Depakote ER and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• J2 ...
• December 1, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm going to say this. This medication has been a lifesaver for me. I've been on it for six months now. I take it for migraines, bipolar, and seizures. No noticeable side effects except for a lot of ear popping. I am a lot calmer than what I used to be. My anxiety is still there, but it isn't as bad as it was. I can actually function on this medication. My family can be around me now. I used to rapid cycle and have mixed episodes at least ten times a week. Now they're gone. It's nice to be normal for a change. No grandiose delusions. No audible delusions. I am a little bit sleepier than normal. But with a change of diet, I'm okay. No hair falling out. Just the normal hair loss when it comes to the change of weather."

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

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!"

• Zee...
• April 9, 2011

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."

• Cha...
• May 21, 2013

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."

• sea...
• February 6, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "My 12-year-old son has been having migraines for 2 years now. At first, it was only once every few months. However, it progressed to once or twice a week - with vision aura and speech disturbance. I took him to a pediatric neurologist, and he said it was likely from puberty. He prescribed 500 mg of Depakote ER. It seemed to start working right away. It has been almost 2 months now, and he has only had one migraine in almost 2 months. Far better than before. He hasn't had any of the noticeable side effects - hair loss, weight gain. He takes it before bedtime. It is hard to get him up in the morning, but I don't know if that is from the medicine or from going to bed too late!"

• Pam...
• February 5, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "After being on Depakote ER for 8 months, it was really effective in reducing the migraines. As side effects, I never gained one single pound, but the hair loss was just unbearable. I lost half of all my hair. I had to stop taking it, unfortunately. I have always had headaches since I was a child. Before Depakote, I stayed one month having headaches every single day, had to stay in bed, couldn't even walk, and I felt like I reached the lowest point in my life, I wouldn't be able to live with the pain anymore. I had no life. After 2 weeks on Depakote ER 500 mg, I started getting better. I was having only 8/10 per month. Now I'm on topiramate for 2 weeks, the hair is still falling a lot and the migraines are back almost every day."

• Sar...
• December 13, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote ER for 4 months. My dosage is 1500 mg a day. I went untreated for many years (18 yrs) because I didn't have health care and failure to accept something was wrong even though I was a lot off the wall. After 3 weeks of Depakote, my moods were pretty even and stable. I also felt a little numb, I missed my highs, but it was better than being psychotic one minute and crying another. But at the 4-month mark, my hair has started falling out in clumps, that was my only side effect. So I'm now transitioning to lithium. Fingers crossed."

• dav...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 20, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking Depakote 1500 mg for 2 years, find it calms me down when anxiety is overwhelming. It is worth the side effects of weight gain and hair loss. I keep taking a regular dose and don't play around with dosage."

• jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote has worked great for me. It totally helps with mania. The only medication that clears up my head and makes me feel normal. Also, it gets rid of my migraines. The only bad thing is a few side effects. I gained weight, and my hair fell out. And I was pretty lethargic at first. Takes a while, but once it kicks in, I felt like a whole person. I was off of it for a long time and recently was put back on it, so going through side effects again, but felt a difference right away."

• Alt...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I have had three severe manic episodes in my lifetime. First was not diagnosed. The 2nd severe mania hit in '02, and I was given Zyprexa. This took the edge off, but I would wake up in the early morning manic again, once it wore off. When Depakote was added, I really came down. I was manic-episode free for 15 years, with a relapse in ‘17. I was put on Zyprexa and lithium but was still flying high and fast - complete manic. Once a high dose of Depakote was added, I came down for good. This drug has been critical for resolving my manias. My experience with it for long-term treatment has not been good, though - lost a lot of hair, a lot of enthusiasm, and felt like I was in a stupor. I gained weight, but that has happened on all the useful drugs."

• LAG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Depakote ER 2000 mg at bedtime about a year ago after decades of ineffective treatment for depression and anxiety. Depakote proved that I was misdiagnosed: it quickly alleviated my psych symptoms and allowed me to reduce Xanax XR dose by half and eliminate PRN Xanax. I haven't experienced the weight loss side effect, but did lose a lot of hair at first. The hair seems to be thickening up now. I would give it 10 stars except for the hair loss."

• Bla...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 28, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Wonder drug for me, although I only use it as a rescue med if I get an inkling of mania. I don’t take it all the time because I gain weight, and the hair loss is devastating. The upside is that it gives me curly hair (which also hides some of the hair loss). I lose about 50% of my hair volume. The curls slowly relax once I stop taking it. I still had waves two years after I stopped taking it full time. It’s the oddest thing. In addition to adding it as a rescue med, my doctor and I have carefully put together a drug cocktail that works for me: Effexor XR, Risperdal, and bupropion. I don’t feel over-medicated, and it took years to get the formula right. Never stop trying new meds if you aren’t getting good results."

• che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 14, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "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 3 mg to see if this helps. I want to try 1500 mg of Depakote ER to see if my insomnia improves also."

• fis...
• April 14, 2011

For Epilepsy "I'm on 1750 mg of Depakote, which was fine for the longest time, but when the doctors added other medicines, unpleasant side effects and sometimes more seizures occurred. The only side effects I've experienced were weight gain and thinning hair, but I can help control and minimize the effects on those. It's the effects I can't control that worry me, just like it confuses me why most of my seizures coincide with my menstruation."

• nic...
• June 16, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have taken Depakote ER for a while with Lamictal. I have not had a seizure in 34 months. I do have hair loss and weight gain problems."