Depakote for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2012

"On the morning of June 23nd, I awoke with a terrible seizure (my first). Throughout the day I got progressively worse, went into the doctors office and the following morning, had slipped into a deep coma. In this coma I apparently continued these seizures. Depakote was used through my nasogastric (NG) tube and it seemed to help a lot. My only issue now is some trembling which is more noticeable when I'm weaker or more tired. Overall, the use of this medicine has been very beneficial. "

• APeli...
• September 20, 2015

"I was on Depakote for 1 year following 3 Grand Mal seizures that had been brought on by starting fluoxetine. Fluoxetine, and most SSRIs, carry the risk of seizures. They hit me hard and without warning, so I was on Depakote for a year after the final seizure and after stopping fluoxetine. It does what it is supposed to do. I had no more seizures; however, I gained over 20 lbs quickly. The weight came back off once I was off the Depakote, but you will most likely put on weight with this medication."

• Lisa
• April 18, 2018

"I have been epileptic since birth. I have been on Depakote ER for over 20 years. I am now on 2500 mg a day(1000mg in the am and 1500 in the pm) for nearly a year at this dose. Thought there was just something wrong me not meaning my epilepsy meds or my epilepsy. I was reading all the comments here and I am definitely going to speak with my neurologist about taking me off my Depakote ER and possibly put a different epilepsy medicine. I was reading through here and many side effects others was or is having with Depakote. I was like oh my goodness that is the same as me. I have much confusion, literally loosing my memory, can't concentrate or focus, migraine headaches have got so bad since I been on this medicine - I cant remember a complete week with no migraines .Everything always so hazy looking, I still have seizures back though they didn't go away the whole time of about 2 years of being on Depakote. I always feel weak and drained, tired all the time ,I switch back and forth from sleepin gway to much to being tired but not able to sleep at all."

• Danie...
• September 22, 2009

"I have been on Depakote for about two years now, and it has certainly been effective in stopping both Grand mal and Petite mal seizures. I was diagnosed with localization-related epilepsy when I was 21, but this drug is great in that it treats many types of epilepsy. Still, I did experience negative side effects, such as hair loss, a little weight gain, and drowsiness, although all of these were slight enough that they didn't really affect my life. Because Depakote isn't ideal for young women like myself, my doctor suggested I try another drug. After a brief stint on Keppra (which made me feel like I was walking in a haze - awful!), however, I switched back to Depakote, only this time adjusting was way harder - I was incredibly emotional."

• drewg...
• October 28, 2009

"I have been on Depakote for 13 years after I had 2 grand mal seizures in one year. After being placed on the Depakote delayed release I have been fine ever since, there was a time that I tried the extended release and my legs started to show some spikes so I switched back to be on the safe side which was the better call. I also use the sprinkles. As for the weight gain I never really gained more than about ten pounds but I stay active and mainly keep it off, my doctor also put me on Topamax which helps balance out the weight gain because Topamax makes you lose weight and Depakote makes you gain so they both kind of cancel each other out. Topamax also helps with seizures so it was an addition, and I have been seizure free for 13 years."

• Jb316
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2020

"I have been taking Depakote a while now I've been seizure free for years however I feel this drug has some side effects I feel depression can't sleep most nights . I'm thinking of talking to my doctor and get off this drug honestly I don't want any drug . I wanna try to go drug free and hope for the best."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

"Depakote was the first epilepsy medication I ever took, and it did work in controlling my seizures; I never had a single one while on it. However, every single "lesser" side effect on the drugs.com description sheet happened to me. I became depressed, I gained weight, my body clock went totally haywire, and my periods, which were already irregular, became even more so. I attributed most of this to me just being in middle school (I was in 7th grade at the time), but most of it stopped after my doctor switched me to Lamictal a few months later. "

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2010

"I was put on Depakote originally to control my seizures. I loved it. Then when I found out it also was used as a medicine for bipolar disorder, I was thrilled. However, then the love affair ended. My husband and I went to a Reproductive Endocrinologist and found out that it commonly caused women to have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. I now have it, and am taking medicine for diabetes, which PCOS can lead to. I still wish that I could take it because it really helped with my seizures, and also helped with my bipolar disorder."

• Lepre...
• August 24, 2009

"As far as control, this drug has been a God send. In way of weight gain, this drug has been a nightmare. I have gained 90 lbs in the 10 years on this drug. I have tried switching medicines, but have had two seizures doing so. I am healthy other than the weight gain. The drug has done what it is meant to do, stop seizures. I call it being Fat and Functional."

• Mbap
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2021

"WORST EXPERIENCE. I suffer with epilepsy and was prescribed this with various medications due to my active seizures that regularly happens 2-3 times a month when I was still in high school (age 14-18) This medication didn't help at all. Instead it messed up my mood. I was a teenager when I was first prescribed with it and it drove me crazy as I wasn't able to handle the side effects. My friends and teachers felt bad and most can tell the sudden mood changes when I'm taking it. One time the teacher actually thought I was consuming an illegal drug / alcohol. Side effects: 1. Didnt help with my seizure at all 2. Super Aggressive (Reduces depression but makes you aggressive) 3. Weird sleeping patterns 4. Bad memory. Really effects your memory 5. Increases heart rate and anxiety 6. Hallucinations For those suffering with epilepsy, I recommend another drug because I think depakote focuses more for moods (bipolar n depression) instead of seizures."

