Depakote for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Yes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

"I have been mentally unstable nearly all my life. I am a rapid cycling manic depressive. Multiple drugs and alcohol-related problems from trying to self-medicate. I can rapid cycle between moods so quickly it can be scary. Also, when I am having a manic episode, I feel like the world is ending and nothing is worth living for. I tried many medications. To name a few: Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Deplin, Mirtazapine, lithium... none worked, in fact, a couple made me literally freak out, and I got Baker acted. When I was in the hospital, the psych had me stop taking lithium and start Depakote, and I thought - here we go again, I'll probably be in jail or dead soon. Within 1 week, I had my emotions back, was actually feeling happy, and could feel that my mood was stabilized. This medication has saved my life. God bless Depakote. I recommend giving it a try when nothing else has worked. This one is different. Best wishes to you all. Love and gratitude."

• Anonymous
• May 29, 2011

"I started taking Depakote 500 mg with Lexapro about 2 years ago. It made me feel like a zombie all day but worked well on my swings from extreme anxiety to deep depression and crying spells. I was very tired all day and had a hard time waking up for work, so we reduced to 250 mg daily. That seemed to be the sweet spot for me. I don't think I have many side effects from it besides maybe trouble losing weight. I'm very active and eat well but never seemed to get any weight off. I would also occasionally feel disconnected and distant from the world, but this was rare. I can't imagine life without Depakote, it has its problems, but I can function again."

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

"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."

• Pep...
• December 10, 2011

"When I started this, I was 135 pounds. When I ended this, I was 198 pounds. Went to the gym all the time, ate healthy, and didn't eat fats, and I still gained. And this was not working to stop me from sleeping too much. I was also on Seroquel that made me sleep like 12 to 14 hours. When the doctor took me off this, I went from 198, and now I am 145 and went off Seroquel. Now I don't sleep too much."

• Eko...
• July 11, 2011

"I was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder early this year after spending most of my life not knowing what was going on with me. I was prescribed Depakote at 750 mg a day to start with. I'd never had any other medication, so I cannot compare it to anything else, but without it, I don't think I would be here now. I got that bad with my mood swings becoming so severe. Yes, I've put on a little weight, but I'd rather that than go back to how I was. Yes, at times I'm still hyper and then exhausted for a few days, still better than being erratic and bouncing off the walls for days/weeks on end. I know it won't work for everyone, but I'm doing much better with it."

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2011

"I take 1000 mg a day for bipolar II. I first went on this medicine at 200 mg back in September of last year when I was in a manic episode and was first diagnosed. At that time, they also put me on quetiapine and citalopram. I am not just on Epilim. I am stable apart from a couple of days a month when I am very down. Reading the reviews, I am totally relieved to hear that other people just don't feel full on this medicine - I am constantly hungry. I never feel full and eat and eat. I go to the gym four times a week to try and counteract this, though. I have gained 28 lbs since starting to take this medicine, and I'm really trying to lose it, but it's tough, to be honest. Better than me being mad, though."

• jut...
• May 5, 2010

"When it worked, it was great. Couldn't keep my levels the same, though. When levels went too high, I got tired and shaky and could not sleep. When it went too low, I rapid cycled between mania and depression. May work for you, but not for me."

• ang...
• November 27, 2010

"My daughter is 12 years old, and her Depakote was recently increased to 1,000 mg a day. Immediately, I saw some harsh side effects. To begin with, she has a very petite frame and dropped 9 pounds and now weighs 62 pounds. My daughter started vomiting with the high dose. She hasn't slept a normal night's sleep in a long time. She never wants to eat, which has caused her dramatic weight loss. She experiences nausea, vomiting, irritability, and many more side effects. Depakote may be a lifesaver for some, but this medication isn't for everyone."

• So-...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2019

"I haven't really had a major manic episode since I started Depakote. However, it did not help me with normal agitation, violent thoughts, or anger. But trade-offs were weight gain, significant hair loss, and tremor. I was on 1250 mg/d and decreased to 750 mg/d. Cutting down didn't make me feel any difference. I wish this works out for most of you since this is one of the main therapies for maintenance."

