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
 
 5  Severe Migraines Some what sleepy for the first few months, can't complain about hair loss cause It's hereditary for me. Minor weight gain. While taking this medicine my doctor has directed me to have a blood test once a year in order to monitor my liver function. Which has been fine. I take a 1000mg dose of Depakote ER every day in the form of to 500mg pills. I suffered all the way through High school and much of my early 20's with horrendous severe Migraines. I tried using several different medications that are used to terminate migraines that are often dangerous and in some cases can cause severe heart problems such as Imitrex, Migranal and Zomig. All of these drugs for whatever reason were unable to offer me any relief and failed to terminate the migraine as they promised to do. I used to suffer from 2 severe migraines a month with each one lasting about 8 hours of excruciating pain. Now I am cured!!! I have not had a single Migraine for two years!!! For someone like me the side effects are well worth it and very minor in comparison to severe migraines that would often times have me huddled into a fetal position and feeling like some one had a chain saw on the back of my head. I think it is important for people who suffer from migraines to consider Depako M 25 2.5 years
2/24/2009
 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
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 5  Anxiety & Agitation The first few weeks and they were minor. I expected worse and have never had bouts of intolerable side effects. I don't take a high dose. 750mg a day in the extended release form makes a big difference for the better. M 36 5 years
2/18/2009
 4  mood swings Constipation/indigestion, pretty much all the side effects related to that area. Not severe, just a real drag. Some rash/itching (abdomen/head). Lethargy. I'm on 1250mg of generic depakote & 300mg of gen. wellbutrin. How do you know which is helping/hurting more? I've been depressed/angry/paranoid all my life. I used to break into a sweat & throw things. Easily frustrated. Total rollercoaster. When I start to go there now, the brakes go on and after 30sec or so I'm calm again. There is a feeling of sedation. I've been feeling more lethargic recently and I need more sleep than I used to. It's a relief not to feel the constant anger every freakin' day. People aren't plotting against me. The itchy/flaky scalp(never a problem before)is really starting to give me OCD, though. I don't want to quit like I have in the past w/other meds. I'm going to try to deal w/the side effects. I just hope it doesn't screw up my liver. M 41 4 months
2/15/2009
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 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  mood On the drug exactly two weeks now and have had slight heartburn from day one. It seems to be helping with my temper, though. I'm on 1000 mg a day, and I'm assuming this will go down, as I have read that everyone else is on 750 mg a day. I'm not sure why I'm on so much. Today my skin is a little itchy which makes me paranoid because Wellbutrin gave me a rash and severe chest pain at week two - totally sucked, as it was working great. Hopefully the itching is related to something else but I doubt it. I am eating more, by the way. WAY more. Still, I'd rather be fat than high strung. Hope I don't get a rash. I hope I don't get an allergic reaction like Wellbutrin. Seems to steady my mood. M 33 2 weeks
1/30/2009
 1  Migraines Tremble in hands, weight gain, mood swings, pain in legs and back, some weird dreams and inability to focus. I have been on several migraine prevention meds for the last 22 yrs. and Depakote is not the worst but the side effects are varying and extreme at times. I am going back to Topamax. F 40 3 months
1/27/2009
 3  bipolar disorder hair loss and breakage, can't sleep at night, and anxiety. F 24 1 years
1/25/2009
 5  SEVERE MIGRAINES Hair loss and some weight gain. Even though I've had these side effects...it's far better than 13 severe migraines within 22 days. Since being on Depakote at only 500mg a day...I have had 1 severe migraine in 6 months. F 43 6 months
1/21/2009
 3  bipolar after over 10 years on it, my teeth have completely rotted due to extreme acid reflux, even with prescription meds. it took this long for someone to tell me it might be the depakote. has anyone else experienced this? M 40 10 years
1/19/2009
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 3  seizures my 3yr old takes it for seizures he has pain in joints mainly legs and leg cramping, can't stay asleep for long wakes up sceaming every night from his legs hurting even when he is asleep he is restless, loss of coordination, it stopped the seizure but I am going to see if the doctor can try something else M 3 6 months
1/18/2009
 3  bipolar thinning of hair, 20 lb weight gain I am not sure if this is working with the other meds I am taking and I am not sure if all of the weight gain is from this or the lexapro and seroquel that I am taking. I do not get drowsy from the med so I guess it is doing it's job. F 37 3 months
1/17/2009
 3  bipolar thinning hair, drowsiness, swelling of hands and feet This started off good but it is quickly going down hill. I have trouble staying awake. I sleep about 12 - 14 hours a day. I also have trougble eatting. I have to force a meal in each day. even though I'm not eatting I'm still puttin on weight. I also having some shaking and a inability to stay still. I hopig there is something better out there for me. Also, starting to feel really down again. F 31 1 months
1/13/2009
 2  bipolar weightgain,dizziness cant think properly cant put thoughts into words aches and pains i sleep and eat only besides a 125 lb weightgain i cannot function F 30 2 years
1/9/2009
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 4  Migraine Headaches None at all! No weight gain, hair loss or mood problems. I started this drug at 250mg twice a day to deal with near-daily migraine headaches that were not consistently responsive to abortive therapy and the migraines stopped within a week. I was also taking lithium 300mg AM/600mg PM for bipolar NOS. Recently I have gone off of the lithium and my migraines returned along with what psych literature describes as feeling an "unseen presence" at night before going to sleep. Hopefully doubling my Depakote dose as prescribed will alleviate the migraines. F 24 1 months
1/4/2009
 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
 2  post stroke seizures extreme sleepiness, memory loss, could not focus, mood swings, weight gain When I mentioned my extreme tirdness and always falling asleep to my doctor, she seemed surprised! I have been on 1000 mg ER for six months and have been steadily getting more sluggish. i am so glad I found this site, now I understand my condition. I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor to get off Depakote. M 70 6 months
12/31/2008
 1  Mood Stabilizer, Depression Major weight gain. Over 40 lbs. Confused feeling, tiredness, increased appetite. I would not recommend this medication if you are concerned with gaining weight. My doctor did not mention this side effect to me when she prescribed it, and my weight shot up from 125 lbs to 165 lbs. Found myself hungry all the time. I became very depressed. Tired all the time. Certainly didn't work well for mood stabilizing. F 23 1 years
12/23/2008
 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
 2  Bipolar 2 Extreme lethargy; dizziness; drowsiness; lack of motivation; weight gain; loss of bladder control The thoughts definitely went away. When I wasn't struggling to stay awake, I was having to force myself to do things... which would end up with things not getting done. About 3 months in, I started wetting the bed - even when I had not drank any beverages within 4 hours of going to bed. So I quit immediately. I did some research online and found out that dopamine can cull some of the symptoms of bipolar - or at least mask them. So I took up smoking. That has worked for 6 months now, but I don't like it, so I want to quit. Plus, it has put me in a severe depressive state. M 26 3 months
12/18/2008

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