User Reviews for Depakote ER oral

The use of depakote in combination with seroquel welbutrin and xanax has literally saved my life. I went from being violent and suicidal to functional and content. Highly recommend it. Only problem was it caused me to shake quite bad but after slightly lowering my dose and adding welbutrin I feel almost normal most of the time.

most my manic depression hasnt went away...still think of suicide and still very emotional even after they raised my dose...dont know what to do....

The doctor told me it was going to make me gain weight & lose my hair when I first started the medication. Amazingly, instead of gaining weight I've dropped 6 pants sizes. The medicine has caused me to become somewhat depressed though. It helps with my seizures some. I still have a seizure from time to time. Hopefully more seizure patients give a review of this medicine.

I can get very manic and anxious when I do. This medication helped both. You have to tweak your dose to get to the right amount. Make sure you get your blood levels checked too. That can help you determine if you are at a healthy dose. Overall, a great drug. It has kept me from going off the deep end MANY times.

I'm treated with Depakote ER for Bipolar. It sedates me but it keeps me less manic most of the time.

In 4 months I gained 40 pounds and my liver gained 20 of it. I was a year getting my liver rid of some of the fatty deposit build up. My doctors solution was to double my dosage. I got a new doctor. 12 years later I still have liver function issues and have it tested every 3 months. I consider it dangerous although it is commonly used. I was hospitalized in April and they tried to give it to me by iv. Good thing I was awake. It might have ruined my liver for good.

I'm on Depakote ER for two reasons. My photosensitive epilepsy and to help control my schizoaffective disorder. I have been on my medication now for almost 12 years to help reduce my seizures. I gained some weight with this med, but mixed together with Geodon, I just ballooned up. I've slowly been losing the weight now for a few years, and am now on a higher dose. I was on 1,000mg and now am on 1,500mg because stress caused my seizures to come back. The new dose also really keeps me calm. I love it. I'm more relaxed and less irritable now.Read More Read Less

Ok, It doesn't get 5 stars, cause I don't it works well by itself. I am taking a whole lot of other medications. I was taking Depakote ER for years a while ago at 1500mg. It worked okay, but my other meds weren't right. I stopped it. I have some new meds and now I take 1000mg of Depakote ER and it seems to help with not only my mania, but my anxiety too. I think it's definitely worth it, if you find the right combo.

I fall on the "Bipolar II" scale and have historically managed my symptoms with Depakote, Zoloft and Topamax. I also keep a mood chart (downloadable for free in the app store), quit drinking alcohol years ago but begrudgingly gave up the ghost on my favorite lattes. I have a 'manic' protocol (take some seroquel, step away from the credit cards...) and a 'depressed' protocol (guaranteed endorphine/laugh producing gems). 2 months ago I had to give up Zoloft because I was concerned it was kicking me manic, then depressed. Now you have some background. Depakote makes me feel closest to 'my old self' as in, my true personality. I have been through so many medications off and on since my teens, and was off meds altogether for my young adulthood thinking it was a misdiagnosis. My biggest complaint is getting the dosage right, and therein lies the rub: the weight gain, in my opinion makes it a moving target. I've outgrown two dress sizes in the five years I have been on medication for bipolar disorder. The greatest weight gain I've seen is with Depakote. I take other medications (Topamax) as a 'booster' but it also supposedly prevents weight gain. I haven't seen any assistance this last time around, which is frustrating. So, yes, Depakote works on my symptoms, but the side effects are basically people asking me "haven't you had that baby yet?".Read More Read Less

i have been on this med for almost a year and a half and it has workd the best for my bipolar/mood swings/depression. i take this as well as Remeron and havent had a headache or migrane since started then both!!! I have been on different meds; Wellbutrin, Celexa , Effexor. I take 1750mg daily. weight seems to flux alot up and down within 10lbs from week to week, but havent really gained much on it. Have RLS since taking these, but ill take RLS over the rest of my problems anyday! i get slightly racey thoughts at night and some anxiety but i think its time for my meds to get upd again (every 6months for depakote lvls) this has been a miracle pill for meRead More Read Less

This drug was prescribed to my husband because he was having some problems sleeping, and it caused severe hallucinations. He was seeing Ghosts, and really thought they were there and it was a horrible thing to go through with him. I ask his doctor and he wasimmediately taken off them. They were prescribed by a NP. Watch out for this one

F*** this pill! A few months after I had my son I had PPD, and had a breakdown over relationship problems. Instead of letting me cry it out in my room, I was hauled off to a mental hospital, where the doctor gave me this along with a cocktail of other meds. I gained almost 60 pounds in less than 3 months. I went to my family doctor, and she told me that this medication made me blow up like a balloon. After I had my son, I lost 30 pounds very quickly and was the "smallest" I had been in a long time, but now I still have about 28 more pounds to lose before I can get back to my pre-Depokote weight. :( Never let anyone put you on this medication!Read More Read Less

I only gained about 10 lbs when I originally stared regular Depakote in 1984. I switched to Depakote ER in 2004, and have had my longest continuous time without seizures (7 years) compared to any other Rx (Dilantin, Phenobarbital, Tegretol). I gained more weight with my antidepressant (Remeron) than with Depakote. Depakote ER is great, and you only have to take it (brand) once per day. I cam getting ready to try generic, with some reservations, because I recently lost good health insurance coverage. Dale Howard Atlanta, GARead More Read Less

The medication did help me for my mood swings, and it is easy to remember at night right before bedtime. The only problem I do have is that my hair is falling out by the handfulls. My doctor says it is rare, but it is affecting me this way.

I take this for bi polar disorder and have found it very useful I feel my moods are balanced and I recomend it.

dose anyone know if it causes fatty liver ?

I just started using this drug and it really helps.

Have been treated for grand mal seizures for 10 years. Lamictal worked well, but when I lost insurance coverage, couldn't afford it. Started Depakote ER for approximately 5 years. I take 1000 mg in the morning and another 1500 mg at night. I don't like it. I'm tired all of the time and have gained 50 pounds. I have difficulty remembering things. I still have seizures at least 1 to 2 times a month and worry about liver problems from the drug. My doctor doesn't want to change the drug right now because, he said it would be difficult for me to transition from this drug to another without it causing me many more seizures in between. After 10 years (since I was 11), I'm still searching for a drug that will keep me seizure-free so I can at least drive. Wish I could find something that would really work, without the awful side effects. I really wish for a miracle...that they would mysteriously vanish and never return.Read More Read Less

While taking this medication I had severe vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite. Was hospitlized for dehydration and the doctor told me it was not due to the medication, but it took 3 other doctors and scope procedures to tell me it was the depakote causing this after vomiting for several weeks. Doctors (neurologists) should know this that is who put me on it.

I began to get what I now know are basilar migraines in August, about 5 months ago. I had never had migraine pain in my life, although I have had visual migraines for as long as I can remember. My neurologist started me out on Gabapentin. That stopped the headaches, but I was dizzy all the time. He had me stop taking the Gaba, and I was still dizzy. That's when he decided it was basilar migrainus. He had me start taking Dabakote ER 500mg. I haven't been dizzy since the first day, and only rarely have barely noticeable headache. I have put on a few pounds in the past two months. Need to get more exercise.Read More Read Less