User Reviews for Depakote

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.

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.

I was on Depakote for 17 years with little to no breakthrough seizures. Then I suddenly developed leukopenia and had to be removed from the drug. I have not found another medication that has been as effective as Depakote. I am presently on Carbatrol and have had breakthrough seizures monthly and after 7 years have again developed leukopenia from it.

Great medication for controlling petit mal seizures. Absolutely do not combine with alcohol. Went out drinking with friends while using Depakote and after only 2 margaritas, went home and had a grand mal seizure (first in 9 years). Otherwise, only other drawback to this medication is the price.

I have been on Depakote for a very long time. I have not had any seizures in over 12 years now. I am also a border line manic-depressed. I am using it for that too plus Keppra they are both helping me in my two areas. I have not had any feeling of trying to kill myself or hurt myself in any way. Like I said before I had not had any seizures in over 20 years now. I do have to say this about Depakote that it does make you gain weight. I went from 250 to over 320. My doctor switched me over to levetiracetam 500mg (generic form of Keppra), and Lamotrigine 100 mg. Since I have been on these two medications for about 4 years now I have lost about 55 pounds in almost 2 years.

I have been on Depakote for 13 years after I had 2 grand mal seizures in one year. After being placed on the Depakote delayed release I have been fine ever since, there was a time that I tried the extended release and my legs started to show some spikes so I switched back to be on the safe side which was the better call. I also use the sprinkles. As for the weight gain I never really gained more than about ten pounds but I stay active and mainly keep it off, my doctor also put me on Topamax which helps balance out the weight gain because Topamax makes you lose weight and Depakote makes you gain so they both kind of cancel each other out. Topamax also helps with seizures so it was an addition, and I have been seizure free for 13 years.

I was put on Depakote originally to control my seizures. I loved it. Then when I found out it also was used as a medicine for bipolar disorder, I was thrilled. However, then the love affair ended. My husband and I went to a Reproductive Endocrinologist and found out that it commonly caused women to have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. I now have it, and am taking medicine for diabetes, which PCOS can lead to. I still wish that I could take it because it really helped with my seizures, and also helped with my bipolar disorder.

I have been on Depakote for about two years now, and it has certainly been effective in stopping both Grand mal and Petite 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.

As far as control, this drug has been a God send. In way of weight gain, this drug has been a nightmare. I have gained 90 lbs in the 10 years on this drug. I have tried switching medicines, but have had two seizures doing so. I am healthy other than the weight gain. The drug has done what it is meant to do, stop seizures. I call it being Fat and Functional.

It made my hair fall out.

I was on Depakote sprinkle for many years and no problem (other than having to take way more than adult ones). Now on adult Depakote I have seizures in my sleep and my blood work is normal.

Depakote was the first epilepsy medication I ever took, and it did work in controlling my seizures; I never had a single one while on it. However, every single "lesser" side effect on the drugs.com description sheet happened to me. I became depressed, I gained weight, my body clock went totally haywire, and my periods, which were already irregular, became even more so. I attributed most of this to me just being in middle school (I was in 7th grade at the time), but most of it stopped after my doctor switched me to Lamictal a few months later.

I have used Depakote for the past 13 years now, 500 mg per day. The only side effects were nausea and anxiety for the first day or two. At that point, I was taking 1000 mg. My neurologist pulled back the dosage to 750 mg and later 500 mg. I've never had weight gain as a result of it and notice no ill effects with light drinking. I did stop taking Depakote for about 6 months about 10 years ago and soon thereafter had a petit mal seizure. I immediately went back on Depakote and haven't had an issue since. Really couldn't be more satisfied with this medicine.

I have no problems with this medicine not working, unless I forget to take my medicine! I am not sure if it causes you to have seizures - that you normally wouldn't have had, (if you hadn't forgotten your dose), or not? I think for me, yes it does. So, for myself, if I miss a few doses- a seizure is bound to happen!

I have taken Depakote for 13 years. Tried Dilantin and Lamictol 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 effect (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.

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).