Divalproex sodium for Mania User Reviews

Brand names: Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakote Sprinkles

Divalproex sodium has an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from a total of 31 reviews for the treatment of Mania. 61% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 13% reported a negative experience.

Divalproex sodium rating summary

7.5/10 average rating

31 ratings from 33 user reviews.

Compare all 13 medications used in the treatment of Mania.

10		32%
9		19%
8		10%
7		13%
6		3%
5		6%
4		3%
3		3%
2		0%
1		10%

Reviews for Divalproex sodium

Gabbie
Taken for 2 to 5 years
May 17, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I was prescribed Depakote ER 500mg to help my anxiety and it has decreased my anxiety 90%. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life. The best part is that it’s been on the market for many, many years, is affordable and has no long term dangers. Do try it, I do not like pills but this one is worth it if you are anxious and/or depressed."

10 / 10

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71 Report

Anonymous
April 4, 2011

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "So glad I had the opportunity to read how others feel about Depakote. I have used Depakote for 8 years now for the manic side of bipolar disorder. I have not had one manic episode since on the medication. Great right? I also feel as though the past 8 years of my life have slipped by and are a bit of a blur. I was an artist, graphic designer, and had a sense of humor. Now I feel like a numb hermit who continues to stay on this medication because she doesnt want another manic episode."

4 / 10

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129 Report

SOano
January 27, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have been on antidepressants and benzodiazepines for over thirty years for depression anxiety and racing thoughts from the anxiety. Started Depakote ten days ago and it has made an amazing difference, slowed my mind down enough to significantly reduce my anxiousness, only side effect mild tiredness no groggy feelings this has been so wonderful."

9 / 10

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40 Report

Nosou...
August 4, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I was in a manic state, unable to sleep, racing thoughts. My doctor prescribed Depakote. This was a miracle drug for me! My manic state dissipated, along with the severe anxiety. I was able to sleep."

10 / 10

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84 Report

mdan
March 26, 2008

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have been using Depakote for nearly eight years now and has kept my mania episodes under control. The only thing is I have weight gain from using this medication but thats a small price to pay. thank you"

8 / 10

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84 Report

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gfano
Taken for 10 years or more
May 28, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have taken Depakote (or a 'good' generic) of this medication for nearly 3 decades. It is very effective, has few side effects (with the exception of weight gain which is responsive to diet and exercise). This is a far more effective and moderate drug than what I was initially prescribed (Lithium-on which I hallucinated and felt terrible). I've had no long term effects to date, maintain my dosage and lead a healthy life with this medication. Be careful when using GENERICS...some vary immensely. Let your doctor and pharmacist know immediately if you have issues. (IE: Find the right generic or return to the original Depakote brand). Lovely and effective for a "unipolar" patient that I am."

10 / 10

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29 Report

knopie
September 24, 2008

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "This stuff works great. I have recommended this medication to many ohters who have similar symptoms regarding bi-polar and hyprer-mania. I am very fortunate to have been diagnosed correctly and to have been treated correctly with Depakote. I have noticed the changes myself and so have many others."

9 / 10

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79 Report

Ross
October 31, 2019

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "My mother who has a mental disability and is 56 years old was prescribed this medication twice while residing in a long term care facility under the reasons of "behavior." The first time she was on approximately 1000mg and it made her sleep for hours, put her in a fog, made her delay in response if she even responded at all. I asked several times for her to be taken off of the medicine and the facility was disagreeable. She was hospitalized for malnutrition and severe dehydration where I was able to convince the doctors to remove most of the dosage. They kept her on a low dosage between 125mg to 250mg. She did fine, three years later they increased the med to approximately 500 mg and put her on more behavior meds. Same thing happened, went back to hospital this time with sepsis in the blood from lack of hydration and UTI. This medicine is good for some and not for others, doctors should listen when expressing concerns and symptoms caused by this med."

1 / 10

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30 Report

Anonymous
April 6, 2008

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "i have been using depakote for over one year and it has helped me with my manic episodes, i have not had any since i started the medicine, it does not however do much in regards to racing thoughts and helping me stay positive. hoping for a cure : )"

7 / 10

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63 Report

Lwach...
October 6, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have been on Depakote for 4 years now and I haven't had an episode of Hypermania. This has changed my life. I have gained about 40 pounds but it is a small price to pay for the positive changes. I control the anxiety with occasional klonopin. I am working on healthy diet and exercise for the weight."

9 / 10

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49 Report

taylz
May 4, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I cannot account for those with Bi-Polar I, but this may apply to you if you have been diagnosed with social anxiety, Bipolar II or a mild form of the disorder. On 1000mg (combined with 200mg Lamictal) I felt "far away" when talking to people. I cut back down to 500mg. I began to feel it was inhibiting my creativity; sometimes I felt "dumb." I used other drugs to combat the Depakote from holding me back. Plus drinking on it caused depression and knocked me out. My doctor should not have put me on this medication to treat me for anxiety."

