Depakote for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Piz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2022

"HORRIBLE!!! I tried taking this for 4 months, and I had to cut it cold turkey. The side effects: unmanageable, it made me manic, it made me HUNGRY all the time, for carbs, carbs, and more carbs, irritable at things I never would imagine being angry at, bloated, screaming, crying daily. It made everything so overwhelming. I couldn't take it anymore. Now, I never recommend cutting cold turkey, I just never have physical side effects from doing that, my whole life. I just could not do it anymore, it made me feel like I was going crazier than crazy."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2011

"Been on this medicine for more than ten years. The 8/10 is for it is due to its overall minor side effects over time, and its very powerful effects when not taken consistently. Be advised. This medication works best when taken at the exact time(s) every day, and I have experienced all other symptoms people have described as bothersome, but this is not the typical take it to be a walking zombie pill. I also don't think people realize how much they are moving when manic, and when on this medication, you calm down. So it's completely natural to want to sit around all day and watch T.V. I also have gained weight and have difficulty shedding the pounds, however, I would rather be sane and curvy. I weighed 130 lbs starting, now am 178 lbs."

• tee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 20, 2018

"I have been taking Depakote at 1000 mg for the past year and a half. I also take Risperdal at 1 mg and just added Zoloft at 100 mg as well. The only positive thing this medicine has done for me is rid me of mania. I am constantly depressed and have persistent suicidal/negative thoughts. I feel like I have been sleepwalking through my life since I have been put on this medication. Also, I have gained 50 pounds and am so hungry all the time. I also have zero libido. When I say zero, I mean zero. I have had sex on this medication, and it was the most unenjoyable experience ever. Just nothing. Next time I go to see my psychiatrist, I am going to ask to switch medications. This might work for some, but it has not worked for me in the slightest."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2020

"This is a very effective drug for most people with bipolar and anger disorders. It can be used in higher doses when there is also a diagnosis of insomnia. It does different things to different people, but it is generally tolerated well. I'm a RN with bipolar and also work with a psychiatric population. Just a PSA: if you have a loved one with psychiatric issues in a facility because you don't want to/can't deal with taking care of them yourself, you have no right to complain when the facility medicates for behavior issues. 1) You didn't want to deal with it yourself, but now you expect others to. 2) 'Behaviors' usually indicate the patient is in a distressed state; nobody hits/kicks/screams/refuses care because they are comfortable and happy. It might upset you that mom can't be away exactly when you want her to be, but it's really not about you. Take her home and take care of her yourself, and if you want to stop psych meds when it's your turn, then more power to you."

• Kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2016

"Didn't realize how great it was till it was gone. After 4 years of failed cocktails until I found Depakote with Zoloft. I was on it for 3-5 months @1250mg and had excessive weight gain, insatiable hunger, but worth it! I was productive, positive, stabilized, making plans and following through. Then liver enzymes high @ 6 mo. and abruptly taken off... horrible move by panicked doctor. On my third medicine since and all bad results. Any opinions on Depakote retry while protecting my liver with milk thistle & turmeric? My last blood work was best it's ever been. I have no faith in my doctor and am seeking a new one."

• mop...
• June 4, 2010

"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 1500 mg, 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."

• Tam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2016

"I took my first dose of Depakote at night before bed. The next day, I was so leveled out; I wasn't talking fast. It was great. The rest of the day, starting around 1:00 p.m., I slept all day. I woke up at 12:00 a.m. with my eyes extremely wide and dilated, my skin on my arms and legs was swirling (like the Starry Night painting), the walls were moving, and things on the wall were levitating up and down. I was up until 3:00 a.m., and an on-call nurse told me to sleep so it would wear off; I have never taken this medication again. (Taken for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type)"

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2013

"I've been on this for 3 weeks now. It has definitely helped my mania. But I'm still very depressed. I've been having very vivid nightmares, which is strange because I take medicine for those. I also take Ambien and citalopram. I feel like that's a lot of chemicals in my body. I am a drinker, but that hasn't seemed to affect anything. My side effects are pretty much exactly what I've been told and read up on, with the exception of the bad dreams. Blood work must be fine. Doc hasn't called. So far, so good."

• Rox...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2019

"Depakote has overall been a very good experience for me. I started it about two months ago, and I have not had a manic episode since. I was on Lamictal for 8 years, I went all the way up to 500 mg, and it touched on it and even caused motor tics. The reason why I was able to last that long on it was because Klonopin was masking the symptoms. Once I discontinued, the motor tics vanished. I did not lose hair on the Depakote or have any nasty side effects, but I did gain weight. Now it's stable, and I changed my diet and started exercising. It increases appetite and slows down metabolism, especially in women. But overall, I would say great medication! I no longer need the Klonopin either, which became habit forming."

• Lif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2017

"I've recently gotten married to my partner of 6 years. Last year, he was diagnosed with bipolar. He has tried all different kinds of medicine, but he’s started a new one called Depakote 5-10-17. For the last 2 weeks, he’s had 2 personalities: Mr. Nice and Mr. Horrible. It can change within minutes. Do you think I should contact his doctor or bear with it? He’s never been like this. I can’t talk to him, I can’t even look at him without him asking me what my problem is. This is really out of character. He is normally down, and I know when they are coming, and I can take time out, and after 3-4, he’s back to his normal happy self. But this, I’m not sure how much more I can cope with! We have a 5-year-old who keeps saying, will Daddy get better? I’m just in desperate need for some help."

