DEPAKOTE Reviews (DIVALPROEX SODIUM)

Average Rating: 3.0 (584 Ratings)

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 ANTICONVULSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

DEPAKOTE  (DIVALPROEX SODIUM):  This medication is used to treat seizure disorders, certain psychiatric conditions (manic phase of bipolar disorder), and to prevent migraine headaches. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.   FDA Approval Date: 1983-03-10 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on DEPAKOTE: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTECOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Misdiagnosed bi-polar disorder Confusion, slurred speech, inability to understand simple questions, weight gain (50 pounds in a year), hair loss, clinical paranoia, and made diabetes much harder to control. Idiot shrink diagnosed bi-polar based on one period of insomnia 10 years earlier after losing a child, moving, divorce & career change, all within 6 months. I have been off of it over 7 years, and still suffer from slurred speech, increased pain and fatigue "brain fog", inability to answer questions, especially about things like preferences, social anxiety, etc. when ill or fatigued. It apparently caused permanent neurological damage. I am also still frequently irritable, snap at family and friends more easily, and occasionally exhibit signs of paranoia - e.g. thinking that Dr. & others were trying to kill me. My overall stress tolerance is greatly reduced, and I have been taking Wellbutrin since then, and xanax and vicodin occasionally to help with the residual anxiety and extreme pain. M 2 weeks
5/20/2009
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 5  Hypomania I take 3 250mg tablets of Depakote Er per day. Sometimes I get a get a little shaky for a few minutes. Other than that nothing really. I have not gained any weight. I think my body is just used to it. It never stops working for me and is effective. The generic form that just came out in 2009 did not work as well for me so I pay a higher co-pay. It's worth it. M 29 4 years
5/17/2009
 4  Migrane Prevention Tremble in hands, Sore throat, Loss of hair I took Topamax for 2yrs, it worked in the beginning then stoppped. Now I have switched to Depakote, I liked Topamax when it worked for me. I have only had 2 migranes in this 2 month period, but I dont know if I can handle this on and off sore throat. It has helped w/ the miganes but not helped w/ daily headaches. Maybe some time will help w/ depakote. F 30 2 months
5/13/2009
 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
 1  Bipolar I and PTSD Weight gain like woah - 75 lbs, and had to stop the drug to stop the gain. Stupidness. Loss of hair. Laziness and tiredness. Made me old before my time man, seriously. I gained 75 lbs, and my doctor said it would stop but it never ever did. I exercise, I eat healthy. And now I weigh over 200. Seriously! Not fair. F 31 2 years
5/11/2009
 1  miss diagnosed with bipolar Feels as though you are walking knee high in wet cement all day. You feel like you need caffeine all the time. For what you think is one minute passing, it is actually 10 minutes. Hated the way this drug made me feel. I could not function. I had to force myself to eat, to shower, to just live. You feel tired continuously. F 37 14 days
5/9/2009
 4  seizures I have been taking depakote for 9 years but I just started to notice hair loss and until I looked online I had no idea that this medication had that side effect. This is the only medication I've ever taken for my seizures and it's worked fantastic up until now. I'm calling my doctor tomorrow to find out what can be done, but I am bummed about the possibility of going off the medication. F 9 years
4/21/2009
 5  Bipolar 2 stomach burning like hunger pains, wake up once every night at 2 am, some twitching I think that it saved my life. I have been misdiagnosed for 12 years (was diagnosed as depressive with ADHD). Depakote started working after only a few days. Was scared because I thought that meds would change my personality..... it has, but in a positive way. I am able to process information and concentrate better. My energy level has levelled out. Was afraid that I would be considered boring now, but friends and family are so happy that I am no longer self destructing. My thoughts are no longer crazy and out of control. I have control over my impulses. I don't get obsessed. F 32 30 days
4/15/2009
 5  seizures weight gain, hair loss, i get shaky at times, and possible tooth decay. I have been on Depakote for almost 3 years now. I have not had one single episode since I have been on this drug. It had it's bad side effects at the beginning but my hair is back to normal and I got back to my normal weight or around my normal weight. F 18 3 years
4/7/2009
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 5  Mood Sometimes tired. I'll keep it brief and tell the truth, it's been great for 10 years. The drug deserves a higher rating and it's a shame someone can post 'taken 1 day, caused PCOS'. Read the side effects and ask your Dr. Every drug has warnings and nothing is being hidden about this drug. M 30 10 years
4/1/2009
 4  bipolar I have absolutely no libido. F 31 3 years
3/29/2009
 1  seizures high ammonia levels over 300, confusion, sleepiness, slurring of words, mental changes It seemed to be working ---then I started acting strangely and my wife was told to bring me to the ER; I wouldn't go; the police had to remove me and take me to the ER M 65 7 months
3/24/2009
 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
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 5  migraine Hungry, sleepy, lack motivation, sore breasts, indigestion, poor night time sleep, memory disabled. It took away my daily migraine that imitrex couldn't. I get vascular spasm as well as dilated, migraine. They have to be treated differently and would vacillate from one to the other. Imitrex for dilated would take only part away, then vascular spasm would set in and I'd still have a terrible headache. Would have to dilate the spasm and eventually use imitrex again. Depakote at 250 mg stopped them completely. Still have to be careful with about 50 different triggers, but at least I can do that, and I'm headache free. I hate the side effects though and may try soon after taking Depakote for about a month, to see if I can taper off of it and still not have daily migraine. I want to use as little of it as possible. Hair loss for me hasn't been too bad, but sleep is not good, 3 good hours a night, then light sleep off and on, so am tired in the daytime. Lack motivation, but can make myself do what I have to. Gained 15 pounds in the month I've been taking it and I'm a very disciplined eater normally. I eat very low calorie, but when you're hungry, you're hungry. Hoping to lose the weight working in my yard, flowers, this spring. F 60 4 weeks
3/22/2009
 2  Absence Epilepsy Waking up in the middle of the night, frustration, aggitation, behavior changes, lack of appetite DID NOT WORK FOR MY 6 YEAR OLD diagnosed with ABSENCE EPILEPSY M 6 4 months
3/19/2009
 1  Epilepsy Weight gain, word searching, inablility to think/conceptualize at an expontial rate. Memory loss. I don't remember my 40's. Hell on earth!!! I was taking 5000mg a day for 10 years. No, 5000 is not a typo and yes the doctor actually prescribed that amount. I was also taking Tegretol, Neurontin, and Topamax at the same time. I am lucky to be alive, literally. I hope somewhere, somehow, this comment helps someone. If so, pay it forward. F 55 12 years
3/15/2009
 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
 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
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 2  Mood swings After about 1 week of taking 1000mg a day I had bad diarria, some minor hair loss and became very lethargic. By week 2 my appetite was unbelievable, I started to have strange dreams, and the other symptoms had gotten worse. It did help my mood swings but I felt like was doped-up all the time. My doctor has now taken me off of it after 2 1/2 weeks. F 20 19 days
3/9/2009
 3  Migraine About 15 minutes after taking Depakote, I experience very harsh abdominal pain which usally goes away soon after. I am horrible at remembering things. Mood swings! I also drop just about everying I put in my hand. I thought that the only side affect was the abdominal pain, but after reading the other comments I realize that all of the other problems that I had been facing were side affects of the Depakote as well. F 19 3 months
2/25/2009

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