DEPAKOTE Reviews (DIVALPROEX SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.0 (584 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare DEPAKOTE with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 |
More on DEPAKOTE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | bipolar ii (depressive) | total apathy. complete lack of motivation. | I didn't gain weight; actually, it neutralized my appetite and made me lose a few pounds. It gave my brain a calm feeling, but psychologically I was very anxious because I wasn't getting *anything* done. I had no motivation whatsoever. Wouldn't get out of bed because I saw no reason. Wouldn't even drive to 7-Eleven to get snacks. Saw no reason to work on projects. When I drove, I saw no reason to use the turn signals unless absolutely necessary...you get the picture. And this was on a *tiny* dose. Even after weeks of it, i was intensely sedated. Not helpful because mania is not my problem. | F | 22 | 7 weeks 250 1X day | 8/31/2010 | 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 day | 8/28/2010 | 1 | Mood Stabilization | NONE | I was prescribed this medicine to take 500mg once a day for 5 days and then 750mg a day each day after. However, I was lucky enough to find this website and after reading all of the reviews, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I AM TAKING THIS MEDICATION! I called the doctors office and told them that I just picked up the Depakote and read up on it and I will not put this in my system. There really has to be a better way to stabilize my mood then this! | M | 38 | 0 days 750mg 1X day | 8/23/2010 | 3 | Bipolar II | Diminished ability to think, slowed down metabolism, reduced sexual drive, thinning of hair, weight gain. The worst are reduced ability to think which gradually is reduced towards the end of the 24 hour cycle. | It controls bipolar, but it feels like "brain death". For a very ambitious person who had a succeful track record this is a high toll to pay. I will "train my mind", as I am finding ways to coop better with this illness. And do not forget, even if you are alone in life, you can always have control of your illness, your doctors and meds, if you really really want to. | F | 43 | 5 years 1000mg 1X day | 8/18/2010 | 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 day | 8/16/2010 | 1 | Bipolar I | Confusion, visible tremor (hands shaking, teeth chattering), hungry all the time, very lucid dreams, weight gain of 17 lbs, hair coming out in chunks, low energy, extreme apathy and depression, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth rapidly) | I don't know about any of the other Bipolar users but I think it is mandatory you take an antidepressant with this awful drug otherwise you will never leave the house and just eat yourself silly. I couldn't hold a book or magazine in public because my hands shook so bad, I also could not write a letter. I agree with everyone on being unable to finish a thought or struggling to find the right words. The weight gain is sudden and startling, I woke up in the middle of the night hungry and every morning starving. My hair when I wash or brush it comes out in massive amounts I am very upset about it and hoping it will stop now that I have discontinued this terrible drug. The only positive I can say is I noticed an evening out of my manic episodes. But the side effects aren't worth that one benefit to me. Seroquel is working well and I am happy I switched. | F | 38 | 5 months 1000mg 2X day | 8/11/2010 | 1 | Taking it for depression | My brain is scrambled. My sort term memory is terrible. I cannot always remember the easiest words,making it hard to put together sentences. I have no ambition to do anything and I used to run my own business. I am forgetful,make excuses for not attending social events, fall asleep easily. In addition, I have a hard time writing because my hands shake. This is not a constant but it does happen. My family tells me I am just "not with it" and my son is so upset. If I have a good day, he will tell me, "Mom you sound so good today"! I am trying to convince everyone that I can still think. Iknow my husband thinks I am entirely unable to do much of anything. I am making his life so boring. | When I first began taking depakote, I did not notice these effects. I guess they were gradual. It must have started when I was operating my business because I had to hire an assistant to help keep my mind organized. Now, years later after retiring, I am noticing everything. I just had a liver test and my dermatologist told me to stop taking another medication he had prescribed for psoriasis. I believe my liver problems are cause by the depakote, not the other med I was taking. I am also on Cymbalta and I have not researched effects caused by this drug. But Cymbalta keeps me straight. Without it, I would probably start having suicidal ideation again. My psychiatrist said that Depakota was a mood medication??? It is more like a brain death medication. I am going to stop it. I would like to enjoy the rest of my life feeling, thinking, participating and enjoying the company of others. This is a dangerous medication and I think controlled testing should be done on hundreds of people. | F | 64 | 15 years 500mg 1X day | 7/15/2010 | 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 day | 7/8/2010 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | M | 47 | 1000mg 1X day | 6/29/2010 Patient History | 2 | Bipolar | Constantly tired, drowsy, lack of ambition, no motivation, feeling blah | I've never felt so lazy my entire life until I started this shit. I feel like maybe it's because I'm not really bipolar like my psychiatrist seems to believe, so this drug is having an inverse effect on me. I don't like it. | F | 20 | 2 months 500mg 1X day | 6/27/2010 | 1 | Bipolar II Diagnosis | Weight gain (Gained over 10 lbs in a week), uncontrollable bladder problems, Tremors, Nausea, Anxiety, Impaired short term memory | I'm now determined to become a lawyer so I can sue bastards that insist these drugs help you with bipolar disorder. | M | 23 | 4 months 200 2X day | 6/23/2010 | 5 | Bi-Polar | The only side effect I have is that my period has stopped. My breasts are sore and tender. Almost mimicking pregnancy, however even though I had a tubal 3 yrs ago, I still took a test. negative whoohoo | This medication has been a miracle drug for me. I am 32 yrs old and until 3 weeks ago never really lived a single day of my life. I was recently hospitalized for another suicide attempt. Doc put me on Depakote within 3 days I felt like a different person. I wanted things, wanted to