Valproic acid for Mania User Reviews

• LLG...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 10, 2014

"Bipolar I, I never went manic except during extreme stress, impending death of a family member, when I was under so much stress that I could not remember if I had taken my medication. I have never been one to abandon medication because I 'missed' the high. The only other hospitalization was when a rural local 'doctor in a box' prescribed Prednisone, despite the fact it is contraindicated for Bipolar and that I listed that I was Bipolar on the intake sheet. That resulted in an 11-day hospitalization to get my medications straight. In 2005, changed to Valproic Acid. I did have a manic episode requiring hospitalization prior to my brother's death in 2007. Since then, I have had no problems, except low-level depression, which I call being 'flat.'"

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2025

"My 15-year-old daughter is bipolar I and has been on lithium (1200 mg/day) for over a year, since she was diagnosed. However, recently she has had an intensifying mania episode in which she has sleep disruption, delusions, and self-harm thoughts. Other than school usual stress, there is no other identifiable trigger for this episode. Her psychiatrist has then decided to swap from lithium to valproic acid. She is transitioning right now and is 10 days into her Depakene (val. acid) treatment. So far, she has felt pretty nauseous with it (had this too with lithium if taken on an empty stomach) and somewhat hungrier. I really hope this med works, but it's early to be sure. She also takes quetiapine (to sleep) and lamotrigine (for the lows). It's a load of pills for a teen to be on for life, but at least there are options for this difficult condition. I live in Brazil, and Depakene is given to us by the government through their health system. So was the lithium and lamotrigine. Thank you."

• Rub...
• February 23, 2012

Valproic acid "This medicine is expensive, but it works. My son started taking this 4 weeks ago. He has experienced no side effects, and it is working like magic on his mania."