• Survi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 19, 2021

"I have been on depakote since 1990. It is the one and only drug that has managed to stop my grandmal seizures. I had brain cancer in 1989 and was put on several other anti seizure medications that didn’t work or had horrific side effects before finally being put on depakote. It has saved the quality of my life immensely. I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2022

"I have been taking 1000mg daily (500mg every 12 hour), for 12 years since I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Epilepsy. I had both petit mal and grand mal seizures. This was the first medicine the doctor prescribed to me and it is working. The only time I had a seizure was when I tried reducing my dosage to half without talking to my doctor. Once I got back to my regular dosage I got no more seizures. I do consume chocolate and caffeinated tea liberally, coffee (no more than a cup a day) and occasionally alcohol (but never in large doses) and this has not caused any seizures in my case while taking this medicine. Although I do have a milder form of epilepsy and most certainly I do not recommend or believe that doing this is safe for every epilepsy patient, this could be very dangerous or fatal for some, I just know my limits well. I had mild side effects from this medicine, such as the occasional tremors when tired but nothing more. I am satisfied with it."

• dskel...
• June 13, 2008

"I was on Depakote for 17 years with little to no breakthrough seizures. Then I suddenly developed leukopenia and had to be removed from the drug. I have not found another medication that has been as effective as Depakote. I am presently on Carbatrol and have had breakthrough seizures monthly and after 7 years have again developed leukopenia from it."

• 1teppy
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 16, 2020

"I have had epilepsy for 40+ years now. About 15 - 20 years ago, my neurologist switched me from Dilantin, to Depakote, Zonegran, and Phenobarbital (I used to get fever con- vulsions.). I have been seizure free since."

• sjm
• July 27, 2010

"I have no problems with this medicine not working, unless I forget to take my medicine! I am not sure if it causes you to have seizures - that you normally wouldn't have had, (if you hadn't forgotten your dose), or not? I think for me, yes it does. So, for myself, if I miss a few doses- a seizure is bound to happen!"

• katie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2019

"i was on depakote when i was 16 or 17 for my epilepsy i started having suicidal thoughts 2 weeks after starting depakote it really freaked me out. i told my parents and my doctors and they took me off of depakote as soon as it was out of my system the suicidal thoughts went away"

• Mr Mi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2020

"Not sure if this drug caused me to get into a car accident triggered by a dizzy spell or not. Initially doctors thought I was having seizures at age 53. I had to consult with three neurologists before one came to the conclusion I didn’t fit the clinical context of seizures. The only credible diagnosis seemed to be adrenal insufficiency causing blackouts. I may have had an underlying undiagnosed issue but would be very cautious with this drug."

• Rosco
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

"I just recently started taking Depakote for seizures. I was on keppra 1000mg 2x daily I was losing a lot of weight 150 to 129. I had a seizure that caused full body paralysis. Usually only happened on the left side of body. I suffered 2 strokes then started having seizures after 1 year ago. I was diagnosed with a blood disorder that causes clots hence the strokes. Then seizures. Neurologist diagnosed me with what they call Todd's Palsy then just recently had a bad seizure with black outs and full body paralysis she also diagnosed me with FND Functional Neurological disorder brain isn't sending right signals to tell my body parts what to do. Slow slurred speech. Memory issues word searching when speaking. So we changed med to Depikote as I was losing a lot of weight. I was a week away of signing my DNR. Because how thin I was. Mind u I'm only 48yrs old."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2011

"This medicine has been generally been quite effective in controlling my seizures, once I controlled for other factors like sleep, caffeine, etc. I gained 10% or so of my body weight in the winter, but I'm pretty confident if I work harder I can reverse that (by more regular workouts and more careful fat and especially carb intake). "

• Epano
• July 25, 2020

"Due to seizures I’ve been on different meds starting with Carbamazepine/Tegretol for 25yrs then a neurologist switched me to Keppra and Depakote. My question is to all who have taken these meds... have you ever been diagnosed with High Blood Pressure because of these meds."

• Alex
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 20, 2020

"If you want to lower your IQ 50 points take Depakote"

• NRu
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2013

"I have been on Depakote for 15 years, I have epilepsy juvenile myoclonic. No side effects for me. I really like this medicine. It makes me feel safe all the time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 25, 2022

"Long Term use results in involuntary hand tremors. Can't miss one dose without risk of suffering from nocturnal seizures. Bad!!"

• JRM
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 16, 2012

"Hair loss, extreme fatigue, weight gain, hands trembling and sometimes ringing in ears."

• Joey
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 4, 2018

"Makes me so drowsy all the time. I'm on 1000mg a day. Gained 40 pounds. Affects my work and grad school. Slows down my brain and gives me anxiety. Icing on the cake is I’m balding now at age 24"