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Global Patient Feedback for Depakote ER (Divalproex Sodium) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Avoid alcohol or any products such as cough meds that might have alcohol in them
56 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
I HAD A SEVERE CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND I GOT BI-POLAR FROM THAT AND DEPAKOTE HAS ALWAYS WORKED VERY WELL FOR ME AND HELPED ME ALOT AS OPPOSED TO LIVING WITH NOT TAKING IT.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
LEARN ALL ABOUT SIDE AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
57 year old Male
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
check with doctor and have the seizure test done to see how bad they are and if you have them
31 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
It has helped me greatly
59 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
It's a big pill. Don't try taking it with your other medications!
50 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
Question/Comment:
What if you would like to have a couple of drinks while taking this medication. I know all medications say not to, but it's usually because it just intensifies the reaction you get from it, or is this one of those drugs that it'll seriously injure you, for instance hospitalization for comas, etc.? I know when I tried taking Topamax (which didn't work for me), I didn't take my medicine that evening, and the worst I got out of it was it made the drinks taste gross...is that the worse? I'm aware of the liver issue, but it's not like I want to go out getting loaded every weekend. Has anyone had any experience with this situation?
34 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-15 15:08:33
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Every web site and doctor I've spoke to says. "avoid alcohol".
Definition
avoid (É™-void')
tr.v., a·void·ed, a·void·ing, a·voids.
To stay clear of; shun. See synonyms at escape.
To keep from happening: avoid illness with rest and a balanced diet.
Law. To annul or make void; invalidate.
Obsolete. To void or expel.
need I say more. Find something elst to It's hard. When you find out, please let me know
Matt
Posted: 2008-07-06 05:21:33
Answer/Reply:
I take Depakote ER and my psychiatrist says to stay away from alcohol because it can cause seizures when combined.
31 year old Female
Posted: 2008-10-25 13:33:53
Question/Comment:
I take Depakote for seizers (Lyrica also) and I am very concerned about what it's doing to my body. I am a drug addict that has been clean and sober since 3/3/01 but I'm positive I've already put my liver through hell! I desperately want to stop taking both med.s. They make me feel bad but when I stop I have seizers and wake up in pools of blood. I've almost killed myself like this MANY times! Is there anything else I can do?
PLEASE HELP!
38 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-12 16:24:33
Answer/Reply:
I think if you really feel this strongly about stopping your medication or changing it, then you need to speak to your neurologist. I would never recommend stopping treatment unless under the supervision of your doctor. I myself stopped treatment when I was 18, but did it with the help of my physician, and was off treatment for two years until I had my first child. Then I had to go back on medication. I also strongly believe that even when you stop treatment you should still regularly visit your neurologist to make sure you are doing well, and follow their advice.
Good luck!
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-13 09:30:46
Answer/Reply:
THE BEST ADVICE IS TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR!
52 year old Male
Posted: 2008-06-26 20:18:53
Question/Comment:
I've been taking depakote for a month now and I have a large amount of hair loss and I still have my headaches!
34 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 23:34:57
Answer/Reply:
Sometimes it takes time to see results. Have you seen any lessening in the headaches at all- in frequency or pain? I know with my migraines, it took a while before they went away, but I noticed that they weren't coming as often, and the pain wasn't as intolerable.
Keep your chin up- the day will come when you are headache free!
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-13 09:33:03
Question/Comment:
has anyone else noticed weight gain taking Depakote ER?
22 year old Male
Posted: 2008-03-04 00:02:21
Answer/Reply:
I also gain weight when taking Depakote whether it is just plain Depakote or the ER version that I am on now. I also take Topamax for my seizures as well, and that seems to level me out a little, but I am still 60 pounds overweight.
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-13 09:23:46
Answer/Reply:
Topomax is really well documented for causing weight gain as well. I gained some weight with Depakote but was just in rehab for narcotic addiction so some of the weight I regained was from not eating
50 year old Male
Posted: 2008-09-11 16:26:49
Answer/Reply:
Yes i have experienced weight gain and it has made me really upset, and i also had bad side effects with depakote i got double vision a lot and it made me sick
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-10-19 09:38:55
Answer/Reply:
I have exactly the same problem with depakote, weight gain and dizziness and feeling sick
27 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-24 13:48:53
Answer/Reply:
Yes my son has gained weight on Depakote.........it is one of the side effects but a great drug.........He has seizures and had a breakthrough with all other meds............
Lynn
35 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-18 15:50:40
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I HAVE BEEN TAKING DEPAKOTE ER FOR THE PAST 4 YEARATO HELP CONTROL MINI SEIZURES CAUSED BY MY CEREBRAL AVM.
I AM A 61 YEAR OLD MALE WHO FOR YEARS PRIDED HIMSELF T KEEPING MY WEIGHT AT 190 POUNDS. HOWEVER, I BLOSSOMED TO 225 POUNDS JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER STARTING DEPAKOTE ER. HARD TO TAKE OFF DUE TO MY AVM............MY ACTICITIES ARE RESTRICTED.
