I take a high-dosage of Depakote ER to prevent migraine headaches. With consistent use of this drug, my incapacitating migraines have dropped from 2-3 a week to perhaps one or two per month. For me, it's been a godsend, with absolutely NO bad side effects. It even helps my insomnia, as I take it at bedtime and it has a calming effect. I can't praise this medication enough!
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5 People found this comment helpful
My best friend was on this medication for 3 weeks for migrane prevention. She ended up in the ER and was admited to the hospital for observation because she had a near death reaction to it.
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mom | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Caregiver
3/11/2014
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
pharmacy can not find Depakote in all of the country. my son needs this medication to function.
1
1
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Mory | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
3/5/2014
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have tried others for bipolar like effexor but it had terrible side effects, like mini shocks and it didnt work, I've been taking depakote for years and when I have tried to go w/o it for like two months b/c thats what bi-polars tend to do stupidly, they had to do a baker act on me, I will never try to do this again I hope.
3
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SHOKIE | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
2/28/2014
Condition: Bipolar I Disorder with Most Recent Episode Mixed
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
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yay! | 35-44 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
2/21/2014
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
This stuff saved my life. I was prescribed everything else for over a year and on my second hospitalization (I was involuntarily committed), they decided to try this. I woke up on the third day, and I was "back." The relief was immediate, profound, and, dare I say, permanent. Amazing.
6
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cougar | 25-34 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/18/2014
Condition: Mania associated with Bipolar Disorder
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
It worked the very night I started, but the side effects are a little scary.My face got bloated,I started putting on weight within a week's time,and the only option is to hit the gym,as the medication WILL put your weight will.
1
1
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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/6/2013
Condition: Bipolar I Disorder with Most Recent Episode Mixed
Overall rating 2.7
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feelingbetter | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
10/27/2013
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have been taking Depakote ER for over ten years now for seizures due to a head injury. Side effects for me have been weight gain and tremors. My neurologist prescribed clonazapam for my tremors and it has worked very well. Another benefit is that it also is anti-seizure. I take 750 mg Depakote ER daily and .5 mg clonazapam twice a day.
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Anonymous | 25-34 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
10/12/2013
Condition: Bipolar I Disorder with Most Recent Episode Mixed
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
causes sleepiness and headache at first but i feel great now
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LEEAL77 | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
10/10/2013
Condition: Rapid Cycle Manic-Depression
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
It started helping me fairly quickly,but after about 2 weeks into taking it I started having extreme hunger issues. I would eat normally then about 15-20 minutes later I would feel like I hadn't eaten all day. I tried drinking water before and after meals to make it subside, but that hasn't worked. The hunger issue seems to get worse as evening approaches. I have gained weight and am NOT happy about it! I have talked to the doctor and right now we have decided to keep me on it a little longer. We are trying to find something to counter-act these symptoms. Other than these side effects this medicine seems to be helping keep me from crying one second to being extremely irritable the next. I was all over the map emotionally from crying at a commercial to snapping at my poor cat for no reason. It is so difficult to decide whether the side effects are worth the good things that it does.Read More Read Less
1
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Vickie | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/30/2013
Condition: Migraine Prevention
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
10 day taking of medication after the 2nd day could tell signifciate improvement! Day 3 Pain free!
7
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Irishjim717 | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
8/24/2013
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Pills too large and hard too swallow
1
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[email protected] | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
8/11/2013
Condition: Epileptic Seizure
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have been happy taking it until the recently and whammy. I have taken it since since 1986 and that is a long, long time!!! Way to long. Now I am having serious tremors, lots of bleeds, bruises, and hair loss! The list goes on... I am blessed by the fact my Neurologist is weening me off of it and now time to another. I pray it's not Lamictal. There are lots of serious side effects of it.
2
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pinky | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
7/3/2013
Condition: Migraine Prevention
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
its working sometimes I still get shaking and headaches but there not as strong as they were.
5
1
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LSUHarleyMan | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
7/3/2013
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I gained about 35 lbs in 6 weeks taking Depakote ER, could not sleep at night, felt even more depressed, was not motivated to do anything and had horrible bloating. I would not recommend this drug to anyone.
2
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Sandra Skenandore | 45-54 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
6/6/2013
Condition: Other
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I yous it for pain and bi-polar
1
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LSUHarleyMan | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
5/6/2013
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Depakote ER has been extremely ineffective in treating my Bipolar Disorder. This drug makes me extremely restless, agitated and I cannot sleep at all while taking it. I do not recommend it.
2
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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
4/19/2013
Condition: Migraine Prevention
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
3
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Anonymous | 35-44 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
4/4/2013
Condition: Migraine Prevention
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
1
1
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tinygrl0226 | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
3/27/2013
Condition: Manic-Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
WORKED GREAT I WAS SOOO EXCITED FINALLY HAD A MIX OF MEDS THAT WAS CONTROLLING THE MOOD SWINGS AND THEN I BROKE OUT IN A RASH. Allergic reaction brought me down... Time to start all over and it's making me frustrated.
1
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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
3/7/2013
Condition: Bipolar I Disorder with Most Recent Episode Mixed
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