• Ban...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 4, 2021

"In 2015, I got on Remeron and Seroquel. They made me gain a good amount of weight... 25 lbs, up and down. After years, they didn't have the knockout effect. Last year, in 2020, I was just stressed, all messed up, anxiety out of control. I was currently on 15 mg of Remeron and 300 mg of Seroquel. I was forced on Depakote last year, one year ago in March. Mentally, it worked great, 500 mg twice a day. My anxiety and stress went away. It's still gone a year later. The bad news is I've gained 35 pounds, have less sex drive, and thinning hair on the front, but not sure if that's the Depakote... but lots of people say so. Apparently, on 1000 mg a day, that happens. I'd say it's a great medicine for your anxiety and stress. Maybe only take 500 mg a day. Just like any of these medications, you will gain weight and have cons. But honestly, I was forced into it from the mental hospital a year ago; it did the trick, it fixed my life... and I love my kids, I still have emotions. The worst part is the weight gain and tiredness."

• lar...
• December 7, 2009

"I was prescribed this because it is a mood stabilizer. In other words, I sank down pretty low in mood with long-term stressors such as the death of family members and a couple of moves, not going to AA and not being in therapy (ugh). I started this recently, and at 500 mg, seemed to be able to sleep. At 1000 mg, I was restless. If I'm feeling low, then it's doing what it's supposed to, I suppose. I will cut back to the 500 mg and take it in the morning and see if it makes me sleepy or hyper. I take 22 mg of Buspar at night because I was also suffering from anxiety that was not letting me sleep. I liked the fact that Depakote works well almost immediately, and I was assured that after three weeks, I should feel 'normal' again and can quit."

• sla...
• January 9, 2011

"I have taken this medicine for seven years... six of those in conjunction with Zyprexa. I ballooned from 120 lbs to 210 lbs in that space of time. I was not warned that this medicine has the potential to cause massive weight gain, and she insisted to me that the gain was nothing to do with the drug. Came off the drugs independently for 13 months, 95 lbs fell off me easily, but had another episode after that time. Am now on 500 mgs Depakote and 10 mgs Abilify. Don't notice any beneficial effects from this medicine: hair loss, nails breaking below the quick, hand and body tremors, forgetfulness, being abstract and far away, irregular sleep patterns. Want to ask the doctor to try me on Lamictal."

• the...
• August 14, 2010

"I was prescribed 250 mg, but to take three times a day (every 8 hours). I don't think that's really too high. Perhaps it's because I was on such high doses of other things in my past-who knows. So, to me, my body is used to truly high doses of such medicines. Either way, 250 mg of Depakote DR is the lowest you can be given, and that will only carry you through part of the day. This is why the doctor has to make you take it three times a day. I haven't had practically any side effects, except for a little 'wet noodly' feeling, but none of the side effects (yet) that are listed. Guess it's different for everyone."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 10, 2022

"Diagnosed with bipolar disorder BP1 year and a half ago. On generic brand ER (once daily in PM). Stops mania. Took a year to find the appropriate dose (750 mg). No weight gain. Exercising and eating well. Mostly sleeping well. Though on occasion must take 10-25 mg of Seroquel to help with sleep onset. Must increase water intake as it increases thirst. Eliminates paranoia, delusions, irritability, and destructive manic behaviors. My humor and empathy returned after episodes of psychosis (before my diagnosis). I’m stable now. Getting good sleep is a priority. Stimulants and THC trigger worst mania. With doctor’s supervision, I did go off Depakote to see if I could manage without having BP1 symptoms and quickly realized all symptoms returned. I immediately began taking Depakote again and all symptoms receded. This is an effective medicine for BP1. BP1 is a treatable illness. Depakote helps me live a full life."

• bob...
• September 10, 2010

"I was prescribed 500 mg Depakote twice per day. It does make me feel sleepy, and the MD stated I needed to take both in the evening. I did so and awoke feeling like I was jacked up and bouncing off the walls. I thought, what the hell is going on? So I took another dose, and an hour later had a nap, and I was fine. The downside of the medication does make me feel like a zombie. My concentration is nil and I'm confused a lot. Currently, I do not have any insurance, and when I go to the ER, they say just wait until you see your MD next month. I am very frustrated but learned the hard way to not discontinue your medicines. I did so and got in a lot of trouble."

