Depakote and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• chr...
• April 20, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "Although reading the possible side effects can be scary, this medicine gave me my life back. I had a little hair loss at doses above 1000mg, but it's been great in stabilizing my mood swings. If I go off of it, I have an episode within a month. I had no weight gain (actually lost weight I had gained from taking Seroquel previously). I take it with Wellbutrin SR and a little Abilify. But the Depakote is by far the most effective. I've been on it for over 3 years."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have to say this drug did more harm than good, and my body is very dependent on it. In only a year span, I started having serious weight and back issues. I have never had any issues with my back, but all of a sudden my bones started to get brittle. Then the disc herniations started happening, and like a domino effect, my entire spine was damaged. I see a lot of info on children or babies affected with their spine, but apparently, it can do the same for a grown adult. I was put on this medication for anxiety and what my doctor thought was bipolar disorder. Turns out, as time goes by, the doctor lowers my Depakote and came to the conclusion I do not have bipolar disorder. Great... Damage done... Abnormal EEG, spine damage, and severe chemical dependency... Lost my hair, my looks, weight."

• jdk...
• March 1, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I am on the 500 x 2 ER, and people tell me I'm a lot calmer and they see the change. I guess I was on the depressed side of the spectrum. It may also be that I am on Celexa as well. At first, I was severely drowsy, but after about seven months, it kicks in. As far as weight gain goes, no changes there. Hair loss? I was already losing it. I have been on lithium, and that didn't work. Tried Tegretol as well, come to find out I am allergic. So, if I can feel normal and blood tests on liver and kidneys come back fine, hey, I will give Depakote 2 big thumbs up for a normal life."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication has kept me stable for 4 years. I am now 23 and was on 1000 mg at night. I recently went down as my blood tests came back too high. So I went back down to 700 mg and had another manic episode. I am now in the process of finding an antipsychotic to go with it. I have managed to stay at 110 lbs for 4 years with a healthy diet and exercise. The only side effects I had were major hair loss, slight tremors, and nausea. All of which have passed within a year."

• sf1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 35 years ago, but finally received a diagnosis on the bipolar spectrum two years ago at the age of 60. Depakote ER (2000 mg at night) fixed things I didn't know were wrong and has stilled the ultradian cycling that was really my problem all along. I feel lucky that the only side effects I have encountered are hair loss at first (now resolved) and occasional heartburn. It relieved most of my depressive and hypomanic symptoms within three weeks, but I just added Lamictal to help a little more with depressive symptoms. I take a complicated stack of meds to manage psych symptoms, but Depakote is by far the most important."

• D P...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "My husband says Depakote is having a positive impact on me as well as our family! I'm not in bed all day or hanging around the bedroom. I'm up and about the house. Since decluttered, even organized! My personality has blossomed too. The last six years, I tried a wide spectrum of medications: Seroquel, Lamictal, Latuda, zonisamide, carbamazepine to name a few! My bipolar worsened five years ago after our last child. The side effects were hair shedding within three weeks, but no significant weight gain. I have always had a thick head of hair, so it's not really noticeable, but I can tell one side limp and not hanging full. I've started biotin along with a multivitamin. My Doc also told me to try a zinc supplement. Overall, I feel it is working."

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

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."

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

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!"

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Taking Depakote for migraine prevention. My headaches finally went away after a year and a half of chronic migraines. Free for 7 months, but my headaches have returned now. I've also gained 10 pounds since I started the medication, had some hair loss at the beginning, and I do have a problem with constant anxiety."

• TLN...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 10, 2020

For Epilepsy "This drug, Depakote, gave me side effects: I gained 50 lbs, hair fell out, and tremors. Was put on it for migraines initially, but after 2 years, migraines turned into seizures. I question if the drug didn't cause my seizures."

• Hap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2015

For Epilepsy "I'm 24 years old, and I've been epileptic for about 12 years. I've seen my fair share of doctors, and I was either too medicated or ignored, so remember, the doctor isn't always right. I recently found my current doctor about 3 years ago, and she has gone above and beyond for me. I am currently seizure-free and can drive. I currently take 1000 mg Depakote ER a day, 200 mg of Topamax a day to balance out the weight gain. I do have a slight problem with my hair, it won't grow, but that's okay."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote was a nightmare. Besides having acute, non-stop stomach pain with chronic diarrhea, 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."

