Divalproex sodium and Hair Loss: What Users Say

• chr...
• April 20, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "Although reading the possible side effects can be scary, this medicine gave me my life back. I had a little hair loss at doses above 1000mg, but it's been great in stabilizing my mood swings. If I go off of it, I have an episode within a month. I had no weight gain (actually lost weight I had gained from taking Seroquel previously). I take it with Wellbutrin SR and a little Abilify. But the Depakote is by far the most effective. I've been on it for over 3 years."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have to say this drug did more harm than good, and my body is very dependent on it. In only a year span, I started having serious weight and back issues. I have never had any issues with my back, but all of a sudden my bones started to get brittle. Then the disc herniations started happening, and like a domino effect, my entire spine was damaged. I see a lot of info on children or babies affected with their spine, but apparently, it can do the same for a grown adult. I was put on this medication for anxiety and what my doctor thought was bipolar disorder. Turns out, as time goes by, the doctor lowers my Depakote and came to the conclusion I do not have bipolar disorder. Great... Damage done... Abnormal EEG, spine damage, and severe chemical dependency... Lost my hair, my looks, weight."

• jdk...
• March 1, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I am on the 500 x 2 ER, and people tell me I'm a lot calmer and they see the change. I guess I was on the depressed side of the spectrum. It may also be that I am on Celexa as well. At first, I was severely drowsy, but after about seven months, it kicks in. As far as weight gain goes, no changes there. Hair loss? I was already losing it. I have been on lithium, and that didn't work. Tried Tegretol as well, come to find out I am allergic. So, if I can feel normal and blood tests on liver and kidneys come back fine, hey, I will give Depakote 2 big thumbs up for a normal life."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication has kept me stable for 4 years. I am now 23 and was on 1000 mg at night. I recently went down as my blood tests came back too high. So I went back down to 700 mg and had another manic episode. I am now in the process of finding an antipsychotic to go with it. I have managed to stay at 110 lbs for 4 years with a healthy diet and exercise. The only side effects I had were major hair loss, slight tremors, and nausea. All of which have passed within a year."

• sf1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety 35 years ago, but finally received a diagnosis on the bipolar spectrum two years ago at the age of 60. Depakote ER (2000 mg at night) fixed things I didn't know were wrong and has stilled the ultradian cycling that was really my problem all along. I feel lucky that the only side effects I have encountered are hair loss at first (now resolved) and occasional heartburn. It relieved most of my depressive and hypomanic symptoms within three weeks, but I just added Lamictal to help a little more with depressive symptoms. I take a complicated stack of meds to manage psych symptoms, but Depakote is by far the most important."

• D P...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "My husband says Depakote is having a positive impact on me as well as our family! I'm not in bed all day or hanging around the bedroom. I'm up and about the house. Since decluttered, even organized! My personality has blossomed too. The last six years, I tried a wide spectrum of medications: Seroquel, Lamictal, Latuda, zonisamide, carbamazepine to name a few! My bipolar worsened five years ago after our last child. The side effects were hair shedding within three weeks, but no significant weight gain. I have always had a thick head of hair, so it's not really noticeable, but I can tell one side limp and not hanging full. I've started biotin along with a multivitamin. My Doc also told me to try a zinc supplement. Overall, I feel it is working."

• J2 ...
• December 1, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm going to say this. This medication has been a lifesaver for me. I've been on it for six months now. I take it for migraines, bipolar, and seizures. No noticeable side effects except for a lot of ear popping. I am a lot calmer than what I used to be. My anxiety is still there, but it isn't as bad as it was. I can actually function on this medication. My family can be around me now. I used to rapid cycle and have mixed episodes at least ten times a week. Now they're gone. It's nice to be normal for a change. No grandiose delusions. No audible delusions. I am a little bit sleepier than normal. But with a change of diet, I'm okay. No hair falling out. Just the normal hair loss when it comes to the change of weather."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I am not very fond of Depakote. When I took it, it didn't improve my mood swings that much. In the beginning, it made me nauseous and caused my hair to fall out. No, I didn't go bald, but it thinned out my hair enough that my hairstylist noticed. Eventually, my hair stopped falling out, but I gained a lot of weight and I had very bad tremors and bad coordination. If you do decide to take this medicine, make sure your doctor tests your blood regularly. I think you are supposed to have your blood tested every 6 months."

• Sus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Honestly, this medicine has saved my life! I went from having multiple long-lasting episodes of mania to none. Yeah, I still get the thoughts, but I'm relaxed and able to make conscious choices now that I'm on it. The only negative side effect is the hair loss, but it's temporary, but so worth it. Nothing is better than feeling like you are in control of yourself, and this medicine does this for you. Don't be scared to ask your doctor about it!"

• Zee...
• April 9, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I was put on Depakote ER and Celexa for depression and anxiety. My mood and depression were helped, and it knocked out my migraine headaches completely. I experienced so many horrible side effects, though. I gained 50 pounds in the six months I was on this, I lost my hair, I developed tremors that have not completely subsided, I had horrible stomach problems, heartburn, it made me extremely lethargic, libido was gone. This was just my experience with Depakote, and if it weren't for all of the side effects, I would have stayed on this medication. Hope this helps."

