get worried about side effects. | F | 35 | 2 months | 1/3/2007 | 4 | bipolar disorder and seizures | I have essential tremor which became much worse when taking a full dose (2000mg). But I now take less Depakote to lessen the tremor (somewhat) plus Lamictal to make up the difference. For seizures, the only problem is word-finding difficulties, which Lamictal is better for. Strangely, though, I have taken Depakote for years and only recently am starting to lose my hair? (!) | Depakote stabilized my moods wonderfully and I haven't experienced any seizures or seizure-like symptoms while taking it. | F | 46 | | 12/26/2006 | 3 | Severe migraines, status migraine | Sluggishness, depersonalization/feeling disconnected from myself & body, heart palpitations/racing heart, spacy periods where my eyes glaze over. | It has totally taken away my headaches. I am hoping the side effects may be transient but I am concerned I've traded one problem for an equally bad one. | F | 38 | 2 weeks | 12/21/2006 | 3 | Severe migraines, status migraine | Sluggishness, light-headedness, depersonalization/feeling disconnected from myself & body, heart palpitations/racing heart, spacy periods where my eyes glaze over. | It has totally taken away my headaches. I am hoping the side effects may be transient but I am concerned I've traded one problem for an equally bad one. | F | 38 | 2 weeks | 12/21/2006 | 5 | Seizures | Major insomnia for six months, then it disappeared and I now sleep fine. Occasional mild depersonalization (a feeling that you're watching the world through a camera, though you still think and act and speak normally), and occasionally, while talking with someone, I'll kind of feel my eyes glaze over (always wonder if it's noticeable to the other person). | I was having partial simple seizures (spacey, light-headed feelings that last a minute or so) and then had a grand mal and was put on Trileptal. As the neurologist ramped up my dosage, I started getting partial simple seizures again, commensurate with the increasing dosage. I switched neurologists and my new one put me on Depakote and the partial simple seizures immediately stopped. She ramped me up to 1500 mg a day and got me off the Trileptal. After a couple years I ramped myself down to 750 mg a day of Depakote and remain seizure-free with less depersonalization and that glazed-over feeling--I'm quite pleased with Depakote. | M | 47 | 3 years | 12/10/2006 | 5 | Panic/Mood Swings | Not many negatives. Sometimes a bit tired but on the other hand sometimes extremely energetic. (not manic like, just an intense focus and endurance) | I admit I combine this with a low dose antidepressant but it's the clincher. Years ago I was always jumpy and often felt like my brain was short circuting or something. I had a slightly abnormal EEG but never an all out fit so it's up in the air between simple partials and panic. Whatever my diagnosis this seems to, I don't know, modulate everything. No Complaints. A lifesaver actually. | M | 30 | 5 years | 12/1/2006 | 5 | Simple partials/Panic | Only positive! | I love this stuff. I take it with Prozac 20mg and it's a great balance. The best thing about this anticonvulsant in my opinion is that compared to others it has 3 distinct advantages for me: 1. Eliminates seizures 2. No cognitive impairment or confusion as with lamictal 3. Eliminates ALL flushing and anticipatory anxiety, in short it destroys anxiety. | M | 53 | 9 years | 10/26/2006 | 3 | seizures the staring kind | increased appetite, large weight gain. mood swings am getting in trouble at school now because i am angry and depressed all the time. | helped better than the regular kind. but seem in a daze alot | M | 14 | 5 years | 10/21/2006 | 4 | Migraine | Major hair loss, increased appetite. | Really helped my headaches and lessened the severity and frequency of my many migraines but the hair loss was too much for me to take. Reluctantly going off. My hair is too important to me. Hopefully, I can find another drug that will help without such side-effects. | F | 34 | 12 months | 10/18/2006 | 4 | manic depression | Dulled intellectual intensity, calm feeling, feeling of being under water, thoughts slowed, repetitive thoughts disappeared, no headaches, gained maybe 5 lbs | Depakote definitely calms mania & helps rapid cycling but it didn't ultimately provide relief from debilitating, sudden depressions during which I would go off my medication in order to stop its dampening, antidepressant effect. I also used to go off my meds and make art since these drugs hampered my creative instincts. This drug has an artificial effect and I always wished they would just let me take it when I really "needed" it because I felt the way it effected my mind otherwise was too overwhelming. Needless to say I graduated college & worked steadily whilst on this medication. | F | 25 | 4 years | 10/10/2006 |