• Sti...
• March 19, 2018

"This review is on behalf of my 16-year-old son. Manic ups and downs for years, between over-the-top excitement/happiness (rare and short-lived) or anger/violence or full depression/sadness. Just trying to help him level out. Has been moved on and off many different medications to try to find a fit. Most recently, the doctor added Depakote to his 900 mg lithium & 15 mg Abilify. First four days started with Depakote 500 mg; then added another pill to 1000 mg. Started to have digestive issues and tremors but pulled through. Increased to 1500 mg 4 days later, which led to more tremors and violent vomiting. The doctor suggested splitting the doses am/pm. Within 2 hours of taking the am dose the next day - same violent vomiting. Confirmed no stomach bug. His body was unable to handle the level of Depakote. Now, no longer taking. I've read many positive reviews on this medication, but sadly ours is not one of them due to his adverse reactions."

• Ash...
• January 26, 2018

"I have been diagnosed as bipolar for 20 years now and just a month ago listed as bipolar 1 severe with mixed moods. This is the only medication that REALLY works to help control my manic moods. ONLY side effect for me is a little bit of shaky hands after taking for a few hours."

• Rai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2019

"I take 1000 mg at night and 500 mg in the morning. And I'm always tired. I slept 15 hours last night, and I'm still tired after drinking 3 cups of coffee. I have bipolar disorder 2, and I don't have manic episodes anymore. Still experience delusions, but certainly less. I seem to have gained about 15-20 pounds. I also take 300 mg of Seroquel, which can cause weight gain and drowsiness. If it weren't for weight gain and drowsiness, things would be good."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2018

"Started a few days ago with this medicine. So far, I'm okay, no side effects. I can sleep all night and wake up rested. All my body pain is almost gone. It calmed my mania and anxiety. I've been on Lithium before, but it was awful with the side effects and the worry about hurting my kidneys. Hoping this medicine works for me."

• jes...
• August 9, 2010

"I have been on Depakote ever since I was diagnosed (finally) with bipolar disorder. I am currently on 1000 mg per day, but have taken as high as 2000 mg per day. On 1000 mg per day, I am (or have been) somewhat stabilized, which leaves me somewhat hypomanic, which seems to be the best level for me. I say somewhat stabilized because I started to go hypomanic in the past 2 weeks, have no idea why. Going to see the doctor tomorrow. For the 2 years or so when I was on 2000 per day, I was also taking 40 mg per day of Paxil. My moods were stabilized all right, but I turned into a zombie. I have never taken another mood stabilizer, so I cannot make comparisons. Depakote makes me gain weight big time!"

• Vel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2017

"Depakote was a nightmare. Besides having acute, non-stop stomach pain with chronic diarrhea, my hair started falling out in clumps. Good thing I have thick hair or I could have been bald at the end of this drug. I don't recommend this to anyone. It was like taking poison."

• fif...
• August 10, 2013

"Could not afford Abilify out of pocket, started back on Depakote. I had no problem with gaining weight. I do, however, find I tend to be a little more moody, but less frequently. I take it with bupropion XR. Seems to be a decent cocktail. Not too potent, and not under-effective. I like how it does not create a sedative effect like antipsychotics."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2019

"29-year-old male with bipolar 1, 10 years on Depakote. Depakote was the first medication I was prescribed during a manic episode, along with Seroquel, which I discontinued or use only for emergency mania/sleep at very low doses <25 mg. Depakote worked excellently for me for about 6 or 7 years as I was predominantly manic. The last 3 years or so, I have become depressed and hypomanic, and I have found Depakote to be much less effective. I switched to Lamictal, and it appears to be working much better for depression."

• qwe...
• July 12, 2011

"I use Depakote 500 mg twice daily, and felt improvement in the first 10 days. My mood is stable, and my severe anxiety has disappeared. Also, I see improvement in OCD, and I now can better focus. I'm also on Seroquel 100 mg twice daily."

• tro...
• March 6, 2010

"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 206 lbs. 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."

• Exc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 25, 2024

"I’ve used Depakote for 10 years after having two severe manic episodes. Since being on this medicine, I have not had another manic episode, and I’ve been in very stressful situations. I barely had side effects - some tremors a few years ago and a slight stomach ache as my body was adjusting to it. I definitely recommend this medication to anyone wanting to stabilize."

• Ala...
• August 2, 2011

"I take 2500 mg Depakote per day for rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and it works very well. I've been taking this dose for 4 years. Few side effects apart from the inevitable weight gain and some hair loss. Depakote keeps the mood swings away for good and doesn't impair my movements or thoughts. I prefer this mood stabilizer."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2011

"I have been bipolar for 20 years and have tried many medicines, with Depakote and lithium being the worst. I also needed antidepressants too. I went from 117 lbs to 225 lbs in 2 years on Depakote, and being a zombie, I did not notice the huge weight gain. I switched to Lamictal and Effexor and felt so much better. I started a daily exercise program and was able to cut down on food and lost over 100 lbs within 2 years."

• Ock...
• December 28, 2010

"Been on Depakote for 6 months and gained 30 pounds, now with the disorder I worry about my weight like crazy. I also take Geodon, which has slowed me down, with no motivation at all. Beginning to wonder if it's all worth it. I do notice I never want to argue with anyone at work, and at home, I'm quiet 24/7."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2019

"I had a very rapidly fluctuating merry-go-round of symptoms, particularly psychotic-type symptoms, and Depakote didn't seem to have any effect. Cycling continued. It also made me physically slow and caused weight gain that mostly dropped after going off of it."