Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy User Reviews (Page 2)

• APe...
• September 20, 2015

"I was on Depakote for 1 year following 3 grand mal seizures that had been brought on by starting fluoxetine. Fluoxetine, and most SSRIs, carry the risk of seizures. They hit me hard and without warning, so I was on Depakote for a year after the final seizure and after stopping fluoxetine. It does what it is supposed to do. I had no more seizures; however, I gained over 20 lbs quickly. The weight came back off once I was off the Depakote, but you will most likely put on weight with this medication."

• Dan...
• September 22, 2009

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

• Ann...
• November 23, 2016

"It was bad. It made me gain weight. It made me have tremors, which will never completely go away now. I couldn't hold plates or hold cups without shaking. My head started shaking. My new neurologist took me off of them. I was on them for over 20 yrs. I would strongly think about other meds before taking this one, considering the side effects can't go away immediately or not at all."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

"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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2012

"On the morning of June 23rd, I awoke with a terrible seizure (my first). Throughout the day, I got progressively worse, went into the doctor's office, and the following morning, had slipped into a deep coma. In this coma, I apparently continued these seizures. Depakote was used through my nasogastric (NG) tube, and it seemed to help a lot. My only issue now is some trembling, which is more noticeable when I'm weaker or more tired. Overall, the use of this medicine has been very beneficial."

• pee...
• November 5, 2009

"My daughter (8) was on Valproic Acid (liquid) for a year. About a month ago, she began the pill form Divalproex. Both medicines stopped her gran mal and petit mal seizures. Friends and family have commented for the last year about her personality change. She is no longer a joyful and energetic child but has become very lethargic and depressed. We are currently researching different medicines to give her."

• Edd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2022

"I'm epileptic. I have been having seizures since my early teens. I’m 52 now. I was born with a tumor in my brain. The tumor has been removed, but the damage of the scar tissue is causing me to have seizures. I have been taking Depakote 2000mg a day, and I take with it Keppra 1000mg a day for 2 years, and the side effects suck. I can’t sleep, I stutter, I’m always anxious, and I have tremors. I have my ups and downs, mood swings. I lost my hair, I’m easily angered or frustrated and nervous. I also have high blood pressure now and have to take high blood pressure meds. I smoke THC and CBD to help. I’m usually nauseous, and I have digestive problems, if you know what I mean. I still have seizures, mainly blackouts. I haven’t had a grand mal seizure for a bit. But I would like to know if anyone came down with high blood pressure when started taking the meds."

• dre...
• October 28, 2009

"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."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2010

"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."

• rai...
• November 3, 2016

"Insurance covers generic only. The generic medication changes from manufacturer to manufacturer, the different brands change from month to month and can lead to breakthrough seizures. In order to prevent that, I must either pay out of pocket about $450 or find a generic for about $10 that works. I found one generic that works well and go from pharmacy to pharmacy tracking that one down."

• Lep...
• August 24, 2009

"As far as control, this drug has been a godsend. In the 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."

• Dal...
• March 3, 2008

"I have had no gran mal seizures now for 4 years. I was on regular enteric-coated Depakote since 1989 but always seemed to have a breakthrough seizure every 2 to 3 years. I am on 1750 mg of Depakote ER now per day, and I weigh about 175 lbs and am a 5.5-foot man. I was once diagnosed with complex partial seizures because I had a psychomotor seizure and petit mal once or twice, but most of mine have been gran mal/tonic/clonic."

• Hou...
• April 1, 2008

"After trying 4 different meds, this one was the first I was able to tolerate for a longer period. The seizures came under control, and all was well. Unfortunately, my ammonia levels (a very rare side effect but one that you need to be aware of) began to rise to scary levels, so I had to quit ASAP. However, if I had not had this issue, I would have gladly stayed on the drug."

• add...
• August 6, 2009

"I have been on Depakote ER for about a year. I have had JME since I was 14 and tried Lamictal from about age 25-30 and had seizures every 6 months. Since I've been on Depakote ER, I have not had any seizures, jerks, or funny feelings in my head! It's been a year, but the only bad thing is I've gained 20 pounds."

