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 | seizures | Sence the beginning, I have had many dizzy spells. Cant walk a straight line. I have had to sit in the middle of walmart floor, thinking i was going to have a seizure( which did not happen) I was just so dizzy. Loss my train of thought. Within the last week, ive been constantly dizzy. Seems to be getting worse. I dont want to leave my house. It scares me to death. I see things in the corner of my eyes. Sometimes I feel my eyes roll. Feels like im going to fall down. I feel tremors, i was thinking it was my nerves though. Ive been thinking i was worrying so much about the way i feel, it was tiring my nerves up.Im always tired and ive gained 20 pds, sence Jan. My main concern now is why am i so dizzy and why did it suddenly get worse? | I have only had 2 seizures my whole life. One was just in nov,2006. I was allergic to other meds, then around Jan. was put on this. I wanna go off of it really bad, just dont want to have no more seizures. What should i do? | F | 6 days | 7/27/2007 | 4 | Epilepsy | Hair Loss and a sore scalp. | Other than those side effects, this was the best drug I've ever been on. Improved both my seizures and my mood. | F | 25 | 2 years | 7/23/2007 | 4 | Biopolar II Disorder | Moderate weight gain; excessive hair loss, thinning and drying; neck stiffness; restlessness; frequent urination at night; loss of appetite; sleep aid required. | Prozac saved my life, literally, but wore off after about four years. Was prescribed other medications but did not maintain and reduce the hypomanic and depressive episodes. Psychiatrist misdiagnosed condition as only depression. Finally investigated my condition and hired a new psychiatrist who prescribed depakote and lamictal (for depression). After five years, my hair loss has become excessive and depakote may be wearing off. Due to excessive hair loss, I am discussing lithium with my psychiatrist but this drug may also cause same side affect and am fearful of other reactions. At a crossroads but need to stay sane. | F | 53 | 5 years | 7/20/2007 | 3 | mood problems, aggression | my son has had severe weight gain- about 50 lbs. He is lethargic. He is not longer aggressive but my active little boy can barely run anymore because of the weight | M | 10 | 8 months | 7/17/2007 | 4 | post stroke seizures | the only significant side effect i have noticed is a lot of hair loss of my already thin hair. it is like i am shedding when i towel my hair off after my morning shower! It has never been like this before. | I am on a 750 mg daily dose and it has apparently kept me seizure free. I like it except for the hair loss. | 57 | 5 days | 7/10/2007 | 1 | bipolar 2 | Substantial weight gain over a few month period (two pants sizes). Dosage was upped to 7 250mg pills a day and experienced marked hair loss. Tapered down dose and have been off it for a week, but am still losing a lot of hair- It just falls out, follicle and all. I'd say about 2/3 or more is gone now. | The doc made it sound like everyone takes this now, and I was expecting some weight gain, but the hair loss is really just too much. Will be seeing another doc to find another med ASAP | F | 27 | 3 months | 7/10/2007 | 1 | Bipolar | I have gotten so freaking fat on this drug. I have gained about 4 inches around my waist in 3 weeks. I can't fit anymore of my pants anymore. Plus it makes me so tired I am basically non-functioning at work. I had to leave early one day this week for exhaustion and light-headedness. My Depakote has just went in the toilet, and I will request a new drug for my condition. | F | 27 | 4 weeks | 7/8/2007 | 3 | bipolar | Stomach irritations, weird dreams the first week, little more tired than usual. I have been on it for over a month and thus far gained about 3 pounds, some hair loss. | I have an appt in July with my dr. not sure how should I be feeling? I am more stable, at least my family tells me, I am more approachable, I don't spend as much, my incredible sex cravings have gone down a bit. So maybe it is working.... | M | 34 | 45 days | 7/3/2007 | 4 | Bipolar rapid cycling/mixed state | serious tremors (especially in the afternoons), sleepiness, and odd dreams. Also, I started to lose my balance a lot when my dosage was upped a bit. Doctor has dropped the dosage from a variable 750mg every other day with 500 in between to a flat 500mg a day. | Taking the medication with Klonopin - so lots of sleepiness! So far this is the only medication out of the many that I have been tried on to really take control of some of my moods. Lamictal gave me night terrors in which I'd wake screaming ... so I can handle strange dreams from Depakote! | F | 26 | 2.5 months | 6/19/2007 | 5 | Cough/exertional headache | TERRIBLE leg cramps at night, lethargy, nightmares and very strange dreams, weight gain, tremor. | Started with 1000mgm/day, went up to 2500mgm/day with but minimal relief, then increased to 3000mgm/day about two months ago. Still only minimal relief from really devastating headaches every time I coughed, sneezed, cleared my throat, bent over or exerted myself. About 3 weeks doc added Diamox (acetazolamide) to the mix and, voila!, it's as if a miracle has occurred. The cough headache syndrome is caused in part by increase cerebro-spinal fluid in the brain and the Diamox (a diuretic) reduces it just enough to, in essense, eliminate the headache. It, too, has some side effects - frequent urination, including at night, lethargy, depressed appetite, but a small price to pay. | M | 68 | 6 months | 6/13/2007 | 4 | Migrains | When I had first started taking it I had a lot of dreams and could not sleep very well. Now I have been taking it over 5 months and I sleep very well and the dreams have mostly stopped. I have not gained any weight. I can work as I have always worked and I put in a lot of hour's. It makes me a little tired when I first take it but I can still function like I have to. It