Depakote Experiences?

Hey, gang. well, it appears that this pretty big (1500) dose of Depakote has pulled me out of a big manic/psychotic spell that had been somewhat resistant to other things, including lithium and abilify and thorazine. So, I may be on it for awhile, I suppose. Given that, I was just wondering what others' experiences with it may have been. I was on it twenty years ago and do not remember much.

Any input greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

For me, Depakote was the best at controlling mania and rapid cycling. It didn't do much for depression, though - if anything, I felt more depressed. But, if you are taking other meds for the depression, it could be a really beneficial addition.

As far as side effects, I didn't have many other than some cognitive difficulty (memory problems, slower processing, etc.). Some gain weight on it, but I actually lost a bit since I didn't eat as much.

Thanks, pacman--that is very helpful. I don't think I have noticed any cognitive stuff, but I do believe the lithium already has some effect in that realm, so maybe the two are not additive or something.

Depakote was okay, it didn't fully control my mania though and I also gained weight on it so I was switched to Trileptal which definitely controls my mania and doesn't have the weight issue

Thanks, Blue_Bird. I'll have to read about Trileptal.

didn't do OK with abilify+depakote. Trileptal+abilifywas OK.

I was on Depakote 20 years ago, too. But I remember that it was one of the more helpful meds. I did gain a bit of weight on it, but nothing like I gained while on Seroquel. Depakote was a good stabilizer for me.

I went on depakote right after diagnosis as part of a clinical trial. They were trying to determine if the combination of lithium, depakote and lamictal would be more effective than lithium and depakote alone for rapid cyclers. The study never was released that I could find so I assume it was not.

Anyway, depakote was good for me but very hard to keep a therapeutic blood level and then I needed a high level to feel good. I think my level had to be about 125 (yet no higher than 130) but it was a fight to keep it above 90. Until I was put on ER we couldn't get a level about 50. Ultimately I wound up on 3000 mg/day and in combination with lithium and various other meds that I didn't take for very long. At that dose my levels mostly were high enough but I was pretty sedated and even more so when I needed to be on APs. I was on it with Seroquel, then Seroquel XR, for quite a while. I was always tired and had trouble getting up for work and generally functioning. I was fired once on the combination partly for being sedated and partly because I worked for really nasty people.

Ultimately I was doing well enough on Seroquel XR that I weaned off Depakote over about 10 months. I lost a lot of the weight I had gained over the years on depakote and had a lot more energy. My thinking was also clearer. It worked when I needed it to but once I was doing ok (ok was the equivalent of great for me with meds until clozapine) on Seroquel I just didn't need both.

My pdoc brought up trying it again once and I begged her not to. It was not an easy drug for me. Honestly clozapine is easier since I know that if I take 3.5 tabs/day I will feel the same day to day. I will sleep too much but I will not feel like my brain is being squished. There are no dose fluctuations for me. I do have the blood draws but I had a lot of those on depakote too since my level just wouldn't stabilize.

It's a good drug and I am glad to know if something terrible happens it is an option again but I hope I never need it again. Or that if I do my body has learned to process it better.

I have been on anywhere from 750 to 1750. Those doses were by different Pdocs, I have no idea why the first made me take 1750 and the next dropped it by 1000. My levels were apparently fine at 750. I dont feel like it has been a useful drug for me because of the amount of breakthrough symptoms however the Pdoc seems to think it is helpful, not sure what they are going off of. Cant complain about side effects though, I had absolutely none in the years I was on it.

I was taken off Depakote because of weight gain. I was a normal weight before psych meds. (Depakote was my first bipolar med).

Depakote is on my list of never again drugs, horrible side effects. Metabolic syndrome and weight gain and cognitive difficulties

Depakote is also on my never again drug list. I had awful weight gain putting on 26.5lbs in 6mths.

Wow. Sorry you had to go through that. I have not noted any change in appetite so far. But I guess we shall see.

Depakote was the first drug I tried. I thought I was having a heart attack. I felt like I was burning up and my heart was beating over 160bpm. They took me off and put me on Risperdal. My mother had a similar reaction to Depakote. Not fun.

Well, that sounds miserble. I have never heard of that one. Not even sure how that could happen, but it obviously did. So sorry you had to deal with that.

I react similarly to Benadryl. It causes tachycardia and hallucinations. I'm very sensitive to various substances. My doctor said it is pretty rare, but it can happen. Good times

Yikes! The only really bad reaction I ever had was to Lamictal, but it was completely worthless as a treatment for me, anyway, so no great loss there. Maybe it works for some people, but for me, it was a total joke.

At least it wasn't the right fit. It would royally stink if it were the perfect med except for a side effect that made you stop taking it.

It sounds like Depakote is really helping. I am so thrilled to know you are sleeping. The brain cleans and renews itself while you sleep. It is so very important.

I know you've been feeling sluggish. I went through that with Risperdal and Geodon, but it got better bit by bit. I was eventually able to push through the day without feeling like I was awake but in a coma at the same time. I think the body just needs time to adjust and balance things out a bit. You're a genuine trooper. Hang in there!

I was on it as my first mood stabilizer. It really dulled me and made it cognitively difficult. I felt that brain fog that people talk about. It also connected with an attempt that I made, so I have a physiological aversion to it now. I've done better on Lithium or Lamictal, and with an antipsychotic.