User Reviews for Depakote oral

Weight Gain

My moods still change and I am worried about the side effects.

To say this drug ruined my life would not be a stretch. I was not able to drive while on this drug and over a period of six months I gained over fifty pounds. I became severely depressed and have still not lost all the weight. Before you try this medicine for seizures or even headaches, try Keppra (for seizures) and Topomax (for migraines) these medications are just as effective and do not result in depression and extreme weight gain, in fact Topomax helps you lose weight!

when I don't takeit, I feel asif I have pine and needle in my brain. I fin it had to concentrate on any one thing look enough to complete lt.

My random migraines dave decreased significantly, while taking this drug, but the predictable headaches; 1 day before my period, lack of sleep, severe weather changes have not changed at all since using this drug.

I did not know how bad off I was untill I started using it. And if I forget a dose I sure notice it. It keeps me from not being so angry.

Depakote has been the old stand by in my treatment for my Bipolar.Please make sure to have the blood work done regulary, to check up on your liver.Have been on this drug well over 10 years.It has been a great mood stabilizer for me. Lithium never agreed with my system, causing me to have a great deal of stomach distress. Consider Depakote, it is a older drug but can be effective.Everyone is different though.Take care,best of sucess always.

its good

I haven't had any seizures since I was on this drug, 5 years now. However, I do have tremors, especially when hungry, and some of my hair thinned (but it grew back, curly!). My biggest problem is the price. It costs over 300 dollars w/o insurance, like me. I'm about to run out of options there.

Presented with extreme manic episode at age 40 and initially misdiagnosed as schizoform and put on Zyprexa with good result. After 1 1/2 years I moved out of state, was rediagnosed Bipolar, and with reservation was switched to Depakote with an antidepressant (Olanzapine). I've experienced good results after 2 years of treatment with Depakote. The side effects are somewhat troubling (i.e. listlessness and weight gain), however the alternative, a recurrance of an extreme manic episode, vastly 'outweights' (pun intended) these effects. My biggest concern with the medication is that I do feel a significant suppression of my creative side. ALWAYS take your meds as prescribed!!!Read More Read Less

Works very well to diminish manic phase -- though it's accompanied by a strong sense of fatigue.

After about a week, I experienced a decline in migraine headaches. Now, four weeks later, I have only had about 1-2 headaches. I was getting them daily for 4 years. The only side effect complaint is constipation.

I have been BP all of my life and diagnosed at 13yrs but never remember being "level" or happy (even as a young child). I was misdiagnosed and mistreated for depression most of my adult life. After 5 days of taking DepakoteER I have noticed a big change. I am a rapid cycling bipolar (minutes not days and hours) I have noticed increased appetite, sex drive and enjoy time with my family that I have not had in 36 years of my life. I am calm, collected and NOT exhausted from my mania. Also, my depression now just a slight sadness that quickly disperses without much effort. I can now laugh and mean it, it isn't just the "appropriate response". This includes the smiling and the crying. I am no longer in the "fog" of BP but a REAL person with REAL reactions. I would take the side effects and risks to remain this way. I am a person for the first time in my life. When I began the medication, the first three days were a little rough with the changes my body made (urinating every hour, thirst and frequent bowel movements) but as the drug levels out, my body responds more normally now. I hope this post helps some of you. This drug has helped with my mania AND depression. Read More Read Less

For severe cluster headaches. Big pills but only thing that works. Small side effects like weight gain. All in all a good pill when many others failed.

it made me have even more attacks then without.

I was put on Depakote for seizures when I was 13 years old, and within 4 months weighed 206 lbs. While the medication worked well to control my seizures, I was only 13 and still a freshman in high school. I cannot think of a good reason for any teenager to be put on this particular drug. From 1993 to 2001 I was stuck on Depakote with an increasing dosage because my weight wouldn't go down. Finally I got a new doctor who would listen to me and I have an implant and am taking Topamax with Phenobarbital.Read More Read Less

med caused muscles to jump uncontrollably and slurring of my speech. did not help my condition at all. pill was extremely large and had prob swallowing it.