Depakote

BeyondtheRainbow · Sep 07, 2019 at 10:11 PM

Worked well for me although I needed a high dose to keep my blood levels in the therapeutic range. I didn't gain weight until I was on higher doses (over 2000 mg I think) but the good thing is the weight came off rapidly when I tapered off the Depakote. I had to be on XR; the regular release did not get my blood levels to the bare minimum.

Other side effects were my hair fell out. I treated that with Nioxin shampoo/hair care products and Centrum Silver (for additonal selenium and I think biotin). I have a lot of wild curly hair so the loss wasn't visible unless you really looked at my scalp closely, like getting a hair cut. I had some sedation but it's hard to know how much of that was depakote as I was always on it with other meds.

I wouldn't want to go back to it but if I was left without options I would, especially if we agreed to a time limit.

Sep 08, 2019 at 07:30 AM

I call it "Depressakote". I was on it (ER) along with Invega, for about a year starting nine years ago. I give it credit for getting rid of the manic end of years long manic and manic with mixed features episodes. But pure depression was left and super stubborn. I gained 30 lbs on that combo in that year, reaching the highest weight I've ever been. At the end, I had very high cholesterol and triglycerides, and was pre-diabetic. Because of this period, I got ECT.

Another thing I believe it may have caused is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I had most of the symptoms. Years after going off Depakote, some eased a lot, but are still present. It sucks! Honestly, I think Depakote should not be a first line medication for women.

Most times, I'd probably say that I hated Depakote more than any other bipolar medication I ever took, and I took many that caused some terribly distressing side effects.

fern46 · Sep 08, 2019 at 07:32 AM

I had a strong reaction to Depakote. I took it in the hospital one evening around 9pm. I woke up a few hours later and I thought I was having a heart attack. I was covered in sweat and my heart was beating super hard and fast. I stumbled out of my room and asked the nurse for help. She took my blood pressure and it was sky high and my heart was beating over 150bpm. My doctor quickly took me off Depakote.

I have a similar reaction to Benadryl when I take it.

Blue_Bird · Sep 08, 2019 at 01:40 PM

Worked well for me. Got off though due to weight gain and switched over to Trileptal which is more weight neutral

MickeyCheeky · Sep 08, 2019 at 02:25 PM

I'm currently still taking it although not for Bipolar specifically, but I AM taking it to stabilize my Mood. I guess it worked on that sense, I didn't feel as sad but as of now I feel empty most of the time and apathetic. I'm not sure if it's my Life situation or a side effects. I didn't connect me taking this Med to me losing some hair or gaining some weight because I've assumed it was normal. I should also mention that I'm taking VERY low doses right now, I'd say almost negligible. It's about 30 mg + 15 mg each day, and now the does has been lowered even more. I am afraid to ask for an increase and besides, I doubt that it would really help me anyway. I'm so sorry if this isn't helpful!

Sending many safe, warm hugs to EVERYONE! KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP ROCKING!

Moose72 · Sep 08, 2019 at 07:59 PM

Depakote was my first bipolar med. It worked very well but I went from being athletic to obese. Didn't take long.

Pookyl · Sep 08, 2019 at 08:24 PM

I was on this for 2 years on and off. This drug I have found works best for my mixed moods as well as sui thoughts. I hated it though, because of the weight gain.
Main side effects:
Weight gain ++
Hair loss
Hair went from straight to curly. As soon as I stopped Epilim my hair went back to straight

Nammu · Sep 08, 2019 at 10:04 PM

Had no real benefits and I experienced metabolism syndrome on it. Had a public pdoc who wouldn't take me off it even after my PCP called her and told her how awful my health was. My PCP weaned me off and I lost weight quite easily and my health problems vanished. Would not take again.

bpcyclist · Sep 25, 2019 at 12:57 PM

Was on it for maybe a year and I call it the lost year because I was in a coma the entire time. I'm not sure if it worked. If you're in a coma, is that good? Does that mean it worked? I guess I didn't get manic, so there's always that...

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Blue_Bird Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Jun 2013 Location: Hogwarts Posts: 36,719 (SuperPoster!) 10 14.3k hugs given	Sep 08, 2019 at 01:40 PM #4 Worked well for me. Got off though due to weight gain and switched over to Trileptal which is more weight neutral __________________ My Blog: https://livingwithachaoticmind.wordpress.com/ R.I.P mom 8/6/55-1/15/16 “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” -St. Francis of Assisi
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bpcyclist Legendary Member Since Sep 2019 Location: Portland Posts: 12,681 (SuperPoster!) 4 40.2k hugs given	Sep 25, 2019 at 12:57 PM #9 Was on it for maybe a year and I call it the lost year because I was in a coma the entire time. I'm not sure if it worked. If you're in a coma, is that good? Does that mean it worked? I guess I didn't get manic, so there's always that... __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield
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