Posted: 2009-02-18 16:31:47
Answer/Reply:
omg I just started two months ago and I have been on nutrusytem diet and was wondering why I was not losing. OMG I really really found a good responce to the drug and now I have to deside feeling good or feeling fat OMG
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-18 21:53:53
Answer/Reply:
Yes I have gained alot of weight since taking Depakote ER I'm up to 213 on a 5'4 frame not good.
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-02-21 16:00:57
Answer/Reply:
No, my wife has lost weight, but then she does not eat much.
Jim
70 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-02 12:57:56
Question/Comment:
Is Depakote the same as Valproic Acid, and if so, what would be the differences - side effects, efficacy, etc.
60 year old female
62 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-24 23:16:11
Answer/Reply:
Depakote has Valproic Acid in it, so the side effects are similar, the serious side effects include liver damage, birth defects, and pancreatitis. Here is a website that lists the information on Depakote ER, which is just the Extended Release version of Depakote. http://www.depakoteer.com/depakoteer/
Hope this helps.
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-13 09:41:23
Question/Comment:
my son has been taking depakote for about 8 months now and i've noticed some side affects like ticks and trimmers and the doctor said this was normal that with the good comes some bad but the benefit was worth it
34 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-24 22:37:32
Answer/Reply:
I also have tremors from taking Depakote ER. I have been on Depakote for 10 years now, and the tremors haven't worsened, even though my dosage has increased. So hopefully, you won't see an increase in the tremors with your son.
Good luck, I know it is harder on the family than on the patient.
27 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-13 09:26:38
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
as time has gone on my tremors have worsened and are worse in stress situations. any one else?
Posted: 2008-10-11 01:24:59
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I am working with a 7th grade student who took Depakote for seizure. She has been off for 6 months, but her mom reports her hand tremors and tick (eye lid flutter) continues. She said the neurologist thought they would end as meds ended. She said they are worse in the a.m. prior to eating. Then she has them throughout the day. Do you have any suggestions to decrease the tremors?
Posted: 2009-03-12 00:28:16
Question/Comment:
My 30 year old daughter has been prescribed Depakote for migraines. From all I've read, it is mainly used for bi-polar. I'm wondering if this drug is really right for migraines considering the side effects?
56 year old Female
Posted: 2008-02-14 15:47:29
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
A number of studies have shown that valproate can prevent (or at least reduce) migraine attacks - in fact migraine is an approved indication for this product (see product information link on the top right of this page).
Posted: 2008-02-16 22:01:04
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
just a safty note I at 48 years had taken divalproex for several year at 1000mg per day and had good affects ,but was increced to 1500mg per day and aprox.30 days latter want into atrial fib-heart arithmea this was due to supper saturation .the fda and manufature suggest no more than 1000mg per day JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT I DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION ANY MORE
Posted: 2009-01-10 10:47:50
Question/Comment:
Can depakote cause hand tremors? Been taking for 10 years.
71 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-18 13:04:45
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Tremors were reported by 9% of patients taking this product in clinical trials, versus less than 1% for patients using placebo... so it is possible that this symptom could be related. That said, it is less likely to be related if you have only just started noticing the problem without having had any recent changes to your medication.
Posted: 2008-01-18 13:23:25
Answer/Reply:
What is depakote? I'm on dival-proex- is it similar?
31 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-29 09:33:26
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Depakote is the brand name of divalproex.
Posted: 2008-02-05 16:20:25
Question/Comment:
yes my qouestion is when using depakote can one side effect been your hair falling out
39 year old Female
Posted: 2008-01-08 20:18:08
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
About 7% of patients taking this product in clinical trials reported baldness / thinning of hair as a side effect, versus only 1% of patients taking placebo.
Posted: 2008-01-15 13:18:34
Answer/Reply:
Yes, your hair can can fallout at times. Mine does, then it stops for a while then does it again
30 year old Male
Posted: 2008-02-27 22:27:38
Answer/Reply:
My son was diagnosed with epilepsy two years ago at the age of 7 years old and was immediately put on Depakote . After less than two weeks of taking Depakote he went into acute hepatitis ( liver failure). Had our primary physician not ordered a blood test after he was hospitalized for high fever, dizziness and nausea he may have died before he was even diagnosed. Thankfully his liver has repaired itself and he is on different medication and has a different neurologist that we feel more confident with our sons care. I would recommend to anyone taking Depakote that they get regular blood tests and if you have any of the listed side effects demand a bloodtest. We told his initial neurologist that he was throwing up the medication and was nauseous and couldn't walk straight. She told us to give him another dose if he threw it up and not to worry about the sideeffects. Thank God we did worry and took him to the hospital when we did. Maybe our son's situation was one in a million but with how liberally Depakote seems to be prescribed if one person in a million gets a blood test and is saved from liver failure then this was worth writing.
40 year old Female
Posted: 2008-10-07 16:57:22
Answer/Reply:
Thank The Lord for you primary physician. I too have a son (4 years old) who was on depakote and it was the worst 6 days of my life!!
5 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-01 00:32:28
Answer/Reply:
I started taking depakote at about age ten currently 44 and still on depakote and my liver problems are starting or should i say getting worse--------my regular md was the first to bring concrerns to the table i go to my neuro in a few days and im bringing my conerns up thanx
45 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-12 17:34:42
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