User Reviews for Divalproex sodium

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: I have been using Depakote for nearly eight years now and has kept my mania episodes under control. The only thing is I have weight gain from using this medication but thats a small price to pay. thank you

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: i have been using depakote for over one year and it has helped me with my manic episodes, i have not had any since i started the medicine, it does not however do much in regards to racing thoughts and helping me stay positive. hoping for a cure : )

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I would give Depakote a lower rating based on my personal experience with it, but I don't want to skew the overall rating. For whatever reason, I did not respond to Depakote as a mood stabilizer. This is surely not the case for everyone. The problem is that while taking this medicine, I gained 30 pounds, as I constantly felt hungry. I was warned ahead of time that this tends to keep the brain from perceiving fullness (or something to that effect). I noticed this within a few days of starting Depakote but continued taking it because I didn't have many other options at the time. The weight gain created an entirely new aspect of depression. Just something to keep in mind if you're just starting it and weight gain is an issue.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention: Depakote was (and still is) a miracle drug for me with my migraines. I used to get one almost every day, and now it's down to just a few small ones every month!

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: This stuff works great. I have recommended this medication to many ohters who have similar symptoms regarding bi-polar and hyprer-mania. I am very fortunate to have been diagnosed correctly and to have been treated correctly with Depakote. I have noticed the changes myself and so have many others.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) 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.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: This to me is a wonder drug. I have been using it for 20 years now.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I gained 50 lbs on Depakote, also makes me lazy, since 2007.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: I've been taking Depakote for eight years and have not had a manic episode. I had two severe manic episodes prior.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: I was in a manic state, unable to sleep, racing thoughts. My doctor prescribed Depakote. This was a miracle drug for me! My manic state dissipated, along with the severe anxiety. I was able to sleep.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Epilepsy: My 9 year old daughter has used Depakote for 2 years now for seizure disorder. I am happy with it as there are little side effects. We increased the dose when a seizure occurred. When the dose is high enough it helps with her migraines as well. She gained 5 pounds but we keep it down with a healthy diet.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: I have had great success with this in conjunction with low doses of Prozac. The combination does a great deal to still the racing thoughts and anxiety.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I am shocked to read the high amount of mg's that people are being started on. Every review I have read about Depakote it's been mainly 1000mg also 500mg. That just blows my mind! With any medicine you have to be eased into things and adjust from there! I began with 250mg, my Doctor told me that after a few weeks I could adjust it to taking 2 doses (500mg). Just to play around with it to see if I in fact needed to go higher. So I did, when changed to 500mg it made me crazy, nutty, mean and intolerable. I backed off and on 250mg again. I have been normal and perfectly stable ever since. I have yet to read a person taking the lowest dosage as a starting point. Start slow and work your way up (if needed). This medicine has been a lifesaver!

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: Helps me to focus and organize thoughts. This drug works very well with moderate exercise.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Epilepsy: My 6 year old son has been on this medicine for 3 1/2 years. He has had some side effects such as overeating. He craves corn and strawberries like you wouldn't believe. He eats can after can of corn and crates of strawberries. At least it's healthy food, he isn't overweight. He also started having symptoms of ADHD and Autism (behavior problems). Most ADHD medication does not go with Depakote. We got the seizures under control only to have other problems. Also, you should ask your doctor to do blood checks every 3 months to rule out any other complications from this medicine.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Mania: I cannot account for those with Bi-Polar I, but this may apply to you if you have been diagnosed with social anxiety, Bipolar II or a mild form of the disorder. On 1000mg (combined with 200mg Lamictal) I felt "far away" when talking to people. I cut back down to 500mg. I began to feel it was inhibiting my creativity; sometimes I felt "dumb." I used other drugs to combat the Depakote from holding me back. Plus drinking on it caused depression and knocked me out. My doctor should not have put me on this medication to treat me for anxiety.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I have Bipolar Disorder. This is the only drug that's worked with out breaking me out in rashes, or making me feel so drugged I couldn't work or function. The only problem I have with it is it makes me a little hyper. I controls my temper well, without making me sleepy.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I've read many people have been gaining weight from this drug. This is why it is SO important you care about your health from day one and it should be a part of your lifestyle and regimen, no matter what. This way, whatever the side effects are of the medicine, you're on top of your game and won't get hit as hard. I've been on many bipolar medications which make you gain weight, but I barely noticed because I work out and eat very healthy. It's of utter importance that you lay down a solid, healthy foundation before and during therapy. The healthy lifestyle will also make the medicine work better. It's common sense.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention: 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 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 09 it will have been 2 years without any kind of headache. Not even a little one. THANKS Depakote.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: Took depakote for almost ten years (300 x 3)...now I will admit I had three minor episodes in that time. Super, yes, I know but I started at 140 lbs in six months I bottomed out at 206lbs. I slept 12 hours a night, plus a nap of 2 hours in the evening. Someone finally caught the Depakote/Paxil fiasco, and lithium and wellbutrin became my friends...more importantly, I feel like I "woke up". I lived the life, but it seemed so surreal looking back on it...IT completely controlled me. It's not the Wellbutrin and the Paxil, it's the lack of Depakote (and for a large part, Paxil) that made me almost another person. I'm sure Depakote works for thousands of people...it just took me out of the equation TOO much.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: Depakote made me go slow on everything I did. I was a totally different person. My family thought I was on harsh drugs, I didn't function at all on 1200mg. Now I am on quetiapine and citalopram and my moods have totally stabilized. I am a different person.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I have been on this for 5 yrs now. I have this eye tic, my joints hurt. I wish read up on the side effects earlier on.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: I was prescribed this because it is a mood stabilizer. In other words, I sank down pretty low in mood with long term stressors such as death of family members and a couple of moves, not going to AA and not being in therapy (ugh). I started this recently and at 500 mg seemed to be able to sleep. At 1000 mg, I was restless. If I'm feeling low then it's doing what it's supposed to I suppose. I will cut back to the 500 mg and take it in the morning and see if it makes me sleepy or hyper. I take 22 mg of Buspar at night because I was also suffering from anxiety that was not letting me sleep. I liked the fact that Depakote works well almost immediately, and I was assured that after three weeks, I should feel "normal" again and can quit.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Migraine Prevention: I have tried Depakote for migraines, as well as Childhood Epilepsy. My son has tried it for Bipolar disorder. It can and does make me and my son lethargic, can cause an increase in salivation, causes massive weight gain (from 105 to 155lbs). In my opinion, the possible benefits are not worth the side effects.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) for Bipolar Disorder: My 17 year old daughter started taking Depakote 750 mg 1 1/2 months ago. She has gained 28 pounds. When the dose was upped to 1500mg she had daily migraines. We have seen several improvements in her symptoms but not enough to keep her on a medication that makes her gain weight and decreases her self esteem.