Divalproex sodium User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Yellehs
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 7, 2018

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I've taken Depakote for 13 years along with Citalopram. 250 mg Depakote with 10 mg of Citalopram. It helped with my intense excitability, my severe depression, and suicidal thoughts, which happened to me 2 weeks out of the month. It was so bad. After taking these meds, I felt so much better, like a 'normal' person. I had no side effects. My symptoms were down to 3 days instead of 3 weeks, which I could deal with, and I didn't want to kill myself anymore. I'm bipolar and/or PMDD. They are not working for me anymore, so I'm going to have to change to something else. Hope this helps someone. :)"

• Melanie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2016

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I am not very fond of Depakote. When I took it, it didn't improve my mood swings that much. In the beginning, it made me nauseous and caused my hair to fall out. No, I didn't go bald, but it thinned out my hair enough that my hairstylist noticed. Eventually, my hair stopped falling out, but I gained a lot of weight and I had very bad tremors and bad coordination. If you do decide to take this medicine, make sure your doctor tests your blood regularly. I think you are supposed to have your blood tested every 6 months."

• Kirdar
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 2, 2013

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "Depakote ER is the only medicine I can take for my bipolar. I have side effects to every medicine I've been on for bipolar. I can't take the generic. It really bothers my stomach. It doesn't do much for depression. Anything I take for depression makes me manic. I have been on almost all medications on the market. I have to learn to live with depression and work my hardest to accept it. I've been living with bipolar for 38 years. I wish that the brand name wasn't so expensive. It's very hard for me to afford, but it must come before food if necessary."

• Patient
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 12, 2013

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I started up on 250 mg and ended up at 1500 mg. I noticed very subtle effects, if any. Hard to remember, I went through a lot and was on Seroquel also at the time. Seemed to have a slight calming effect. However, after time, it raised my liver enzymes and lowered my platelet count (which is a potential side effect). So I went off of it. I don't have many hypomanic episodes and never a manic episode, so I don't know why my dose got that high. Didn't notice anything significant. Gained 20 lbs, made me sick and tired. Wasn't for me."

• SF100
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2018

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I am a guy who underwent 30 years of treatment for anxiety/depression until I was finally correctly diagnosed with BP2 and ADHD. Depakote ER 2000 mg at night is my mainstay med. My default mixed states are well-controlled by Depakote. Xanax works as a rescue med at far lower doses than I took before Depakote. Early hair loss (now resolved), no weight gain. I take 20 mg Dexedrine daily for ADHD; Depakote doesn't let it trigger hypomania. Ketamine infusions and nose spray cover the depressive side."

• Cowboy...
• June 22, 2014

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "I have only been taking Depakote ER 500 mg for 10 days now, or maybe I should say nights. I take it at bedtime and was supposed to start taking it twice a day after a week, but the upset stomach, the shakes (or extra nervousness), no sign of relief of my migraines, and I haven't been able to sleep at night either. I'm going to tell my Dr. that I just can't take it anymore."

• Velve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2017

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "Depakote was a nightmare. Besides having acute, non-stop stomach pain with chronic diahrrea, my hair started falling out in clumps. Good thing I have thick hair or I could have been bald at the end of this drug. I don't recommend this to anyone. It was like taking poison."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar disorder. This is the only drug that's worked without breaking me out in rashes or making me feel so drugged I couldn't work or function. The only problem I have with it is it makes me a little hyper. It controls my temper well, without making me sleepy."

• Kbano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 15, 2019

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I’ve noticed no change in my mood swings or manic tendencies on this drug. I still go through both; in fact, I’m concerned it could be causing me some insomnia. I’ve taken it for about a year, and in the last month I’ve dealt with major depression and mood swings, which bring me swiftly to paranoid thoughts and delusions. All in all, it’s done literally nothing it’s prescribed to do. Everyone will have different experience on different drugs, so take this with grain of salt."

• Karyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2016

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "Didn't realize how great it was till it was gone. After 4 years of failed cocktails until I found Depakote with Zoloft. I was on it for 3-5 months @1250mg and had excessive weight gain, insatiable hunger, but worth it! I was productive, positive, stabilized, making plans and following through. Then liver enzymes high @ 6 mo. and abruptly taken off... horrible move by panicked doctor. On my third medicine since and all bad results. Any opinions on Depakote retry while protecting my liver with milk thistle & turmeric? My last blood work was best it's ever been. I have no faith in my doctor and am seeking a new one."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2011

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "Been on this medicine for more than ten years. The 8/10 is for it is due to its overall minor side effects over time, and its very powerful effects when not taken consistently. Be advised. This medication works best when taken at the exact time(s) every day, and I have experienced all other symptoms people have described as bothersome, but this is not the typical take it to be a walking zombie pill. I also don't think people realize how much they are moving when manic, and when on this medication, you calm down. So it's completely natural to want to sit around all day and watch T.V. I also have gained weight and have difficulty shedding the pounds, however, I would rather be sane and curvy. I weighed 130 lbs starting, now am 178 lbs."

• Susyg
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2016

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "Honestly, this medicine has saved my life! I went from having multiple long-lasting episodes of mania to none. Yeah, I still get the thoughts, but I'm relaxed and able to make conscious choices now that I'm on it. The only negative side effect is the hair loss, but it's temporary, but so worth it. Nothing is better than feeling like you are in control of yourself, and this medicine does this for you. Don't be scared to ask your doctor about it!"

