Was taking Depakote ER 500mg 2X day for three months for seizures. Begining of fourth month noticed significant hair loss. Fifth month medication was been changed to topamax. Hair loss has slowed but not stopped yet with no sign of regrowth. At this poit have lost about 20-25% of hair on top of my head and texture is very limp. Has anyone been through this? My doctor thinks it will come back, but he does not seem to have any information beyond that.
Have experienced hair loss while taking Depokote ER, any experience if/when for regrowth?
Question posted by sixcentz on 12 July 2010
Last updated on 12 October 2021
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18 Answers
jhens1998
11 Aug 2021
My son has been on Depakote for a couple years at a lower dosage (500mg AM, 625mg PM) and noticed no hair loss at all. However, his seizures were increasing to the point where he had five seizures over the course of one day on Thanksgiving 2020. So we titrated him up to where he was taking 1000mg AM and 1500mg PM which was too much as his levels were too high and he was extremely tired. So we titrated him back down - he is now taking 1000mg AM & PM. Unfortunately, at the higher dosage is when we noticed the hair loss, or HE noticed it and is very concerned about it. I'm in the process of looking for an alternative right now. What do you do? He hasn't had a seizure in over 8 months (the longest he's ever gone) but now his self-esteem and self-confidence is suffering because of the hair loss/thinning. I'm wondering if it's a cumulative effect where the more that is in your system, that triggers the hair loss.
Codym1997
5 Dec 2019
This may be a little late to your question, but I started this medication 1500mg while transitioning off of lithium and now take a low dose of lithium (450mg), Depakote (1250mg), Sertraline (150mg), and Lamictal (50mg). This answer may help the rest of the community understand the side effects a little better, however. I’m a 22 year old male that has an afro for a head of hair. However after continuous treatment on these medications for my bipolar-mania episode and comorbid OCD I’ve noticed a considerable amount of hair loss. There’s no balding spots, thank god, but when I shower there’s probably 50-100 hairs a day that fall out (apparently it’s normal even for a healthy head of hair). However, like most of you with this question there are some concerns. My hair texture is different, which I kinda like as long as it doesn’t keep falling out.
It’s got a smoother softer feel but is definitely more sensitive and so is my scalp. I’m assuming it’s a form of alopecia associated with the meds. With that said, I haven’t heard within the community if someone has fully lost their hair. I plan to speak with my psychologist to taper my Depakote and increase my lamictal. I’ve heard good reviews about lamictal and Lithium at low doses doesn’t have as many side effects under therapeutic doses. Although mine is for bipolar and not for seizures. I plan to take the advice of the community and take a multivitamin with zinc and selenium. I already take 10,000mcg of biotin. I sympathize with everyone within this community and hope we all focus on the benefits of our mental health as well as those with seizures. Do not taper off medication without consulting your doctor. I’ve done this from personal experience and my bipolar relapsed.
Lauramarcum
2 March 2019
I have been losing my hair since I started depakote. About 2 years now. At this rate I will be bald soon. Talking to my doctor to take me off a.s.a.p...
SMFee
29 Jan 2019
Yes! I have been on Depakote for 6 years, and an almost completely bald on the top and back of my head. What little hair I have left is very sparse and limp. I also was on 500 mg. (each), and when I confronted my doctor, of 20 years; he just took 1 of the 5 pills of Depakote off my script, he didn't care. All he suggested is getting a wig. I wound up finding out on my own with the help of the internet! The very last time I saw him, (he retired 12/31/2018); I was so mad at him for not telling me years ago, that this would happen.
I called him a week before he retired, and told him just exactly what I thought of him! His name is Dr. Robert Strung, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; maybe he did this on purpose. Maybe he was your doctor too! Thank goodness he's gone!
Any way, yes Depakote is the culprit that took my hair away.
Please check with your doctor, but what I did was my own personal decision. Now I just have to wait see IF my hair will come back.
Hope this helps!
GMhan
11 Aug 2018
I started to take Depakote (500x2) on top of VIMPAT (200z2) 4.5 month ago. Noticed hair loss after 3 months of use. Hairs started to fall very aggressively. Found them all over the place; bathroom, pillow, computer, steak, my sons face, JUST EVERYWHERE! I lost 25% of my hair and decided to stop after 4.5 months. It’s been 2 months since then and still continue to lose hairs. Currently trying natural anti hairloss shampoo and women Rogaine (4th bottles). Nothing works. Very depressing. I don’t have much hairs to begin ... Still hope it’s not permanent I’ll be bald by Christmas and Santa will have to get me a nice wig this year. Going to try vitamin supplements.
Good luck everyone!
-G
Kaysie1998
17 April 2018
I have been taking depakote for 3 months since January. I just started getting hair loss. My hair is super thick, and now, with every little stroke of my fingers through my hair, my hands are filled with strands and strands of it. It's scares me. Makes me bawl like a baby too. I'm also only 19.
Christybryant74
5 April 2018
I take Depakote 500mg ER 3 times per day.Then It was changed to 2 times per day. My hair was falling out in chunks while in the shower plus i had to clean out my hair brush daily. Since i stopped taking it my hair is regrowing and is no longer falling out or breaking.
WildcatVet
23 Jan 2018
No, but I had hair loss and a texture change on lithium before I was switched to Depakote. It's been 5 months almost to the day and my hair has grown back about two inches with it's old color and texture.
Hang in there!
Best regards and good luck!
WildcatVet
5 April 2018
As an update, my hair has grown back in fully and after a little more than 6 months on Depakote and Depakene I've had no hair loss at all.