shower, wanted to walk, wanted to take care of my family. Upon coming home over the next week or so I had so much energy i felt as though I had lost 100lbs. My appetite has decreased (i am overweight so this is a good thing) I am consistent, concentration is better, no feelings of hopelessness. If I know something is coming up that may be difficult I am worried but I dont do the "freak-out" I know it will be hard, but also will be ok. THANK YOU DEPAKOTE YOU SAVED MY LIFE | F | 32 | 4 weeks 500 2X day | 6/22/2010 | 4 | Bipolar Disorder | nausea, constipation, increased appetite and 10 lb. weight gain | After about 2 weeks, the nausea and constipation subsided which was great. When it did, I noticed a tremendous change in my emotional and mental state. I was more postive, actually looking forward to living out the day. The increased appetite and weight gain, however, is not cool. I'm at the heaviest I've ever been in my life! But with a stricter exercise routine and more careful food choices, hopefull it won't be too bad of a problem. Either way, for me, the side effects have are worth fighting through to feelt the way I do now while on Depakote. Do not give up! It's always going to be hard :P | F | 27 | 1 months 500 mg 1X day | 6/17/2010 | 2 | NEWLY DX BIPOLAR 2 | Only taken twice and I feel awful. Had to "cut and paste" post from another person as I can't function. I did not read ANY side effect information before I took as I did not want the info to "go to my head" well... two days and I Googled "I hate Depakote" and found this site. I don't like it. I know I should give it a chance? | DITTO!!!Confusion, can't find words, lose track of what I'm saying mid-sentence, can't think clearly at times, hands shaky, brain fog--have to make lists to keep myself on track--vivid dreams which I remember, frequent waking during night, exhausted during day, loss of enjoyment at work, embarrassed because I feel like people look at me strangely when I can't express a thought--like someon | F | 51 | 2 days 250mgER 1X day | 6/17/2010 | 3 | bipolar 2 | Confusion, can't find words, lose track of what I'm saying mid-sentence, can't think clearly at times, hands shaky, brain fog--have to make lists to keep myself on track--vivid dreams which I remember, frequent waking during night, exhausted during day, loss of enjoyment at work, embarrassed because I feel like people look at me strangely when I can't express a thought--like someone with Alzheimers. | Was being treated for depression for 16+ years. New MD thinks the depression is secondary to bipolar 2. Depakote calmed my brain, which always seemed to be racing with thoughts, but my sleep quality is so poor with the constant dreaming and waking multiple times during the night, it's difficult to work. This drug would be fine if I could just stay at home, do very little, and not have to think straight. | F | 38 | 28 days 500mg 1X day | 6/15/2010 | 3 | Bipolar after opiate addiction | Severe aggression and agitation, annoyance, short-fuse (no-fuse sometimes), fatigue with mild aches and pains. No change in appetite. | I started taking this back in late April 2010 for bipolar depression/OCD/anxiety after years of painkiller addiction. My doctor says I have some weird mix of bipolar depression, mania, obsessions, and anxiety as well as severe mood-swings as a result of years of painkiller abuse. He says that Depakote has been extensively-studied in numerous cases like mine and that it will take months for the brain to heal and that Depakote can speed up this process. Along with Neurontin and Zoloft I feel we were making progress and he added this medication back in late April 2010. Since then I go through periods of way up and way down, usually lasting about 2-3 days each respectively; the lows are the worst, feeling like I've got a pallet of bricks on top of me and way way beyond just being "bummed out". Additionally I am EXTREMELY agitated, annoyed, short-tempored, over almost anything, as well as overwhelming feelings of paranoia and dread. The smallest things can send me into a whirlwind of obscenities and four-letter words; additionally whenever someone at work or out in public or on the highway cuts me off or gives me lip suddenly I want to take out their kneecaps or run them off the road. My doctor seems "surprised" somewhat by this series of behavioral changes but says that it is all part of my condition and part of the process of my brain healing and that it will take time to improve. Anyone else have their own experiences like this with Depakote? Any lig | M | 27 | 2 months 1000 1X day | 6/14/2010 | 2 | Bipolar II | I have had mild nausea ever since I started taking it and sometimes acid reflux, vomiting, and other mild tummy trouble. I also have tingling in my face, tongue, arms, and legs that comes and goes. My doctor keeps saying these side effects will pass but they haven't gotten even the slightest bit better. If anything, they're getting worse. | I REALLY wanted to like this drug because I've tried several that didn't work (Lamictal, Lexapro, Seroquel, etc), but I really really hate it. I've been viciously irritable since I started taking it and sick on a daily basis. I'm also so terrified of the weight gain that everyone reports that I workout twice a day and eat about 1200 calories a day. I also force myself to ignore random hunger pains soon after I've eaten. I've actually lost 4 pounds but it's been a huge struggle. My doctor is not alarmed by any of my complaints and keeps telling me to wait it out. Exactly how long am I supposed to be completely miserable in my "treatment"? Luckily, I'm in between jobs at the moment. Had I been working, there is NO WAY I could have gone to work in this state. It makes no sense to trade depression for a horrible lifestyle. I'm going off of it ASAP. | F | 30 | 1 months 500mg 1X day | 6/14/2010 | 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 day | 6/12/2010 | 1 | mood stabilization | On just a starting dose, I became extremely fatigued from simply walking for a 1/2 hour. I was NEVER full after eating plenty. | Even though I hated it, I've seen it work great for a lot of people. | M | 20 | 1 months 250 mg 2X day | 6/3/2010 | 3 | Bi-Polar Disorder | I have expierenced confused thoughts, lethargy, lack of co-ordination, eating something in the middle of the night and an effect that I would describe as being unable to grab something with my hands (muscle elastisticy),anxiety due to these side effects, ideas trailing off ( I have given up on the creative life that I had while manic) I understand the trade off! | M | 55 | 15 years 2500MG 1X day | 6/2/2010 |