User Reviews for Depakote ER oral

I had been taking lithium 900mg po at bed,for 25 years with good management of my manic/bi polar I symptoms. I was prescribed Chantix & I had a severe reaction with the combination, severely dehydrated, I had to go to the emergency & stayed in the hospital for 3 1/2 days, the doctors discontinued the chantix & changed my medication from lithium to depakote er 500mg BID in 9/2012. I can not tolerate this medication, decreased sleep, weight I lost 20 lbs in 2 months-my weight is now 98 lbs.diarrea, feel like throwing up, erradic sleep, fearful of experiencing a manic episode. My doctor will not switch me back to lithum which I did well on until the doctor prescribed the chantix.Read More Read Less

Weight gain and loss of hair.

been taking for 20 years worked awesome. now i have to change to generic form hopefully i dont have issues like i had in past.

I have been using this med about 4 yrs now. It has quelled the manic episodes noticeably, but doesn't do much for my deppression. I take this med along with Abilify and Wellbutrin.

I began taking Depakote 500x2 July and I have gained almost 40lb in 4 months. Considering that it did work well for a few months, I fully expect to be on a higher dose this next visit due to compensate for the weight I have gained. I was told I would gain weight but never knew how much and rapidly. I was approx size 10 now I am above size 18. I cannot afford another wardrobe.

has anyone ever got a uti off this medication?

It has been overall a very effective drug and far more effective for me than lithium. Some uncomfortable side effects have been uncomfortable and large weight gain and drowsiness soon after taking the drug. Unfortunately, there aren't too many options for mood stabilizers and I am grateful for Depakote's efffectiveness for that reason.

Has kept my mood swings in check well. After many years, however, my hands began to shake terribly and I had to decrease my dose to a minimal amount. The shaking went away immediately. I continue to take the med.

I have been using the delayed released 1500mg for about over 15 years. I have tried other meds with no success. It is not a cure all, but no med is. I have no more anxiety, but I do deal with depression from time to time. I also take klonopin when the anxiety comes on.

My best friend was on this medication for 3 weeks for migrane prevention. She ended up in the ER and was admited to the hospital for observation because she had a near death reaction to it.

I have been taking the extended release version of Depakote for at least 15-20 years. I am not on the generic version, and have had no breakthrough seizures since I made the switch.

I still have seizures.It has given me more side effects than a little bit.I would like to know if there is another medication that could do the same thing without all of these side effects.

I take 1500 mg every night before bed and it definatly makes me tired. If I dont go to bed soon I nod out. Most of the time I am still manic but thats more enjoyable then depression. If I drink to much with it the next day I'm more depressed. When I wake up in the morning I usually feel well rested. The bad thing is I get side efects I don't like: When I first tried the pills it felt like it was zapping my brain I would get a real quick zap like feeling in my head as if it were killing brain cells. LOL that only lasted a few days thank God cause it freaked me out, Loosing more hair than usual when I shower or brush my hair, some drowsiness, some nausea,some dizziness, I've noticed my skin seems blotchy or lacy at times, but I dont know if its related. I have real bad tremor, I cant find words sometimes and loose my train of thought frequently, I feel dazed alot, And I can feel my heart beating alot and it seems so fast, last time I checked it was 96 bpm and I was resting. Blood pressure has been a little high also. I dont know if all of these side effects are from Depakote because I also take other medicines as well. But if any of you exp. the same ones then it probably is this medication. my brother in law also takes this for grandpa seizers or whatever there called and he takes alot of mg but if he drinks to much he will still get a siezure.Read More Read Less

AWFUL PILL! Extreme Weight Gain! took it for a month and gained 30lbs! if your heavy stay away from this medicine! it works well for bipolar disorder though, but not worth the weight gain!

since taking the drug i have been expericing nose bleeds and vvomiting and also dirrhea as wellas severe stomach pain

I used to take only Depakote DR at night. I don't know what launched me into a manic crisis, but it was very severe. Well, I suppose I do know; it was a series of health problems that included hospitalization that were not related to my mental health. But Depakote ER stabilized me somewhat within two days and fully within four. This is keeping in mind that those I love were considering calling 911 and putting me in the emergency mental health system my mania was so bad.

I have cluster headaches. Nothing worked at prevention. I was having a daily/twice daily headache for 7 months when I was put on this medication. Headaches stopped in about 1-2 weeks. Haven't had a headache in about 6 weeks. I take 1500mg/day.

I take this medication for anxiety and mood stability. The only issue I have had is weight gain and a bit of hair loss. I am working with my doctor to correct. It works great, but trying to find a resolution of the effects.