Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 3)

Brand names: Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakote Sprinkles

Divalproex sodium has an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from a total of 80 reviews for the treatment of Epilepsy. 51% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 24% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Divalproex sodium

Regina
October 13, 2008

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "I have been on Depakote for about 11 years now. It works pretty well for the most part, but every once in a while my body gets out of whack and I have seizures anyhow. My doctors have tried other medicines as well but Depakote seems to be what works best."

8 / 10

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12 Report

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

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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."

3 / 10

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4 Report

Rosco
Taken for less than 1 month
December 9, 2019

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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."

8 / 10

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4 Report

Anonymous
November 22, 2011

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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). "

8 / 10

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8 Report

Zarin...
February 6, 2009

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "It did do okay for my seizures but I ended up with so many of the side effects it was unbelievable. They had to take me off I still have seizures to this day because they haven't found the right medicines. I have had a VNS inplant though but still having seizures."

6 / 10

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9 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
May 30, 2017

"My husband took this for a week and he turned into a unmotivated, angry, heart palpitating, paranoid Zombie. He had no relief for his headache and had tremors so bad he could not hold a fork to eat. Stomach pain, loss of appetite, hair falling out and left arm pain, to name a few more...I don't know why any doctor would order this for brain tumor pain. It is just awful. This drug may work for others but for pain it's useless..."

1 / 10

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5 Report

Epano
July 25, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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."

5 / 10

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Anonymous
Taken for 2 to 5 years
July 26, 2021

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "Thought it was ok until I gained 100 pounds. Never controlled my seizures well, but nothing has. Now starting a new drug and seeing a new Dr. to keep me on the Keto Diet. Lost 65lb now. Still working hard to lose more. My new Neurologist could not believe a doctor would put a female on this drug. My doctor will not even prescribe it."

2 / 10

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Banana...
September 14, 2015

"It cured my seizures I was having every night. I started taking this drug about a month ago and have gained 15 pounds already. I work out every day which didn't make sense to me so I had to look up the side effects. This medicine gave me terrible stomach pains no matter what I ate. terrible gas and diharea. Gave me weird dreams, acne, bad pain to the point I couldn't sleep. I woke up feeling terrible every morning, I could go on forever. I'm going to call my doctor to get switched to a different one."

5 / 10

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Reb
Taken for 10 years or more
October 27, 2021

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "72 year old man with epilepsy diagnosed at 13. Many seizures as a young adult but Seizure free for approximately 30 years. Take 500mg Depakote ER twice a day and Dilantin 100mg two, twice a day. My side effect has been weight gain. But the medications have been very effective in my case."

8 / 10

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IzzyG...
September 15, 2016

"My 10 year old daughter has had seizures for 2 1/2 years. She has had about 100 petit Mal seizures a day. She has been on two other medicines that didn't help. She started taking this medicine and her seizures are down to 1-2 a day. Love this medicine for her!!!"

10 / 10

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2 Report

jam
December 29, 2009

"I was on this med in Europe before it was available here. (35 years ago) I was in the clinical trials in the US starting with Depakene and then moving to Depakote and Depakote ER. At this point I can't really point out the side effects since I've been using it for so long. Being tired is probably one of them. Also blurry eyesight occasionally. It started out as an anti-convulsant and then was used for other things."

9 / 10

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3 Report

Jano
Taken for 1 to 2 years
April 6, 2020

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "Depakote caused an increase in seizure occurence as well as severity of the seizures. Extreme changes in sleep habits, appetite, behavioral issues as well as severe and erratic mood changes, vomiting and regular kidney stones"

1 / 10

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Mary
Taken for 5 to 10 years
December 25, 2019

"So this medicine makes me bipolar on occasion. But my doc just told me about 2 months ago my blood level was low. So I started doubling up on it now no reading at all. Is there a recall? I can't understand I had 45min grand mal seizures.before this medication. They put me on keppra. I then had 3 to 5 seizures a day at 45 min each. I had to learn how to read and write again reeducate myself. Long term memory is in tact. Now I have short term memory loss. Lot of brain damage. To where a speech therapist told me I should be talking like I'm 2. But I had my blood tested because after years of depakote and no seizures I was having seizures, felt them coming and was aware while having them. Short but horrible feeling. Thats when doc said the valporic acid was low. Now no reading of valporic acid can be detected. I don't want another 45min seizure. I don't know when they come or that I've had one unless Isee blood."

6 / 10

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Alex
Taken for 2 to 5 years
May 20, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "If you want to lower your IQ 50 points take Depakote"

6 / 10

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18 Report

NRu
Taken for 10 years or more
January 16, 2013

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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."

9 / 10

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36 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 10 years or more
May 25, 2022

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

6 / 10

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8 Report

JRM
Taken for 10 years or more
November 16, 2012

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Hair loss, extreme fatigue, weight gain, hands trembling and sometimes ringing in ears."

8 / 10

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27 Report

Joey
Taken for 1 to 2 years
August 4, 2018

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "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"

4 / 10

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Joe
November 15, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Lost a couple years if my life to this drug Depakote . If you start acting irrationally, or you cognitive ability deteriorates, or you start shaking stop taking this drug."

4 / 10

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10 Report

joe
Taken for 2 to 5 years
April 24, 2019

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Depakote causes extreme tremors and weight gain. The first week I got off the med I lost 20 pounds."

1 / 10

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Anonymous
March 9, 2013

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Great. Has made seizures controlled."

10 / 10

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18 Report

Bluew...
June 30, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Been on Valproic Acid for 30 yrs. No seizures. Wouldn't go off it for anything. No side effects."

10 / 10

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8 Report

Mom...
Taken for 1 to 6 months
February 1, 2022

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "My son was keppra for four years. The keppra stopped working. So the neurologists prescribed depakote and now he won’t go to school. Two months. hBefore e was a happy and well adjusted boy."

3 / 10

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4 Report

Anonymous
June 19, 2010

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "It made my hair fall out."

3 / 10

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14 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.