Depakote - Years later?

[EmileeBowling]

I took Depakote from about age 4-9 for Childhood Idiopathic Epilepsy. I am now 24 years old and have not had a seizure of any kind since about age 6. From what I can remember, I felt really dumb and confused and like I was in a fog while I was on Depakote. I was failing elementary school, and I suffered from debilitating anxiety, in addition to depression and rage. As soon as I stopped taking Depakote I became a straight A student and the dumb/confused/foggy feeling subsided by maybe 50%, but the anxiety, depression, and rage remained. I never got help for any of these issues during childhood or adolescence because my family thought I was just a bad kid or that I would "grow out of it". I didn't grow out of it and I've been emotionally unstable for as long as I can remember.



Is been on various antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds for 7.5 months, finally finding a good balance with Prozac and Clonazepam. They're working wonderfully! My question is this...Is it possible that because I was on it for so long (5 years), it somehow permanently altered something in my brain that caused all of these emotional issues?



One more thing of note: Because of a stupid doctor I almost OD'd. I was rushed to the emergency room and put on the correct dosage after that. I also required surgery at age 6 because of bilateral urinary reflux, and I know Depakote can cause renal failure. Not sure if the drug could have played a role in that as well.

[EmileeBowling]

I'm new to this forum, but I see my thread has been read 80+ times. Can someone please give me any input whatsoever? I realize most users are not doctors, pharmacists, or medical researchers, but I'd really like to know if there is any merit to my hypothesis. My mom data everything about me changed after I started taking Depakote and I never returned to wgat she would xonsider

[EmileeBowling]

I'm new to this forum, but I see my thread has been read 80+ times. Can someone please give me any input whatsoever? I realize most users are not doctors, pharmacists, or medical researchers, but I'd really like to know if there is any merit to my hypothesis. My mom even says that everything about me changed after I started taking Depakote and I never returned to what she would consider normal afterwards. In case anyone was wondering, no, we're not out to sue whoever manufactures Depakote. lol I'm just trying to understand myself and my life and this drug is the only thing I have found that, theoretically, connects all the dots.

Thanks in advance for any opinions, comments, resources for further information, etc.