Divalproex sodium for Migraine Prevention User Reviews

• Coc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 25, 2020

"I was terrified to try Depakote for migraines. I tried a dozen other drugs that didn’t work or eventually lost their effectiveness so I was basically left with no choice. I started taking it at night and it really helped with sleep. In about 1-2 weeks, I felt like a new person. My migraines were lessened as well as the intensity. I monitored my diet faithfully and exercised when I was in less pain. And I never stopped praying it would continue to help me. Please don’t be as terrified as I was. At least try it..."

• Tob...
• October 15, 2013

"I've also been trying different preventive medication for migraines with my doctor and so far Depakote is working the best. I started with 250mg a day for the first week, now at 500 mg a day. Before this medication, I would wake up daily with chronic head pain in the neck or behind the eyes. Now I wake up almost every morning with a clear head. I haven't seen any side effects yet at this dosage and I've even lost weight since I've been proactive with daily exercise. I started walking 2 miles daily since taking this medication. With proactive exercise and eating habits, I think anyone can keep potential side effects at bay. Previously, I was on Topamax and had to stop taking it as the nausea/head fuzz was too severe for my line of work."

• Bos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2019

"I was on Depakote 500 mg once a day with no effect on my migraines. But I have noticed I’m no longer impulsively spending. So I guess it’s possible that I’m bipolar as well...? My doctor has upped my dose to twice a day, and so far so good. No headache this month and adding to my savings every week, lol."

• Bar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 14, 2020

"I have been taking Depakote for over 20 years for migraines. Tried everything out there, and this is the only drug that helped at all. I had no side effects. However, after about 15 years, I had to increase the dose from 500 to 1,000 daily. About four years after that, I found that my osteoporosis had significantly worsened. Just a warning: if you are a woman nearing menopause or past menopause, keep an eye on bone density, as this drug can potentially reduce that with long-term use or high dosage."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2020

"I've had migraines since the age of 12, and I'm in my mid-fifties. I had chronic common migraines for years, up to about 15 or more a month. I tried every prophylactic out there with no success until I tried Depakote 500 mg ER at night. It took about 2 weeks, and I have not had a headache in over a month, and when I do have one, I take 50 mg of Sumatriptan and it's gone in 10 minutes. It's been a miracle for me and has changed my life! The only side effect is increased hunger, but I'm managing that. I take that over pain that took over my life any day!"

• han...
• May 1, 2009

"I've suffered with bad migraines as far back as I can remember, and finally, after 52 years, they got so severe I ended up in the hospital. A new doctor took my history and decided to try Depakote (500mg) for 2 weeks, and then in 2 weeks double the dose. I started with the 500mg and never had to double the dose. This July 2nd, 2009, it will have been 2 years without any kind of headache. Not even a little one. THANKS Depakote."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2014

"Used this for a few months as recommended to prevent my frequent and painful migraines that I've had since I was 12. Depakote was okay, I guess. I still had two major migraines while on it and didn't give it any extra time because the side effects are awful! I wanted to sleep constantly. Felt depressed and irritable, and hated life! Plus, the weight gain alone I experienced in a couple of months was absolutely enough reason for me to not want to be on it anymore. I gained about 15-20 lbs!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 21, 2021

"I was using this drug for my insane migraine attacks. Before taking this medicine, I had migraine headaches with stomach ache, nausea, being sleepy, feeling extremely fatigued that I wasn't even able to get up out of bed, trouble speaking and understanding others, trouble reading and writing. Started Depakote 250 once daily. Then gradually increased to 1000 daily. Worked great! I didn't have all those symptoms after being on this drug. Instead of having migraines all day, all night, 7 days a week, I had like once a day for like 2 hours with mild symptoms. I was amazed by the result, and it helped me so much. But I was still having migraines every day. So my doctor prescribed Propranolol alongside Depakote. After that, I had migraines like once a week. But over time, fewer and fewer migraines happened. After 2 years of being on this medicine, I quit and didn't have migraines even after quitting the drug. So I'm really amazed by the result. I didn't gain any weight. No serious side effects."

• soc...
• April 3, 2015

"I have been having migraines for 3 years. I took a beta blocker that didn't work. Then got put on Depakote for migraines. I was on it for a month with no big migraines unless I had my trigger food. Then I realized I gained 5 pounds, was tired all the time, and broke out like I had never been before. The medicine works for migraines but has terrible side effects. Had to stop taking."

• Cow...
• June 22, 2014

"I have only been taking Depakote ER 500 mg for 10 days now, or maybe I should say nights. I take it at bedtime and was supposed to start taking it twice a day after a week, but the upset stomach, the shakes (or extra nervousness), no sign of relief of my migraines, and I haven't been able to sleep at night either. I'm going to tell my Dr. that I just can't take it anymore."

• Man...
• March 10, 2016

"Started having migraines about ten years ago. The only treatment that has ever worked for me is Depakote. Everybody is different, but for me this was a Godsend. Nothing worked, and Topamax was only a temporary solution. The thing is that after a two-month regimen, my headaches completely went away. I stopped taking the medication for two or three years before my migraines returned. I went on another regimen, and again I went several years without a headache. Yes, I did have slight weight gain, and yes, it did affect my ability to perform sexually, but I did not have to continue taking it for more than 3 months. Cysticercosis as a child and a catalyst of factors cause my headaches. Depakote works."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2012

"I had used this medication for more than 15 years before it stopped preventing my chronic migraine headaches. I was taking it up to 2000 mg per night daily and didn't have any side effects of it since the very beginning of taking it (in a lower dose, of course) and even when I took the max dose as described. I had a very easy adjusting to it, also, and no unpleasantness whatsoever."

