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

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 26, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "First, I was put on Divalproex during a hypomanic episode that wouldn't end even with five different psych drugs. The Divalproex worked quickly to quell the hypomania, but at 1000 mg/day, this drug's side effects were unbearable. Chronic diarrhea, rapid weight gain of 30 pounds, shaking hands, finger tremors, excessive tiredness during the day, lack of coordination when walking, lack of concentration, and two-thirds of my long hair fell out in clumps. My psychiatrist started lowering the Divalproex gradually down to 500 mg/day, and she withdrew three of the other drugs also. All the side effects subsided. Now I'm just taking 500 mg Divalproex per day along with 40 mg Latuda, and my moods have been really stable!"

• Kay...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2022

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been taking Depakote 1000 mg in the morning and 1000 mg in the evening. I’ve been having memory issues, it’s so bad I forget what I was doing or lose my train of thought completely. The worst side effect is the hand tremors. I cannot even hold a coffee mug without spilling it. The hand tremors also affect my eating, I can’t keep the food on the utensil, it falls off, and I barely get anything. The last side effect I’ve been having is that my appetite is almost completely gone, I can go all day without eating and not feel hungry. My appetite is so diminished I have trouble finishing any of the food I was trying to eat, it’s like two bites and I’m full."

• che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 14, 2017

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "I take non-generic Depakote ER 1750 mg, Haldol 4 mg, and propranolol 20 mg. I have some hair loss, insomnia, and shakiness. I believe the medicine is finally working after 17 years of trying every bipolar medication with Depakote ER. I lose my patience and get angry at customer service representatives sometimes. I lose my patience and get mildly angry at my husband, but it appears to be under control. The insomnia at times gets really bad, and I wind up calling Lifenet to cope. I will be trying melatonin 3 mg to see if this helps. I want to try 1500 mg of Depakote ER to see if my insomnia improves also."

• Mis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 12, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar 2. Been on this medicine at 500 mg 2x daily for 12 years. I have not experienced weight gain. I have experienced some hair loss (not enough to be that noticeable as my hair is short and thick). I have experienced hand tremors. My treatment regimen includes gabapentin 200 mg 2x daily, Wellbutrin 150 mg in the morning, and Imovane 0.75 mg at night for sleep. Apart from 2 major crashes approximately 5 years apart from each other, this treatment regimen has kept me sane. I do still struggle with bouts of depression and anxiety but am able to cope. Up until the past year, I have been able to work full-time and go to school part-time. My treatment plan works for the most part. Tried other meds but keep coming back to this."

• Anonymous
• February 24, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have only been on Depakote sodium 500 mg twice a day for 4 days for depression, and so far, I have no improvement. I have tremors. I am normally a talkative person, now I hardly say two words, and even worse of all, it has taken away my happiness. I don't smile or laugh, all I do is start crying with no emotions at all. Can I lower my dosage? I have no insurance to see my doctor."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2017

For Epilepsy "My husband took this for a week, and he turned into an unmotivated, angry, heart-palpitating, paranoid zombie. He had no relief for his headache and had tremors so bad he could not hold a fork to eat. Stomach pain, loss of appetite, hair falling out, and left arm pain, to name a few more. I don't know why any doctor would order this for brain tumor pain. It is just awful. This drug may work for others, but for pain, it's useless."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "I took Depakote for mixed bipolar. I was on it for about 6 months. Never had seizures before taking Depakote. Then I started to black out & start seizing out of nowhere. I also noticed I was losing weight without trying. At the time, I was about 30 pounds overweight. I lost 55 pounds. I hadn't been that skinny since high school. I was also losing my hair, eyelashes & eyebrows. My eyebrow & upper lip would repeatedly twitch out of nowhere. It was very embarrassing when it happened around others. I felt drained all the time & my head was in a daze. When I told my doctor about the seizures, they were surprised because Depakote is supposed to help stop seizures. But at the time, it was the only medicine I was taking and I never had issues with seizures before I started taking Depakote. After 6 months of continued side effects, I talked to my doctor and they gradually took me off the medication. Unfortunately, I gained all of the weight back rather quickly. Eyebrows & lashes damaged."

• 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."

• 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."

• Pos...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 19, 2016

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "Was on this drug for about four years with Wellbutrin. The combination worked well for the first three years; however, developed severe tremors and other side effects."

• Ren...
• October 1, 2013

Divalproex sodium for Migraine Prevention "I started back on Depakote 2 weeks ago. My headaches are better, but my hands are shaky, and my stomach aches. Better than a migraine, so I will continue."

• Joe...
• November 15, 2020

Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy "Lost a couple years of my life to this drug Depakote. If you start acting irrationally, or your cognitive ability deteriorates, or you start shaking, stop taking this drug."

• Joe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 24, 2021

Divalproex sodium for Bipolar Disorder "Horrible drug, lost 10 years of my life. Memory loss. Finally quit after starting getting bad tremors and figured out they were being caused by the Depakote."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2019

Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy "Controls epilepsy but bad side effects: Worst was tremors, which got worse until I got off the drug. Replaced Depakote with Briviact."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 14, 2021

Divalproex sodium for Epilepsy "It stops my seizures, but makes my hands shake like crazy. I can't even write. I shake much more when I have extreme anxiety."