• sou...
• August 24, 2013

"I've been on Depakote for 10 days. I also take 250 mgs of quetiapine, 50 mgs. My psychiatrist is reluctant to diagnose bipolar but seems to be treating me for it. I feel calmer so far on Depakote, but still feel a bit down. I was a bit high, my psychiatrist said I wasn't manic."

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2010

"Depakote made me go slow on everything I did. I was a totally different person. My family thought I was on harsh drugs, I didn't function at all on 1200 mg. Now I am on quetiapine and citalopram, and my moods have totally stabilized. I am a different person."

• pdx...
• October 10, 2011

"I am an active person with a healthy, gluten/dairy-free diet, and within the first 2 months, I gained nearly 40 pounds. I was crying all of the time, fatigued, and then my hair started falling out. It also led to a suicide attempt. Depakote may work very well for some, but for me, it was worse than the disease. Another downside was the cost. With insurance, it was nearly 150.00 dollars a month."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2021

"I have chronic pancreatitis and chronic pain from this. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar II, and the doctor who quintupled my dose failed to monitor liver function, which is why my next doctor took me off of it. I now have an intrathecal pump and spinal cord stimulator to manage my chronic abdominal pain and will soon become type 3C diabetic because I had a distal pancreatectomy/splenectomy after a mucinous cystadenoma on my inflamed pancreas. I was prescribed this medication at 17, and my pancreas was a mess by 22. I’m too young to be this sick. It ruined my life!"

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2011

"I have been taking this medicine for 3 weeks. During the three weeks, I have experienced severe mood swings to the point of psychosis. I have had irritability on a daily basis and worsening of depression. The psychosis has made me stop taking the medicine. I had been on Seroquel for years, and because of a huge weight gain, I stopped taking it. I don't know where to go from here."

• vol...
• May 14, 2011

"I took Depakote for 3 months at 100 mg to treat bipolar disorder type I. I did see improvements in my mood, but I also experienced weight gain due to the side effect of always feeling hungry. Also, I never felt the signal from my stomach telling me that it was time to stop eating and that I was full."

• sem...
• December 6, 2011

"I was prescribed this for a mood disorder they couldn't pin down (didn't know where on the bipolar spectrum I fell, I suppose) as well as sleeping issues. I became very jaded, too jaded. I didn't get any more sleep than usual, and my previously sun-sensitive skin is now showing minor allergic reactions to sunlight. I haven't been on it for years, and the allergy is still there. It did nothing for me and just made it harder for me to operate in the typically diurnal society of today. Not a positive experience."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2023

"Highly recommend it. I’m only on day 3, and it already is working wonders. I’m so much calmer. I don’t even crave weed or caffeine, and I have been using both daily for over 20 years. Thank you, God, for Depakote, it is a miracle."

• Sam...
• January 25, 2025

"Depakote, for me, mentally, was amazing. I felt very clear-headed, logically thinking, and emotionally stable. The downsides were that my appetite had increased dramatically, and my hair felt like straw, so when I would pull my hair up in a ponytail, it would consistently rip because of the brittleness. So I can see why people reported that their hair fell out. I had to quit taking it because I couldn't stop eating everything in sight. Though I could see myself stopping taking it because of my hair becoming very thin as well. The mental and emotional relief I received from this drug was unmatched, as I've tried other mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Sometimes I wish I could take it again just because of the mental and emotional relief. But then I remember that all the food in the house would be gone the following day because I will have devoured it."

• all...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2022

"This is probably the best drug I've been on for my bipolar disorder, and I feel like I've been on them all. Antipsychotics really give me way too much cognitive impairment, so when my doctor took me off them and put me on Depakote, I was amazed at how clearheaded I felt. I did have some really horrible stomach pain side effects at first, but that was gone within a week or so. I take two 250 mg pills in the am and three 250 mg pills in the pm, so it looks like my dose is higher than some of y'alls, so I'd like to talk to my doctor about maybe lowering it, but we'll see. At any rate, this works for me. I really like it."