Depakote ER for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

Depakote ER has an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 48 reviews for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 63% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 10% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Depakote ER

Huzaiff
Taken for 2 to 5 years
September 5, 2016

"I was suffering from bipolar for 10 months. After taking many medicines i was on divalproex 500 mg for 3 years and lamotrigine 150mg for 2 years. I was able to handle stress and forget that i have any depression. My dosage for both was kept to lowest 250 mg for divalproex and 50 mg for lamotrigine. But on this stage after having stress my symptoms reuccured but was not severe as before. I will have too increase the dose again."

10 / 10

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15 Report

RedWax
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
June 6, 2021

"Other mood stabilizers I have been put on include Latuda, Lamictal, and Seroquel. Depakote beats them all in both efficacy and tolerability. Was put on this in the hospital after a suicide attempt along with 40mg Prozac. Greatest med combo ever for my bipolar. Definitely gained some weight the first couple of months, but as I was nearly underweight before, the extra weight filled me out nicely so I can't complain :) Currently taking 1500mg at night. Definitely helps me sleep better without making me a zombie when I wake up (Seroquel). The only thing that can be a challenge is the general grogginess I feel on this drug. Definitely not like the fog left by Seroquel, but I do yawn a lot and sometimes I need a dose adjustment. But I believe it's a worthy trade for being comfortable in my own skin for once :)"

8 / 10

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7 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 1 to 6 months
October 8, 2021

"This medication saved my 24yo daughter's life. She's struggled with what we thought was depression and anxiety since she was 15. Turns out the anxiety was mania. Finally, this year, she received a bipolar diagnosis. The turnaround has been amazing. She was nauseous for the first month, but now she's feeling great and I've seen her smile for what feels like the first time in 9 years."

10 / 10

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6 Report

StayS...
Taken for less than 1 month
June 25, 2016

"I started taking Divalproex(Depakote)250mg on June 10th and than on June 17th I was admitted into a psychiatric hospital because of my bipolar. I learned from the psychiatrist there that the dosage I was on was absolutely nothing and would have no effect on me. The psychiatrist ended up raising the dose to 750mg. I definetly can tell that my mood is leveled out for the most part. I would recommended this to people with bipolar and people with seizures(I was diagnosed a few years ago with non eptiletic seizures). So far I dont see any side effects, thank God. I take this medication at night along with: Aripiprazole(Abilify)15mg Trazodone(Desyrel)50mg Hydroxyzine(Vistaril)50mg Clonazepam(Klonopin)1mg"

8 / 10

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13 Report

Abbey
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
September 14, 2019

"I was prescribed Depakote for mood stability with the benefit of possible migraine control. I noticed the slightest amount of difference in impulsivity, but looking back it was most likely due to other medication changes at the time. We increased the dose hoping for better results, but all I received was side effects. I took one dose at night and the increased dose just made me incredibly ‘loopy’ and I wasn’t able to move properly as my body was incredibly weak. On the higher dose, the fact I wasn’t able to get out of bed without falling over and emotional mood swings made the slight benefits just not worth it. Once stopping the medication, I figured out that Depakote had increased the ringing in my ears (which luckily improved dramatically after a few months of not taking it). One benefit of this medication was that it was extremely easy to use, and if your body is able to tolerate it is absolutely worth giving it a go. After all, you never know until you try it!"

3 / 10

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9 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

kitty...
Taken for less than 1 month
December 9, 2020

"I was put on Depakote ER 250mg x 3 in the psychiatric hospital 3 weeks ago. So far it's helped me more than any other medication I've been on. My thoughts no longer race, my triggers are dulled, my mood is even. It can be kind of a pain to remember to take at the same time 3 times a day, but it works best with consistent use. I also take Prozac 40mg daily and have had no issues with depression since discharging. Side effects include constipation, feeling flat, and sleepiness throughout the day. I consider it a worthy trade off for what I was going through, though."

8 / 10

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7 Report

Generic...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
January 24, 2020

"Starting dose of 250mg in the morning and 500mg at night keeps me in therapeutic range, and very effectively controls my bipolar type II with mixed episode, but even with 20mg Adderall extended release, I find my self incredibly drowsy and groggy in the morning. Unfortunately, this medication just doesn't agree with my brain chemistry, and I'm hoping to switch to lamictal soon."

4 / 10

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7 Report

Mvnic
Taken for less than 1 month
April 13, 2021

"This medication helped me within 1 hour of taking it my rapid thoughts slowed down and I felt less anxious but I felt way too foggy and it made me do stupid stuff because it dumbed me down very much I felt really slow and then I felt extremely irritable hot. My heart felt so bad so I decided to not take it however it’s better than abilify and seroquel and especially geodon - don't ever take Geodon"

4 / 10

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5 Report

Happy...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
January 13, 2016

"This drug took me out of a downward spiraling mixed episode, for that I'm thankful. However, being BiPolar II, the initial dosage of 1750 mg. which was never recommended to lower after its effectiveness had been reached, almost put me right back to where I was. I wouldn't recommend this drug if you're on the depressive side of BiPolar, or for any length of time/dosage that the medication isn't even recommended to be used for. I've since switched to Lamictal, will see how it goes."