• Mba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2021

"WORST EXPERIENCE. I suffer from epilepsy and was prescribed this with various medications due to my active seizures that regularly happen 2-3 times a month when I was still in high school (age 14-18). This medication didn't help at all. Instead, it messed up my mood. I was a teenager when I was first prescribed it, and it drove me crazy as I wasn't able to handle the side effects. My friends and teachers felt bad, and most could tell the sudden mood changes when I'm taking it. One time the teacher actually thought I was consuming an illegal drug or alcohol. Side effects: 1. Didn't help with my seizure at all 2. Super aggressive (reduces depression but makes you aggressive) 3. Weird sleeping patterns 4. Bad memory. Really affects your memory 5. Increases heart rate and anxiety 6. Hallucinations. For those suffering from epilepsy, I recommend another drug because I think Depakote focuses more on moods (bipolar and depression) instead of seizures."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2009

"I've been on Depakote for 11 years, and it's worked pretty good. I was on Zarontin as well for a few years, but I stopped that about six years ago. Just Depakote ER since then, and I've only had 1 grand mal seizure. Works pretty well."

• Sur...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 19, 2021

"I have been on Depakote since 1990. It is the one and only drug that has managed to stop my grand mal seizures. I had brain cancer in 1989 and was put on several other anti-seizure medications that didn’t work or had horrific side effects before finally being put on Depakote. It has saved the quality of my life immensely. I highly recommend it."

• fis...
• April 14, 2011

"I'm on 1750 mg of Depakote, which was fine for the longest time, but when the doctors added other medicines, unpleasant side effects and sometimes more seizures occurred. The only side effects I've experienced were weight gain and thinning hair, but I can help control and minimize the effects on those. It's the effects I can't control that worry me, just like it confuses me why most of my seizures coincide with my menstruation."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2022

"I have been taking 1000 mg daily (500 mg every 12 hours) for 12 years since I was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. I had both petit mal and grand mal seizures. This was the first medicine the doctor prescribed to me, and it is working. The only time I had a seizure was when I tried reducing my dosage to half without talking to my doctor. Once I got back to my regular dosage, I got no more seizures. I do consume chocolate and caffeinated tea liberally, coffee (no more than a cup a day), and occasionally alcohol (but never in large doses), and this has not caused any seizures in my case while taking this medicine. Although I do have a milder form of epilepsy and most certainly I do not recommend or believe that doing this is safe for every epilepsy patient, this could be very dangerous or fatal for some, I just know my limits well. I had mild side effects from this medicine, such as the occasional tremors when tired, but nothing more. I am satisfied with it."

• sjm...
• July 27, 2010

"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!"

• 1te...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 16, 2020

"I have had epilepsy for 40+ years now. About 15 to 20 years ago, my neurologist switched me from Dilantin to Depakote, Zonegran, and Phenobarbital (I used to get fever convulsions). I have been seizure-free since."

• Reg...
• October 13, 2008

"I have been on Depakote for about 11 years now. It works pretty well for the most part, but every once in a while my body gets out of whack, and I have seizures anyhow. My doctors have tried other medicines as well, but Depakote seems to be what works best."

• dsk...
• June 13, 2008

"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."

• tn2...
• April 9, 2009

"I have been diagnosed with absence seizures and have had several Grand Mals for 6 years now, but have been seizure-free for 4 years after being put on Depakote ER. I went through 2 prior doctors and twice as many medicines before finding the right one. If taken in the morning, I get nauseous and I'm always tired, but otherwise, no problems. 155 lb female on 500 mg once daily."

• Jb3...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 30, 2020

"I have been taking Depakote a while now. I've been seizure-free for years, however, I feel this drug has some side effects. I feel depression, can't sleep most nights. I'm thinking of talking to my doctor and getting off this drug. Honestly, I don't want any drug. I want to try to go drug-free and hope for the best."