DEPAKOTE ER Reviews (DIVALPROEX SODIUM)Average Rating: 3.2 (181 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.) |
More on DEPAKOTE ER: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR DEPAKOTE ER | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | anxiety | While reportings of hair loss, weight gain and memory loss are prevalent, I have little. I'm on 250mg/day. I've noticed a slight headache about 5-6 hrs after dosage, making me sleepy, but relaxed. Due to my work schedule, I take at 11:30 am my headhache occurs at 5-6 pm and by 7pm I'm just relaxed. I've been watching for weight gain but in fact have lost weight, I just don't feel hungry. Because I'm hypoglycemic, I used to eat every 2 hrs to control by blood sugar, but I don't have this problem anymore. Thank God for my habit of eating because with Depakote I wouldn't think to eat at all. I have notice some hair loss. Minor. Memeory, it may take me minute to remember the lastest but I still remember all of the old. I'm not aware of what day it is, but that's okay. Life is alltogether better and living one day at a time, like it should be. I'm 100% more focused and getting more things done without feeling stressed to get it all done. I wish I would of been on this 10 yrs ago, but everyt | F | 39 | | 8/14/2009 | 4 | bi-polar | I did gain 10 pounds and have hand tremors sometimes. Other than that, it has helped me to focus better. I still have some manic episodes but not as many. | F | 52 | 4 years | 7/23/2009 | 5 | Mood Swings & Anxiety | Some tiredness at times and occassional indigestion but it has really worked great for me. | M | 28 | 3 years | 7/2/2009 | 3 | Bipolar II | hair loss, fatigue, very vivid dreams/nightmares (I sometimes confused dreams with memories), impaired memory., fatigue, hard time focusing, hard time communicating efficiently, made some of my gastrointestinal issues worse, sexual side effects | Have been taking 1250mg each night for several years for my bipolar disorder. It's hard to differentiate between side effects of this medication and the symptoms of all my other disorders because of the way things happened when I went on the meds, and ever since then. I could have more than this but I'm fairy certian the stated effects are in fact due to this medication. It HAS helped curve my mood swings but I don't feel that it is doing enough. I'm going to go to my doctor to try and find a med that works better for me. After all, there are plenty I haven't tried. | F | 20 | 2 years | 7/2/2009 | 4 | Seizures due to car accident | Daily fatigue, lots of gas, constipation then diarrhea after meals, belly weight gain, poor vision. | Losing a 1/3 of my hair, gained 40 lbs in 5 months. Enough explosive gas to power a small outboard boat motor,constipation, diarrhea and fatigue, no sex drive,poor eyesight, this drug makes me feel like I am 90. But NO seizures! Keppra, Lamictal, Trileptal all gave me chest pains and break through petite Mal seizures.:^) | F | 49 | 3 years | 6/26/2009 | 4 | Bipolar / Mood Disorders | Weight gain (50 lbs in 2.5 years), increased appetite, difficulty waking in the morning, markedly decreased libido. | I stopped taking this drug at the recommendation of my therapist after two years of therapy. I had been diagnosed as bipolar following a period of drug abuse, and didn't exhibit the signs after being clean for a while. After coming off of this drug, I did notice that I had to make a more conscious effort to concentrate for a while. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. As I wasn't taking it for seizures, I didn't taper off, I just stopped taking it. I had no withdrawal symptoms other than the one mentioned above. Within one month of stopping this drug, I lost 15 pounds and my appetite was more normal. My libido remained diminished due to other medications. | M | 31 | 2.5 years | 6/14/2009 | 3 | MIgraine prevention/Type II Bipolar | depression, anxiety,stomach pains. Felt like I was 'losing it'. | Did prevent migraines, but at the cost of me crying my eyes out on the floor. When that passed I just felt like I was 'blah' all day. Not happy, not sad. Just in limbo. Angry outbursts too. | F | 35 | 2 years | 6/7/2009 | 4 | migraine | none so far | M | 62 | 2 months | 3/27/2009 | 3 | Type II Bipolar | I've been taking it for 14 days. Initially I was very euphoric, it seemed like a wonder drug, but then the side effects kicked in. So far I am experiencing an increased appetite, very vivid dreaming and recall, memory loss, and I THINK I have confused a dream with reality at least once, and I KNOW I have completely forgotten a whole conversation, plus the depression has gotten worse. I'm hoping that increasing my anti-depressant will improve that. I take Depakote ER in conjunction with Wellbutrin XL and Buspar for anxiety. | I'm going to give it about 5 more weeks for the sides to level off and if not I'll switch meds (again!) I was on Lithium before but it was ruining my skin. I think I'll try Topomax next if this doesn't work | F | 32 | 14 days | 3/27/2009 | 2 | Possibly bipolar, "drug withdrawls" | Hair loss, visual hallucinations, spacey-feeling, weight gain, acne, constipation, high liver enzyme count. I also get horrible stomach pains every few days since i started taking it, but I'm not sure if that's from the meds or not. | At 1000mg I experienced weight gain, hair loss, zombie like feeling, constipation, trails in my vision, and a high liver enzyme count. At 1250mg I felt completely out of it, with all of the symptoms enhanced. Now at 500mg there's constipation, acne, and still losing some hair. I guess my mood is stable, but my doctor isn't all that great and gives me the runaround like no other. | M | 20 | 11 months | 3/22/2009 | 3 | MOOD DISORDER POSSIBLY BIPOLAR | So Far I am just really tired.. I notice it leaves me feeling high after taking it, but my doctor said that will go away with time and so will the