5 / 10

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10 Report

Lange...
Taken for 2 to 5 years
May 19, 2016

"I've been taking this for a few years and I have severe headaches often along with suffering with low back pain which is constant on my left side and nothing is soothing it. Laying down is excruciating and I'm in the process of running test. This started about 4 months ago and I have been trying to deal with it and hope that it would eventually go away. It's becoming unbearable."

4 / 10

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9 Report

Shawn
Taken for 1 to 6 months
November 21, 2020

"This medication Depakote ER is a game changer if you have intermittent explosive disorder. I have IED and I was in danger of losing everything including my family. For the first time in my life I’m clear minded and at peace no side effects what so ever taken with Wellbutrin and I feel like a man that has never existed until now"

10 / 10

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5 Report

chew...
Taken for 10 years or more
October 14, 2017

"I take non generic Depakote ER 1750 mg?? Haldol 4 mg, and propranolol 20 mg. I have some hair loss, insomnia, and shakiness. I believe the medicine is finally working after 17 years of trying every bipolar medication with Depakote ER. I lose my patience and get angry at customer service representatives sometimes. I lose my patience and get mildly angry at my husband but it appears to be under control. The insomnia at times gets really bad and I wind up calling lifenet to cope. I will be trying melatonin 3mg to see if this helps. I want to try 1500 mg of Depakote ER to see if my insomnia improves also."

7 / 10

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8 Report

kelly...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
July 7, 2022

"I (age 27) wanted to share a positive and honest review. Depakote ER has helped me a lot. I have been on it for 1 year, since I was hospitalized for a mixed/primarily manic episode. I struggle with Bipolar I but mostly major depression, with occasional hypomania, mania, and mixed episodes. I also am diagnosed with GAD, OCD, ADHD, C-PTSD, and tics. Depakote ER really slowed down my racing thoughts and helped me regulate my sleep at 1000 mg. Granted I do not take it alone; I take it with Rexulti, Effexor XR, Concerta/Ritalin, and Clonidine. This combo seems to work well. My only complaint is weight gain, but I'm learning in therapy to accept my body and exercise and eat balanced. I definitely think it works well for me (can't speak for others) for my mixed and manic episodes. Haven't had one since."

9 / 10

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2 Report

Sunsh...
December 5, 2020

"Tapering off Depakote now. Side effects I experience are muscle cramping and tension, food tastes weird, head throbbing, confusion and numbness in hands & feet (also cold) Wondering if it’s seizing. Hoping Seroquel will be work!"

6 / 10

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3 Report

Mysti
Taken for 2 to 5 years
February 21, 2021

"Thank you Depakote ER for giving me a new life. I take Prozac and Depakote ER for Bipolar. It has been a long road to accepting the fatigue but the dangerous uneven life I used to live I had to come to terms with it. I had horrible manic episodes on other medications that did not work. This combo is perfect except the fatigue is the hardest part. But I don’t have to suffer like that. I have breakthrough episodes but I can increase the Depa dose if needed. The only medicine that has changed me and allowed me to live a normal life"

10 / 10

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2 Report

Anita...
Taken for 5 to 10 years
August 24, 2013

"This medicine has been great for me. I do not feel any side effects. I actually lost 25 pounds... I had been on lithium for 28 years."

10 / 10

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48 Report

i2ano
Taken for 1 to 6 months
April 7, 2014

"Caused suicidal depression"

1 / 10

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32 Report

livel...
October 13, 2014

"Crushed mania fast on 2000 mg/d and currentyl stable on this dose"

10 / 10

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26 Report

HEDR
September 25, 2009

"Has helped to slow down my racing thoughts and helped with some of my sleeping issues."

8 / 10

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33 Report

Synta...
October 9, 2009

"Depakote in use with Zyprexa has given me my life back. I haven't felt this "normal" in many years."

10 / 10

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30 Report

be2
Taken for 2 to 5 years
June 30, 2015

"Very smooth mood stabilizer, no side effects. I take 1200 mg/d."

10 / 10

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20 Report

Corrie...
May 24, 2015

"I had a strong desire to drive off of the road even with other people in the car. Otherwise this worked well but the desire increased the longer I was on it."

7 / 10

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18 Report

Kano
Taken for less than 1 month
May 12, 2018

"Terrible. Absolute poison. I would never ever put that toxic waste in my blood stream again. Depakote is bad."

1 / 10

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10 Report

JB34
Taken for 1 to 6 months
June 10, 2019

"Not sure if Depakote is worth it. Rather take Seroquel XR."

6 / 10

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5 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.