has made me a little forgetfull but nothing major. My migrains have went from almost everyday to maybe two or three a Month. I also heard and read it can cause hair loss but I have not experianced that either. My hair has always been very long and is still long and thick. Although I do think it made it a little dryer. So I condition a lot more now. | I'm very happy with the medication and has worked very well for my headaches with little side effects. | F | 38 | 5 months | 6/11/2007 | 5 | depression | i was on 500MG twice a day for impulsive behaviors and it did wonders for me. some time went by and it wasnt working as well so i was up to 500MG 3 times a day, but the bad side effect for me was alot of weight gain!! 25lbs in just a few months, i never even weighed this much when i was pregnant with either one of my kids or after pregnancy. because of the weight gain, my doc has started me on lamictal, and im winging off of depakote slowly. lamictal has no side affects of weight gain, i hope to loose all this weight soon! | F | 24 | 5 months | 6/8/2007 | 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 | 4 | JME epilepsy | weight gain (60 lbs), but then added Topamax and lost it all, including my brain for a while (Dopamax!). Now am on Depakote 750 day/Keppra 750 day/ Diamox during menses and the new dr. added Provigil to help me stay alert and focused. | Depakote is the ONLY drug to really control my seizures. I've been on it since age 17. I had my first seizure in 10 years when the dr's took me off of it and put me on Keppra (am now back on Dep 750 day and Keppra 750 day). Depakote makes me tired and a little less motivated, a few tremors/twitches. Provigil has helped motivate and alertness. I've skipped a dose and been fine as there is so much built up in my system (I think.) The dr's want to take me off of Dep., but its the ONLY drug that really helps my petit and grand mals. I refuse to go off of it! Good luck to everyone! | F | 32 | 15 years | 5/28/2007 | 4 | migrains with aura | very tired , not sleeping well,tossing and turning all night | started taking it about a month ago, since the fist day i started i havent had only 1 migrain and it was almost not noticable , i was having migrain with aura's daily sometime 2 or 3 times a day they would usually last about 1/2 hr , but none now,i will put up with being tired and not sleeping well for now ,this is the only meds that has worked for me and i have had these since i was 12 and now iam in my mid forties | M | 44 | 30 days | 5/16/2007 | 3 | depression | I don't quite fit neatly as unipolar or bipolar but somewhere in between. Really struggling to get back on my feet after major depressive episode. QUESTION: does the weight gain come from increased cravings or does the drug alone cause weight gain (metabolism)? Clueless about this stuff obviously... | I have only been on the drug for 6 days - not sure if full effect is happening | M | 44 | 6 days | 5/15/2007 | 5 | manic depression | I have not experienced major weight gain (yet). I have only had one tremor in my hands in the beginning which lasted for about 2 mnutes. I do have VERY strange dreams and sometimes nightmares, which I don't care for but... My hair has not fallen out, and my libido is better than before. I have noticed that it is harder for me to wake up in the morning but, who actually wants to get up early in the morning? | I have been on Depakote 1000mg (in the morning), plus 20mg of Prozac, and .5mg of Xanax, 3x per day, which I usually only take the first Xanax of the day and that seems to be enough for me. I have been on this regimen for about 6 months now. I think that this combo has been a God-send for me because I have more energy and less stress than I ever had in my life so far. I realize that the Xanax has a LOT to do with that! Since I have been on this combo, I have done much better at work, started school again, and started a part time job doing things I really enjoy doing. To be honest, I drink about 8-12 beers a night and it hasn't seemed to affect my meds, although I'm sure it is placing extra strain on my liver. I have loved the Depakote so far. I have been on Zoloft, Effexor, and numerous anti-depressants over the last few years and Depakote is the only one that feels "clean" to me and doesn't make me feel like a moody basket case! I have NOT gained a lot of weight, nor | M | 40 | 6 months | 5/12/2007 | 4 | Bipolar 2 | Astoundingly, none! Maybe a little tiredness in the afternoon but nothing to speak of... | After 5 days, no effect. The sixth day the effects kicked in: first time in a year and a half I didn't wake up with horrible suicidal thoughts. Much more stabilized mood in the daytime, much less physical/mental agitation, more concentration, more calm at bedtime, much less racing thoughts/projects, I now can wait my turn in a bank without feeling I'm going to explode like before. I just can't believe a stupid pill did all this! I am currently at 750 mg. I have suffered SO much for SO many years (ruined my career MANY times, lost over 50 000 $ in Forex bidding over a few months, hang around in the red light district in Montreal chasing prostitutes 18 hours a day for 5 years like a sex maniac, etc. etc.). WHY NO DOCTOR TALK ME INTO TAKING THIS PILL BEFORE! All those lost years, almost a whole life f-d up... Is this a miracle pill? No: to soon to tell. But if this last for the months coming, I'll rate it 6. | M | 55 | 9 days | 5/12/2007 | 4 | Bipolar 2 | Slight weight gain. Made my hair curl | Great mood stabiliser | F | 52 | 3 years | 5/11/2007 | 4 | Daily Migraines | Weight gain!!! Sleepiness, even-calm moods | It has worked wonders for my migraines. One 250mg ER at night and I'm set- way better than Topamax for me. HOWEVER, the weight I've put on in the past two months is amazing and ever so hard to fix. The calming mood feeling is nice, not too inabling, and it is definitly harder to wake up. | F | 22 | 3 months | 5/7/2007 |