• Ala...
• August 2, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I take 2500 mg Depakote per day for rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and it works very well. I've been taking this dose for 4 years. Few side effects apart from the inevitable weight gain and some hair loss. Depakote keeps the mood swings away for good and doesn't impair my movements or thoughts. I prefer this mood stabilizer."

• hek...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 15, 2014

For Epilepsy "I was put on Depakote when I was 17 when I started to have seizures due to head trauma from a motorcycle accident. Initially, my dose was higher, I don't remember exactly how high, but then I was lowered to Depakote ER 500 mg once a day. As long as I took my medicine and didn't drink as much as before and got regular sleep, I did not have any seizures. When I've run out of the medication and went out and drank (like an idiot), I had a seizure the next day. This happened to me like 3 times, but it's my own fault. Anyway, as long as I take it daily and control any other factors that could cause a seizure, I'm seizure-free. I've never had a seizure while taking this. The first side effects were slight hair loss, which stopped. But I did gain weight."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2011

For Epilepsy "I have taken Depakote for 13 years. Tried Dilantin and Lamictal at one point. They never fully stopped the seizure activity. Once I have learned to take my pills faithfully and have the correct dose, it has become a HUGE BLESSING in my life. I am 'normal.' I have some of the side effects (weight gain, depression, hair falls out), but to me, it is worth it to lead a normal functioning life. I also went through pregnancy on Depakote, and I have a healthy 2-year-old."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• sla...
• January 9, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• pdx...
• October 10, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Sam...
• January 25, 2025

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• Dan...
• September 22, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have been on Depakote for about two years now, and it has certainly been effective in stopping both grand mal and petit 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."

• Edd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2022

For Epilepsy "I'm epileptic. I have been having seizures since my early teens. I’m 52 now. I was born with a tumor in my brain. The tumor has been removed, but the damage of the scar tissue is causing me to have seizures. I have been taking Depakote 2000mg a day, and I take with it Keppra 1000mg a day for 2 years, and the side effects suck. I can’t sleep, I stutter, I’m always anxious, and I have tremors. I have my ups and downs, mood swings. I lost my hair, I’m easily angered or frustrated and nervous. I also have high blood pressure now and have to take high blood pressure meds. I smoke THC and CBD to help. I’m usually nauseous, and I have digestive problems, if you know what I mean. I still have seizures, mainly blackouts. I haven’t had a grand mal seizure for a bit. But I would like to know if anyone came down with high blood pressure when started taking the meds."

• Mou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking 250 mg/day for bipolar, and it already seems therapeutic for me. It's difficult to feel angry, and generally I just feel euphoric or calm. Some interesting side effects I've noticed, however, include a complete absence of hunger (and in turn weight loss), insomnia, feeling energized most of the day, increased frequency of erections, and feeling that I'm living life on autopilot (in a good way). At a higher dosage, I experienced a lot of hair loss, so I'm hoping to continue at my relatively small dosage."

• Bad...
• May 2, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote since June of 2006. I was initially started off at 1,000 mg and am now up to 1,500 mg. When I told my neurologist I want off it, she increased the dosage to 1,500 mg. I take it for epilepsy but have had similar problems as you all. I am 24 years old and am now balding. I have decreased ambition and have difficulty with memory and paying attention. I have gained about 50 pounds since starting it. Last year when my prescription was raised from 1,000 to 1,500 mg, I noticed a 15 lb increase in about a month. I am, however, not having any seizures."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I took Depakote for mixed bipolar. I was on it for about 6 months. Never had seizures before taking Depakote. Then I started to black out & start seizing out of nowhere. I also noticed I was losing weight without trying. At the time, I was about 30 pounds overweight. I lost 55 pounds. I hadn't been that skinny since high school. I was also losing my hair, eyelashes & eyebrows. My eyebrow & upper lip would repeatedly twitch out of nowhere. It was very embarrassing when it happened around others. I felt drained all the time & my head was in a daze. When I told my doctor about the seizures, they were surprised because Depakote is supposed to help stop seizures. But at the time, it was the only medicine I was taking and I never had issues with seizures before I started taking Depakote. After 6 months of continued side effects, I talked to my doctor and they gradually took me off the medication. Unfortunately, I gained all of the weight back rather quickly. Eyebrows & lashes damaged."