Divalproex sodium and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2022

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "Before Depakote, I was a complete mess. Crying, rage issues, kept feeling like something bad was about to happen or I was going to lose my mind. It was a very rough 2 months of these feelings. When I started Depakote, I started noticing pretty quickly how much better I was feeling. I take 750 mg. My only negative is I've gained 11 pounds in 2 months and cannot shed them. I need this medicine increased, but the weight gain increases my anxiety and depression. So not sure if I'll stay on this. But it definitely helps if you don't mind gaining weight!"

• Dep...
• October 4, 2020

Divalproex sodium "Nightmare in a word. I had massive weight gain during the 8 months on Depakote, my face swelled up. I looked like a chipmunk, my once pretty face was gone and replaced by triple chins. I found out I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosed after 8 months on Depakote. Slept all the time, couldn’t wake up. Made me agitated and didn’t relieve depression. I sort of existed, and nothing made me feel any way or another-numb and sedated and then agitated. How is this supposed to help psychiatric issues? The worst part was that it’s been painstakingly difficult to lose that weight since discontinuing. It should really be pulled off the market. I wouldn’t recommend anyone it, especially getting it from county health care because they forget to test blood levels and herded me around like cattle. That was my experience on it. Discontinued it and moved on with my life and am doing much better now."

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

Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy "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."

• Kmc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 29, 2023

Divalproex sodium "So I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar and then undiagnosed. I have severe MDD, crying fits, severe panic, and anxiety. I was petrified to try Depakote. I started at 250 mg ER twice a day and went up to 750 mg (250 mg three times a day). I have light sensitivity and I did gain weight, but partially that’s my fault for eating foods I should not. It has been my lifesaver. My new doctor recently lowered my dose and I feel horrible. Severe anxiety and depression, sleep issues, I’m going back up on my dose. Personally, my side effects have been minimal. Depakote is also very different as it helps produce GABA, which helps anxiety and panic disorders. I was losing hope, but it has been my lifeline."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Into the third week, I became very depressed. I was so tired all I wanted to do was sleep. Then my lower back became so painful I could hardly sit down. I also was getting the twitches, and all my joints ached."

• sus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2021

Divalproex sodium "I don't like this drug. I was put on it for anxiety. I was on Ativan on and off. It was unbelievably effective. I felt calm, solid, and stable. With Depakote, I am having side effects: nausea, tired, full of anxiety, deep depression, dizzy. This is an old-school drug that should be retired."

• D12...
• June 8, 2020

"I have tried a number of antidepressants over the past 6 years with little to no effect, so my doctor wanted to try a mood stabilizer. I had an absolutely horrible experience while taking divalproex sodium for anxiety. From day 1, I had crying spells that lasted all day long, paired with the worst insomnia imaginable. I literally could not sleep and would pace around my house because I thought I was losing my mind. I cannot begin to explain how much worse this medication made my anxiety. It was so bad that I went to the ER because I didn’t know what else to do. I was losing my damn mind. The depression was so awful as well. The last couple of days while taking this medication left me sitting on my couch like a vegetable. I was told to continue taking divalproex sodium because it “takes a couple of weeks” to get into your system. I took this medication for 4 days and decided I had enough. This medication was just too hard on me."

• Anonymous
• November 11, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I've noticed while on divalproex sodium ER that my mood swings have been fluctuating more frequently. I've also noticed that since they've changed from the grey to the white pills, I have been experiencing depression and anger frequently. I did well on Depakote ER, now, with the white pills, I am barely able to reach a therapeutic range."

• Bad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

Divalproex sodium for Mania "I started on 2000 mg a day, 1000 mg in the morning, 1000 mg 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."

• den...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was just put on divalproex about maybe two weeks ago. I found it really helped with my sadness. Before this one, I was on Tegretol, and it was horrible. It made me want to kill myself, my mood swings were out of control. I felt hopeless, unwanted, and I was raging out of control. I almost lost everything because nobody could or wanted to be around me. So I hope this one helps me now so I can live a somewhat normal life."

• Zoe...
• September 16, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "While new to Depakote, I'm not really sure this med is helping my bipolar disorder. I was on lithium ER for five years, and life was good, no night terrors, no mania, low-level depression events at times, and I was nice or cordial with people, but tremors got so bad I couldn't do much of anything. With the Depakote, the night terrors are horrific at best, think I'm rapid cycling, mania appears out of the blue, and depression I don't want to think about. Is it the dosage or that I'm new to Depakote? Any insight appreciated."

• Dee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 12, 2018

Divalproex sodium for Migraine Prevention "Lethargy, weight gain, depression, headaches, muscle aches, nausea."