Depakote ER for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• All...
• July 7, 2015

"I took this at night per my doctor, and about the 3rd week I noticed a huge change in my energy, and I started having severe muscle cramping and weakness. I woke up in the morning feeling beat up and muscle soreness everywhere. It didn't really help with my issue either. I stopped taking it, and 3 days later the muscle soreness was completely gone."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2016

"I started taking Divalproex (Depakote) 250 mg on June 10th, and then on June 17th, I was admitted into a psychiatric hospital because of my bipolar. I learned from the psychiatrist there that the dosage I was on was absolutely nothing and would have no effect on me. The psychiatrist ended up raising the dose to 750 mg. I definitely can tell that my mood is leveled out for the most part. I would recommend this to people with bipolar and people with seizures (I was diagnosed a few years ago with non-epileptic seizures). So far I don't see any side effects, thank God. I take this medication at night along with: Aripiprazole (Abilify) 15 mg, Trazodone (Desyrel) 50 mg, Hydroxyzine (Vistaril) 50 mg, Clonazepam (Klonopin) 1 mg."

• Huz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 5, 2016

"I was suffering from bipolar for 10 months. After taking many medicines, I was on divalproex 500 mg for 3 years and lamotrigine 150 mg for 2 years. I was able to handle stress and forget that I have any depression. My dosage for both was kept to the lowest: 250 mg for divalproex and 50 mg for lamotrigine. But at this stage, after having stress, my symptoms recurred but were not as severe as before. I will have to increase the dose again."

• Abb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 14, 2019

"I was prescribed Depakote for mood stability with the benefit of possible migraine control. I noticed the slightest amount of difference in impulsivity, but looking back, it was most likely due to other medication changes at the time. We increased the dose hoping for better results, but all I received was side effects. I took one dose at night, and the increased dose just made me incredibly ‘loopy,’ and I wasn’t able to move properly as my body was incredibly weak. On the higher dose, the fact I wasn’t able to get out of bed without falling over and emotional mood swings made the slight benefits just not worth it. Once stopping the medication, I figured out that Depakote had increased the ringing in my ears (which luckily improved dramatically after a few months of not taking it). One benefit of this medication was that it was extremely easy to use, and if your body is able to tolerate it, it is absolutely worth giving it a go. After all, you never know until you try it!"

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2020

"Starting dose of 250 mg in the morning and 500 mg at night keeps me in therapeutic range, and very effectively controls my bipolar type II with mixed episode, but even with 20 mg Adderall extended release, I find myself incredibly drowsy and groggy in the morning. Unfortunately, this medication just doesn't agree with my brain chemistry, and I'm hoping to switch to Lamictal soon."

• Mvn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2021

"This medication helped me within 1 hour of taking it. My rapid thoughts slowed down, and I felt less anxious, but I felt way too foggy, and it made me do stupid stuff because it dumbed me down very much. I felt really slow, and then I felt extremely irritable and hot. My heart felt so bad, so I decided to not take it. However, it’s better than Abilify and Seroquel, and especially Geodon - don't ever take Geodon."

• kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

"I was put on Depakote ER 250 mg x 3 in the psychiatric hospital 3 weeks ago. So far, it's helped me more than any other medication I've been on. My thoughts no longer race, my triggers are dulled, my mood is even. It can be kind of a pain to remember to take it at the same time 3 times a day, but it works best with consistent use. I also take Prozac 40 mg daily and have had no issues with depression since discharging. Side effects include constipation, feeling flat, and sleepiness throughout the day. I consider it a worthy trade-off for what I was going through, though."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2016

"This drug took me out of a downward spiraling mixed episode, for that, I'm thankful. However, being bipolar II, the initial dosage of 1750 mg, which was never recommended to lower after its effectiveness had been reached, almost put me right back to where I was. I wouldn't recommend this drug if you're on the depressive side of bipolar, or for any length of time/dosage that the medication isn't even recommended to be used for. I've since switched to Lamictal, we'll see how it goes."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2020

"This medication, Depakote ER, is a game changer if you have intermittent explosive disorder. I have IED, and I was in danger of losing everything, including my family. For the first time in my life, I’m clear-minded and at peace, no side effects whatsoever, taken with Wellbutrin, and I feel like a man that has never existed until now."