Just goes to show you that everyone can have a different reaction to any medication. After doing a lot of research I've learned that alopecia (hair loss) can potentially be caused by most psychotropic medications.
DA3411
12 Oct 2021
Hi There,
I am nervous to start Depakote. Im sure I’d be one to have hair loss. I seem to always get the worst side effects.
Im glad yours has grown back!
nancydiggs
23 Jan 2018
The exact thing just happened to me after 3 weeks of Depakote same strength. I stopped taking it yesterday and am praying my hair will regrow.
RAM62
16 July 2017
Yes I have been through it and still struggling. I am so very anxious about this hair loss issue. I took Depakote ER fifteen hundred mg from mid February until Mid June when I insisted that my doctor change my seizure drug because of it. After these four months on it, I have lost so much hair! I started taking Maxi Hair as well as selenium and zinc in April but don't notice any regrowth on my head. Unfortunately the hair on the rest of my body is growing like crazy. I thought, hoped, that as soon as I went off of it the hair loss would stop, but it hasn't.
Someone here said that after three to six months the hair will begin to regrow? Eek. I am going to have to wear a hat to be in public quite soon. Does anyone have any suggestions beyond vitamins to encourage the ongoing hair loss? If it would just stop falling out by the handful I will patiently wait for the regrowth to begin.
suzy25
13 June 2017
hi, I once took depakote and experienced hair loss. the discontinuence of the med. will stop the loss. my hair came back quick. if you have what i do now it will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for hair to stop and start coming back. I am experiencing a more severe loss. my last pain doctor took me off all my meds at once without slowly taking me off them. I went to a dermatologist and was told after the exam that I had telogan effluvium because of what the doctor did. this doesn't just happen with what happened to me there are a bunch of reasons this could happen. OF course I have a new pain doctor now. He suggested to take prenatal vitamins. I was skeptical because I was already was pumping tons of vitamin and bioton. OH, for the first time I have recently stopped seeing a bunch of hair in the shower and in my hands all day long. I have now seen the end of the tunnel. it took about 2 months to see the difference but I am so happy.
I still take the biotin and the prenatal vitamin and probably won't stop. it's all good for you anyway. . After what that doc. did to me I am more careful about how fast I come off of meds. I lost about 60 percent of my long blonde hair. If you do nothing it will still come back. the one thing the dermatologist told me was try not to stress about loosing your hair along with everything else it will only take longer to come back. I hope I have given you some help. suzy
natirgbr
17 March 2017
I am going to add this answer to the post cause hopefully someone can get a benefit from it, even though the post is a little old. I have experienced hair loss after 4 months of Depakote ER 500mg a day.
I was taking other heavy meds but the hair loss didn't stop with them... and continued along with depakote treatment. I only got the gravity of it when I saw my hair frowning back after 1 y and 8 months... when little bushes of hair of 1-2 inches long started appearing at different spots of my head. What I did? I took Centrum as a vitamin supplement, extra Vit D supplement and stop dying my hair blond (I am a natural brunette). Also, try to wash my hair with cold water, use sulphate free shampoo and with natural ingredients.
If still you feel is falling off too hard, look for a demarthologist, maybe one that helps patients in post chemotherapy treatment. Cause they should know what's best to induce healthy hair growth! Good luck to you all!
bestpup
6 May 2013
To sixcentz. From bestpup.
sixcentz I took Depakote ER for over ten yrs.
Yes I lost hair and lots of it, however only part of the reason was due to the Depakote. The other reason was due to a weakened immune system (Lupus SLE).
Thank goodness I was. born with a thick head of hair.
Once I stopped the Depakote I thought the hair would fill in, but to know avail. That's how I knew it was more than just the Depakote.
Good luck
bestpup
wooster
4 May 2013
Within in four months of taking depakote I started losing hair. I went to a health food store and was told that Maxi-hair with Biotin works. The vitamin company is called Country Life. My hair loss stopped within 4 days. My hair grew back and is even thicker than before. You can buy it online or at a health food store.
histamine
21 July 2013
Did you take the 5000mcg biotin one, or the regular 2000mcg?
Also, do you take anything else?
Thanks.
navsio
13 Aug 2012
Glad you brought this up. I am looking for answers as well because I am taking this medication for the second time now. I lost hair the first time and now one month in am already starting again! However, it is the only medication that works for my seizures.
1) You should make sure this is not a symptom of something more serious. If you are a woman hair loss on depakote may be associated with PCOS. Talk to your epileptologist, gynocologist, or if you are a guy and reading this speak with something called a neuro-endocrinologist.
2) Find a good hair stylist- it is worth it and so are you even if the hair treatment is expensive. They can make it look like that frizzy limp look you may be acquiring from hair loss is on purpose. If you are a guy... give it up and take care of yourself! Make it look like it is on purpose- I've seen some very sexy bald men!
3) Find a good hair regimen for after the haircut. How is there still no such thing as a hair doctor? The closest thing is Sephora. Guys put your pride aside and go into this great makeup store. I've been introduced to great hair products and given great attention for whatever my appearance worry. The women in there are fabulous! They showed me this great shampoo and conditioner that turns the frizz into body and the limpness into perfectly placed waves.
4) Lastly, seek out unconventional ways to handle your seizures and after you have been seizure free for long enough ask your doctor if you can lower or even get off of the medication. Did you know yoga has been statistically proven to reduce seizures? There are medical articles about massage, acupuncture, surgery, therapy, and many other things as well! If your like me, this is probably a lost cause but PLEASE don't give up hope!
Related topics
depakote, depakote er, seizures
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