• kyg...
• November 17, 2010

"I have had migraines most of my 67 years. 5 yrs ago I found a doctor who prescribed Depakote 250 mg. My migraines decreased from one per month to maybe five in the past five years. Taken in combination with sumatriptan succinate tablets (only when I feel the onset of a migraine), I have a life mostly without pain."

• sim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 1, 2018

"I have a migraine 4 to 6 times per week. I have tried Maxalt, OTC drugs such as acetaminophen, Excedrin, Advil, PM meds like Advil PM, amitriptyline, and now Depakote. Depakote has done nothing at all to improve my migraines. At this point, I wonder if anything is going to ever help my migraines. All of the meds I mentioned above do not help. I'm at my wit's end. I tried Topamax too a few years ago, and it made me so nauseous and didn't help my migraines. I had an MRI done, and the ENT doctor said there were no brain abnormalities seen on the MRI disc. I don't want to be a guinea pig (hey, try this), or a medical mystery. All I want is some pain relief. Caffeine doesn't help, nor does alcohol. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 3, 2019

"My 14-year-old son went on Depakote about 3 months ago for abdominal migraines and head migraines. After trying a number of other migraine medicines, Depakote was the only medication that stopped the continual vomiting, nausea, and headache he had been experiencing for over 2 months. It did take 4 weeks for the medication to build up in his system to prevent the symptoms. He is now on 750 mg of Depakote and feeling great! The only side effect he is experiencing is weight gain, but we believe with proper diet and exercise he will be able to control that."

• SFL...
• September 8, 2009

"I have been taking Depakote ER for approximately 4 weeks now, with good results. Prior to this medication, I was experiencing frequent dull pressure-type headaches, some lasting several days, and occasional short-duration sharp migraines. Since using Depakote ER, I have had no migraines and only a couple of very mild and short-duration pressure headaches. I realize it's only been a short amount of time on this medication, but the relief has been quite noticeable for me. I have also not experienced any sudden weight gain side effects, however, just prior to starting this medication, I commenced a healthy eating regimen, which has actually caused me to lose several pounds, and which may be contributing to my weight situation."

• Cha...
• May 21, 2013

"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."

• YDP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2013

"I've always suffered from migraines. I take 500 ER twice a day and gained 16 lbs in less than 3 weeks. Since I'm already overweight, this caused severe back pain in which I can barely walk, and my legs are numb. Works wonders for my migraine, but the side effects aren't worth it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2012

"Before Depakote, I've tried vitamin B2, verapamil, and Topamax, but for one reason or another, none of them have worked. About 6 months ago, my doctor started me on Depakote. Once I started using it, my daily headaches became a lot more tolerable, but haven't gone away completely, and my severe migraines are at about once a month. However, like many others, there was a noticeable weight gain-about 20 pounds-soon after I started, and it's been pretty steady since. I've also had a bout of depression recently, but it's hard to tell how that's related to the medicine because it isn't my first time. As of right now, I'm not sure the minor benefits are worth the side effects."

• sea...
• February 6, 2012

"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

"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."

• Kay...
• April 23, 2011

"Depakote worked great as a migraine preventative, but caused a weight gain of over 100 pounds in less than 3 months. It also caused non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (aka extreme fatty liver). I also now have Type 2 diabetes. My body was shutting down because of Depakote. If you decide to take it, please, please, please keep up with the blood tests to check liver function and see your doctor immediately if you have sudden weight gain. By the way, after over 12 years, the last 50 pounds of that weight gain is stubbornly hanging on."

• Cpc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2014

"I have struggled with migraines for 14 years. I have tried so many medications over the years. The past 3 years, my migraines have gotten worse. I have been put in the hospital for a week to a week and a half at a time. The last time I went to the neurologist, they added Depakote twice a day to see if it would help cut back on the number of migraines I was having. I would have at least one a day. I was currently on Topamax twice a day, Fioricet, and Zofran. When I started Depakote, I noticed my weight was going up. Well, I have been on the medication 3 months now, and I have gained 40 pounds. This is so crazy. I used to weigh 298 lbs, and I don't want to go back there when my scale started going over the 200 mark again."

• car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 9, 2013

"Got on it for migraines, it worked great for the first 8 months. The last 4 months, I've gotten depressed, panic attacks. I lost weight, so weight gain wasn't an issue, but I've always had issues with weight loss and not gaining. Made me lose appetite a lot, and I was never thirsty either."

• Anonymous
• February 29, 2012

"I, along with most people here, have had an excellent result with Depakote ER, however, the biggest side effect for me is the weight gain (10 lbs in a month!). May I add, I eat healthy and work out... it just keeps coming. I've been on Topamax for 17 months with no relief. I hope there's something else I can try that's comparable to Depakote ER. I really don't want to be obese from medicine."