• che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 14, 2017

"I take non-generic Depakote ER 1750 mg, Haldol 4 mg, and propranolol 20 mg. I have some hair loss, insomnia, and shakiness. I believe the medicine is finally working after 17 years of trying every bipolar medication with Depakote ER. I lose my patience and get angry at customer service representatives sometimes. I lose my patience and get mildly angry at my husband, but it appears to be under control. The insomnia at times gets really bad, and I wind up calling Lifenet to cope. I will be trying melatonin 3 mg to see if this helps. I want to try 1500 mg of Depakote ER to see if my insomnia improves also."

• Mys...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 21, 2021

"Thank you, Depakote ER, for giving me a new life. I take Prozac and Depakote ER for bipolar. It has been a long road to accepting the fatigue, but the dangerous, uneven life I used to live, I had to come to terms with it. I had horrible manic episodes on other medications that did not work. This combo is perfect, except the fatigue is the hardest part. But I don’t have to suffer like that. I have breakthrough episodes, but I can increase the Depa dose if needed. The only medicine that has changed me and allowed me to live a normal life."

• Sun...
• December 5, 2020

"Tapering off Depakote now. Side effects I experience are muscle cramping and tension, food tastes weird, head throbbing, confusion, and numbness in hands and feet (also cold). Wondering if it’s seizing. Hoping Seroquel will work!"

• kel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2022

"I (age 27) wanted to share a positive and honest review. Depakote ER has helped me a lot. I have been on it for 1 year, since I was hospitalized for a mixed/primarily manic episode. I struggle with Bipolar I but mostly major depression, with occasional hypomania, mania, and mixed episodes. I also am diagnosed with GAD, OCD, ADHD, C-PTSD, and tics. Depakote ER really slowed down my racing thoughts and helped me regulate my sleep at 1000 mg. Granted, I do not take it alone; I take it with Rexulti, Effexor XR, Concerta/Ritalin, and Clonidine. This combo seems to work well. My only complaint is weight gain, but I'm learning in therapy to accept my body and exercise and eat balanced. I definitely think it works well for me (can't speak for others) for my mixed and manic episodes. Haven't had one since."

• Nun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2016

"I was treated for clinical depression from age 18-40 using a variety of medications. I've also struggled with alcoholism, drug, and sex addiction most of my adult life. I had a period of six years of solid sobriety beginning in the mid '90s, but even sober, battled with diagnosed clinical depression. At that time, I was being treated with Serzone. The more the doctor increased the dosage, the more depressed I would become. I obsessed over failed relationships, acted out sexually and financially in very risky ways. I finally changed psychiatrists at the suggestion of my therapist. The new doctor analyzed my symptoms and indicated that I had been misdiagnosed with clinical depression. His prognosis was Bipolar II Disorder accompanied by acute depression."

• Lan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 19, 2016

"I've been taking this for a few years, and I have severe headaches often, along with suffering from low back pain, which is constant on my left side, and nothing is soothing it. Laying down is excruciating, and I'm in the process of running tests. This started about 4 months ago, and I have been trying to deal with it and hope that it would eventually go away. It's becoming unbearable."

• Ani...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 24, 2013

"This medicine has been great for me. I do not feel any side effects. I actually lost 25 pounds... I had been on lithium for 28 years."

• i2a...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2014

"Caused suicidal depression."

• liv...
• October 13, 2014

"Crushed mania fast on 2000 mg/d and currently stable on this dose."

• HED...
• September 25, 2009

"Has helped to slow down my racing thoughts and helped with some of my sleeping issues."

• Syn...
• October 9, 2009

"Depakote in use with Zyprexa has given me my life back. I haven't felt this 'normal' in many years."

• be2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2015

"Very smooth mood stabilizer, no side effects. I take 1200 mg/d."

• Cor...
• May 24, 2015

"I had a strong desire to drive off the road even with other people in the car. Otherwise, this worked well, but the desire increased the longer I was on it."

• JB3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2019

"Not sure if Depakote is worth it. Rather take Seroquel XR."

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2018

"Terrible. Absolute poison. I would never, ever put that toxic waste in my bloodstream again. Depakote is bad."