tiredness. I havent noticed any weight gain but it has only been a week. I was on 250 mg for 4 days (accidently missed a dose) and 500 for the past 3 days (accidently missed a dose on that too) | It has helped me slightly so far. I feel sort of dazed but dont feel like punching someone in the face in the last couple of days | F | 21 | 8 days | 1/21/2009 | 5 | Partial Szr/Bipolar | At first some weight gain, about 10 pounds. Like the person below I used to take the regular and now take the extended release version. Less side effects, weight back to normal. | Where do I start? I used to have 7-10 partial seizures a year. One limb shaking uncontrollably and I never knew when it would happen. On top of that I have Bipolar disorder. I had side effects with Lamictal, Tegretol, and Dilantin and still had seizures. Dilantin was before the BP diagnosis. Like the person below, I have NEVER had a seizure on Depakote/Depakote ER. I have confidence and don't worry anymore. I have my good and bad days like everyone but my moods are better and I this med slams the door on any seizure activity. | M | 36 | 9 years | 1/10/2009 | 5 | Seizure disorder-JME | Weight gain, hair loss | I took regular Depakote for years before ER was available. Both have been great for my seizure disorder (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, or JME). Weight gain is the big downside, and as I got over age 40 I have gained weight. Am now really focusing on diet and exercise, but have never had a seizure while on Depakote - can't say that for any other of the meds I've tried other than Keppra which is also a good one for me. I tried Lamictal (couldn't get seizure free on it without feeling really dizzy all the time) and Topamax (bad digestive side effects and double vision), so for me Depakote is a life-saver. | F | 42 | 8 years | 1/8/2009 | 5 | Bipolar | Compared to other meds I have taken not many and they did eventually go away. My body must have ajusted. | At least I am never nervous anymore and focus is fine. I love this medicine. | M | 31 | 4 years | 1/3/2009 | 5 | Chronic daily headache | Slight,but not noticeable hair loss in the beginning, weight gain of about 40lbs in 3 years I've been on the medication. I have also experienced a little bit of lethargy.. seems I don't quite have the energy that I used to. | After having one headache that lasted 2 years, I feel like Depakote ER gave me my life back. Within two weeks after starting it, my headache was all but gone. I am now using it for prevention. I love this med, inspite of the weight gain, which I am now trying very hard to control through diet and exercise. Being pain free is so wonderful. I still have an occasional headache that I control with Fiorinal. I can function/work/enjoy life again. I would like to get off this drug eventually, but it does seem like everytime I try to scale back the dosage and get off of it, the headaches return. .. hopefully that will change in time. | F | 49 | 3 years | 12/18/2008 | 2 | Very hard time focusing, it was ADHd all over again. Amnesia!!!!! Amnesia!!!!! I couldn't remember a thing!! And a little weight gain. | I'm a college student, so all I care about is focusing. Some people call this drug the gold standard. This drug works miracles for people and I hope it does for you. But as for me, well it caused more problems then it was set out to cure. | M | 19 | 3 weeks | 12/4/2008 | 5 | Bipolar | Not many at all and they went away. | I can't believe some of the things people say about this drug on this board. It has helped me big time and it's not a 'zombie med to be avoided'. That's just stupid. I am 5'11 and work out every day. I weigh 172 pounds and have all of my hair. I take 750mg a day and am an executive who interacts with people every day. It's helpful, not hurtful. | M | 29 | 4 years | 9/14/2008 | 5 | Mania/Migraines | Everything tastes like a gourmet meal, slight weight gain (though necessary as I suffer from anorexia), vivid dreams, sociopathic tendencies, insomnia | I have gained weight since taking Depkote, but since I was 90 pounds before, this is a good thing. I'm much more clever and well-liked now (probably because I went off Topamax). I feel very balanced in moods. However, I'm extremely sociopathic now (even if people are drawn to me). I care nothing about the feelings of others, I indirectly hurt others if I think it will benefit me, I don't care what people say about me, I tell people whatever I want (bad in customer service), and I cut out many people in my life because I stopped caring about them. I feel no guilt about anything anymore and I don't care about others. This is likely unhealthy, but honestly, I don't care as only others seem to get hurt by this. | F | 26 | 3 months | 8/15/2008 | 1 | BiPolar | EXTREME fatigue. Impaired memory. | A "zombie" med to be avoided. | F | 80 | 1 years | 7/21/2008 | 1 | Bipolar 1 disorder | Horrible, crippling nausea | This was the 2nd of 3 meds the dr. has prescribed 4 me since being diagnosed 10 mos. ago w/ bipolar 1. I was given Lamictal 1st & it absolutely saved my life by very nearly eliminating the depression I had suffered thru for 3 yrs. The mania, however, began affecting me agn in Jan which is when I was given Depakote ER. The 1st 2 days were fine, no side effects. The next 3 wks, however, were hell. I was doubled over w/ debilitating nausea. I cld not get out of bed & was unable 2 do anything but lay there & try not 2 vomit. I felt horrible & was in agonizing pain. Finally, I talked 2 the dr. who said 2 immediately stop taking it & go back 2 Lamictal exclusively. I am not saying this is a bad medicine just that, 4 some ppl, this meds side effects are far 2 harsh 2 deal with. It was not even possible 4 me 2 function while on this med. I do not know how it effected my mania because I was not on it 4 long & felt only pain while on it. Luckily 4 me, though, my dr. put m | F | 26 | 3 weeks | 7/19/2008 |