1 / 10

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49 Report

Bipolar...
Taken for 1 to 2 years
February 21, 2016

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Good medicine. Blood tests are annoying. I wet the bed a couple nights a week on this med because it knocked me out. It takes a while to get used to but it's overall not that bad of a med. Works well for mania."

6 / 10

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30 Report

shrim...
Taken for 6 months to 1 year
May 30, 2022

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "After all I have been through, this medication seems to have helped the most. I wake up rested instead of on edge, I sleep plenty of hours, I can enjoy things. There needs to be like some sort of psychiatric training to spot mania because I went years with schizophrenia and bipolar undiagnosed with mania. I don't eat too much and my thoughts are all there. I haven't gained much weight, and my body image mentally is just fine."

10 / 10

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7 Report

popeye
August 19, 2008

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "Great medicine, it's the only one that stops the agitation that comes with being too manic for too long. It keeps me from crashing after mania because the mania never peeks. I would have given it a 10, but sometimes a little coffee can make me get manic even though I have taken the medicine."

9 / 10

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25 Report

Anonymous
Taken for 2 to 5 years
August 26, 2012

Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) "Depakote has really helped to get me out of the fog of mania. By the same token, so has lithium. I have found, though, that taking both together (by a doctor's suggestion) keeps the number of episodes pretty low. I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes when I get manic, I spiral out of control and actually experience psychosis ( which is terrible). Good medicine though...better with other medicines."

7 / 10

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20 Report

Anonymous
Taken for less than 1 month
November 25, 2020

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Depakote has helped my racing thoughts and anxiety so much. I take depakote DR in the morning with my lamictal it’s great for racing thoughts. Depakote can make you kind of tired one reason why I’m on lamictal ! I’m on 250 mg will increase to 500 soon."

10 / 10

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5 Report

Anony...
August 18, 2016

"This drug really helped me! I noticed a huge difference almost immediately and so did others around me. It helped me put down the bottle and focus on daily tasks along with not freaking out on other drivers with road rage as I previously would do. I would definitely recommend trying it, at least. As far as the weight gain aspect, that's kind of in my favor because it was always hard for me to keep weight on/gain weight. So I'm happy to gain some weight. I gained about 10 lbs in a week or two. That being said, it has become a chore to constantly be eating & only eating healthy foods due to my extremely high triglycerides (genetic)."

8 / 10

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7 Report

iniro...
Taken for less than 1 month
December 2, 2014

"I feel sane and stable after being on divalproex for only a short time. The violent, gripping anxiety is gone for the first time in years. My doc gave it to me to help once I realized the suicidal thoughts I was having were caused by the fluoxetine (SSRI) I had been using for my obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety."

10 / 10

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7 Report

Nancy...
Taken for less than 1 month
March 21, 2023

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have just started taking Depakote for anxiety to help me sleep. It causes pain in my stomach and makes my eyes tired when reading. Now suddenly my right hip has become quite sore. It is helping me sleep though."

5 / 10

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1 Report

Bad
Taken for 1 to 6 months
November 18, 2021

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I started on 2000 mg a day 1000mg morning 1000mg at night got taken off 7 other meds that were working for it have been having bad manic episodes depression and anxiety have tremors can't eat or sleep almost as bad as haldol not a wonderful drug at all been on it over a month and now have to wean myself off it I just want this out of my life"

1 / 10

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1 Report

Taylor...
October 27, 2022

"2 years on divalproex 1000 mg to manage mania & bp1 diagnosis. Sleep is good. Aids craving for alcohol & THC. Weight neutral, though I exercise regularly. Sometimes use seroquel only as needed, if sleep onset is difficult. This is my maintenance med. I feel lucky that this is the first med my dr prescribed & works to keep the lid on mania. This with CBT & healthy lifestyle does the trick to lead a full life. Truly feels like I’m not taking anything, which dr said is when I know the medicine is working. I feel like my true myself."

10 / 10

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0 Report

Anonymous
April 13, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "Helps me to focus and organize thoughts. This drug works very well with moderate exercise."

10 / 10

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59 Report

Anonymous
July 31, 2008

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "This to me is a wonder drug. I have been using it for 20 years now."

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60 Report

catfoot
March 16, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I have had great success with this in conjunction with low doses of Prozac. The combination does a great deal to still the racing thoughts and anxiety."

8 / 10

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49 Report

skeeter
March 18, 2009

Depakote (divalproex sodium) "I've been taking Depakote for eight years and have not had a manic episode. I had two severe manic episodes prior."

10 / 10

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48 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.