• Wil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 4, 2016

For Epilepsy "I currently take Zonegran-I love love love it!-Prior to this, I took Depakote-for me, this drug sucked-I was lethargic, my hair fell out in clumps. I went from weighing 225 lbs to 389 lbs, and I developed sleep apnea. I was taking 500 mg of Depakote four times per day-2000 mg of this stuff. I had several seizures in my sleep, one where I fractured my ankle on the bed frame. The weight was the worst, I could not control it. I wish I could submit a picture of myself while being on this stuff. After I got off this drug, I lost 160 lbs. My dad saw the before pic and didn't know who I was. Maybe this works for some, but not for me. I would never take this again!"

• Cha...
• May 21, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "Medication was very effective at controlling silent migraines, but long-term use (more than 10 years) has resulted in a 60-pound weight gain, hair loss, and shakiness. Recently, I have felt very fatigued and confused."

• sea...
• February 6, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "My 12-year-old son has been having migraines for 2 years now. At first, it was only once every few months. However, it progressed to once or twice a week - with vision aura and speech disturbance. I took him to a pediatric neurologist, and he said it was likely from puberty. He prescribed 500 mg of Depakote ER. It seemed to start working right away. It has been almost 2 months now, and he has only had one migraine in almost 2 months. Far better than before. He hasn't had any of the noticeable side effects - hair loss, weight gain. He takes it before bedtime. It is hard to get him up in the morning, but I don't know if that is from the medicine or from going to bed too late!"

• Pam...
• February 5, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "After being on Depakote ER for 8 months, it was really effective in reducing the migraines. As side effects, I never gained one single pound, but the hair loss was just unbearable. I lost half of all my hair. I had to stop taking it, unfortunately. I have always had headaches since I was a child. Before Depakote, I stayed one month having headaches every single day, had to stay in bed, couldn't even walk, and I felt like I reached the lowest point in my life, I wouldn't be able to live with the pain anymore. I had no life. After 2 weeks on Depakote ER 500 mg, I started getting better. I was having only 8/10 per month. Now I'm on topiramate for 2 weeks, the hair is still falling a lot and the migraines are back almost every day."

• Hap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2015

For Epilepsy "I'm 24 years old, and I've been epileptic for about 12 years. I've seen my fair share of doctors, and I was either too medicated or ignored, so remember, the doctor isn't always right. I recently found my current doctor about 3 years ago, and she has gone above and beyond for me. I am currently seizure-free and can drive. I currently take 1000 mg Depakote ER a day, 200 mg of Topamax a day to balance out the weight gain. I do have a slight problem with my hair, it won't grow, but that's okay."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Taking Depakote for migraine prevention. My headaches finally went away after a year and a half of chronic migraines. Free for 7 months, but my headaches have returned now. I've also gained 10 pounds since I started the medication, had some hair loss at the beginning, and I do have a problem with constant anxiety."

• dav...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 20, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Have been taking Depakote 1500 mg for 2 years, find it calms me down when anxiety is overwhelming. It is worth the side effects of weight gain and hair loss. I keep taking a regular dose and don't play around with dosage."

• Sar...
• December 13, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote ER for 4 months. My dosage is 1500 mg a day. I went untreated for many years (18 yrs) because I didn't have health care and failure to accept something was wrong even though I was a lot off the wall. After 3 weeks of Depakote, my moods were pretty even and stable. I also felt a little numb, I missed my highs, but it was better than being psychotic one minute and crying another. But at the 4-month mark, my hair has started falling out in clumps, that was my only side effect. So I'm now transitioning to lithium. Fingers crossed."

• TLN...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 10, 2020

For Epilepsy "This drug, Depakote, gave me side effects: I gained 50 lbs, hair fell out, and tremors. Was put on it for migraines initially, but after 2 years, migraines turned into seizures. I question if the drug didn't cause my seizures."

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

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• hek...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 15, 2014

For Epilepsy "I was put on Depakote when I was 17 when I started to have seizures due to head trauma from a motorcycle accident. Initially, my dose was higher, I don't remember exactly how high, but then I was lowered to Depakote ER 500 mg once a day. As long as I took my medicine and didn't drink as much as before and got regular sleep, I did not have any seizures. When I've run out of the medication and went out and drank (like an idiot), I had a seizure the next day. This happened to me like 3 times, but it's my own fault. Anyway, as long as I take it daily and control any other factors that could cause a seizure, I'm seizure-free. I've never had a seizure while taking this. The first side effects were slight hair loss, which stopped. But I did gain weight."

• Ala...
• August 2, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "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."

• jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote has worked great for me. It totally helps with mania. The only medication that clears up my head and makes me feel normal. Also, it gets rid of my migraines. The only bad thing is a few side effects. I gained weight, and my hair fell out. And I was pretty lethargic at first. Takes a while, but once it kicks in, I felt like a whole person. I was off of it for a long time and recently was put back on it, so going through side effects again, but felt a difference right away."

• LAG...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Depakote ER 2000 mg at bedtime about a year ago after decades of ineffective treatment for depression and anxiety. Depakote proved that I was misdiagnosed: it quickly alleviated my psych symptoms and allowed me to reduce Xanax XR dose by half and eliminate PRN Xanax. I haven't experienced the weight loss side effect, but did lose a lot of hair at first. The hair seems to be thickening up now. I would give it 10 stars except for the hair loss."

• So-...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I haven't really had a major manic episode since I started Depakote. However, it did not help me with normal agitation, violent thoughts, or anger. But trade-offs were weight gain, significant hair loss, and tremor. I was on 1250 mg/d and decreased to 750 mg/d. Cutting down didn't make me feel any difference. I wish this works out for most of you since this is one of the main therapies for maintenance."