• socce...
• April 3, 2015

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "I have been having migraines for 3 years. I took a beta blocker that didn't work. Then got put on Depakote for migraines. I was on it for a month with no big migraines unless I had my trigger food. Then I realized I gained 5 pounds, was tired all the time, and broke out like I had never been before. The medicine works for migraines but has terrible side effects. Had to stop taking."

• YDP
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2013

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "I've always suffered from migraines. I take 500 ER twice a day and gained 16 lbs in less than 3 weeks. Since I'm already overweight, this caused severe back pain in which I can barely walk, and my legs are numb. Works wonders for my migraine, but the side effects aren't worth it!"

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2012

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "I had used this medication for more than 15 years before it stopped preventing my chronic migraine headaches. I was taking it up to 2000 mg per night daily and didn't have any side effects of it since the very beginning of taking it (in a lower dose, of course) and even when I took the max dose as described. I had a very easy adjusting to it, also, and no unpleasantness whatsoever."

• ZeeZee
• April 9, 2011

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Depakote ER and Celexa for depression and anxiety. My mood and depression were helped, and it knocked out my migraine headaches completely. I experienced so many horrible side effects, though. I gained 50 pounds in the six months I was on this, I lost my hair, I developed tremors that have not completely subsided, I had horrible stomach problems, heartburn, it made me extremely lethargic, libido was gone. This was just my experience with Depakote, and if it weren't for all of the side effects, I would have stayed on this medication. Hope this helps."

• 40...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2013

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I took Depakote for bipolar, and the very first night I had very vivid dreams, which turned into nightmares and audio-visual hallucinations. It's been 3 days, and my dreams are not back to normal yet. I've read the reviews, and it seems to work for most people. I haven't gotten a good night's sleep. My doctor put me back on Trileptal 300 mgs twice a day."

• kygent
• November 17, 2010

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "I have had migraines most of my 67 years. 5 yrs ago I found a doctor who prescribed Depakote 250 mg. My migraines decreased from one per month to maybe five in the past five years. Taken in combination with sumatriptan succinate tablets (only when I feel the onset of a migraine), I have a life mostly without pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2019

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "My 14 year old son went on Depaokote about 3 months ago for abdominal migraines and head migraines. After trying a number of other migraine medicines Depakote was the only medication that stopped the continual vomiting, nausea and headache he had be experiencing for over 2 months. It did take 4 weeks for the medication to build up in his system to prevent the symptoms. He is now on 750 mg of Depakote and feeling great! The only side effect he is experiencing is weight gain, but we believe with proper diet and exercise he will be able to control that."

• Tamar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2016

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I took my first dose of Depakote at night before bed. The next day, I was so leveled out; I wasn't talking fast. It was great. The rest of the day, starting around 1:00 p.m., I slept all day. I woke up at 12:00 a.m. with my eyes extremely wide and dilated, my skin on my arms and legs was swirling (like the Starry Night painting), the walls were moving, and things on the wall were levitating up and down. I was up until 3:00 a.m., and an on-call nurse told me to sleep so it would wear off; I have never taken this medication again. (Taken for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2012

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "I am 20 and on 750 mg of Depakote a day. Gained 10-15 pounds within the first month of taking this medication, but now my weight is remaining stable. I am eating healthier and running each day, though. When I first started taking it, I was so restless/anxious, I had to pace around like mad. It took about 3 weeks to really end my mania in combination with 2 mg risperidone. I am experiencing easy bruising now. Sleeping 10 hours a night. Have an irregular period. In general, I move more slowly. I am cloudy in the morning. I don't get upset with my family anymore."

• Charl...
• May 21, 2013

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "Medication was very effective at controlling silent migraines, but long-term use (more than 10 years) has resulted in a 60-pound weight gain, hair loss, and shakiness. Recently, I have felt very fatigued and confused."

• Wildr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 4, 2016

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Epilepsy "I currently take Zonegran-I love love love it!-Prior to this, I took Depakote-for me, this drug sucked-I was lethargic, my hair fell out in clumps. I went from weighing 225 lbs to 389 lbs, and I developed sleep apnea. I was taking 500 mg of Depakote four times per day-2000 mg of this stuff. I had several seizures in my sleep, one where I fractured my ankle on the bed frame. The weight was the worst, I could not control it. I wish I could submit a picture of myself while being on this stuff. After I got off this drug, I lost 160 lbs. My dad saw the before pic and didn't know who I was. Maybe this works for some, but not for me. I would never take this again!"

• Pizza...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2022

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder "HORRIBLE!!! I tried taking this for 4 months and I had to cut it cold turkey. The side effects- Unmanageable, it made me manic, it made me HUNGRY all the time, for carbs carbs and more carbs, irritable at things I never would imagine being angry at, bloated, screaming, crying daily, it made everything so overwhelming. I couldn't take it anymore. Now I never recommend cutting cold turkey I just never have physical side effects from doing that, my whole life. I just could not do it anymore it made me feel like I was going crazier than crazy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2012

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention "Before Depakote, I've tried vitamin B2, verapamil, and Topamax, but for one reason or another, none of them have worked. About 6 months ago, my doctor started me on Depakote. Once I started using it, my daily headaches became a lot more tolerable, but haven't gone away completely, and my severe migraines are at about once a month. However, like many others, there was a noticeable weight gain-about 20 pounds-soon after I started, and it's been pretty steady since. I've also had a bout of depression recently, but it's hard to tell how that's related to the medicine because it isn't my first time. As of right now, I'm not sure the minor benefits are worth the side effects."