Depakote Depression Posts

Depakote Depression Information

Depakote Depression Information in Questions

Does Depakote lead to depression and anger? I am currently taking Depakote for my Bipolar, and I hate it. I feel very depressed and angry. Has anyone had these side effects from Depakote?

shaneris5 replied: "If those symptoms existed befor you began the Depakote, it is likely that it was ineffective, in a therapeutic sense, for you, at that dosage, and after the amount of time you had taken it (some medications need several weeks to reach full effectiveness). If not, report the symptoms to the prescriber, and request that the information be reported officially, because the manufacturer is only obliged to list reported side effects, and if doctors don't report, they don't get listed, and people's lives can be adversely affected. State at the time that you will check, later, to see if this has been done. Remember to enquire; next time; make a note, or reminder/memo. "Most important fact about Depakote Depakote can cause serious or even fatal liver damage, especially during the first 6 months of treatment. Children under 2 years of age are the most vulnerable, especially if they are also taking other anticonvulsant medicines and have certain other disorders such as mental retardation. The risk of liver damage decreases with age; but you should always be alert for the following symptoms: loss of seizure control, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, a general feeling of ill health, facial swelling, loss of appetite, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you suspect a liver problem, call your doctor immediately. Depakote has also been known to cause life-threatening damage to the pancreas. This problem can surface at any time, even after years of treatment. Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following warning signs: abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. What side effects may occur? Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Because Depakote is often used with other antiseizure drugs, it may not be possible to determine whether a side effect is due to Depakote alone. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Depakote. More common side effects may include: Abdominal pain, abnormal thinking, breathing difficulty, bronchitis, bruising, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, emotional changeability, fever, flu symptoms, hair loss, headache, incoordination, indigestion, infection, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, sore throat, tremor, vision problems, vomiting, weakness, weight loss or gain""

My son was given depakote today to help deal with his depression and mood swings..? I am curious how long it will take to see results. He is only 11 years old and this is very scary for me as a mom. He has been very sad and crying a lot for a while. It got so bad he wont even go to school now because he cant hold back the tears any longer. I am working with him on all of his school work at home for a while untill things get back to normal again.

vicki p replied: "It usully takes maybe a week to 2 weeks, to see a diffrence.My sons take the same thing,it has worked with them. Good luck"

jacko replied: "11 is a very young age to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder doesn't usually manifest until sexual maturity. Was he assessed by a paediatrician, or child psychologist? I'd get a second opinion, preferably from a psychologist, (they don't prescribe, so are less influenced by hype from the drug co. reps), and check out depakote at My standard post follows; then side effects of depakote. See bipolar disorder, at in section 10. Bipolar usually involves major moodswings, which occur without apparent cause, and often over months, rather than days, as with most people (unless rapid cycling). I'd try the Lithium Orotate, enhanced with Folic acid, and take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements daily, replacing 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements in the winter months, and see how that goes, over several weeks, and maintaining the treatments for the depressive phase, in section 2. If not considerably improved (or at least comparable with your present condition) consult your primary mental health care provider. If bipolar type 1, an antipsychotic is also required. If you are happy with your current situation, add the Omega 3, for other health benefits: see TASKBAR. Side Effects of This Medicine Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur: More common body aches or pain ; congestion; cough; dryness or soreness of throat; fever ; hoarseness runny nose; tender, swollen glands in neck ; trouble in swallowing; voice changes Less common Abdominal or stomach cramps (severe); behavioral, mood, or mental changes; blurred vision;; confusion; ; continuous, uncontrolled back-and-forth and/or rolling eye movements; earache, redness or swelling in ear; dizziness,; double vision; faintness, or light-headedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly; sweating; unusual tiredness or weakness; fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse; heavy, nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding; increase in seizures; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting (continuing); rapid weight gain; spots before eyes; swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet; tingling of hands or feet; tiredness and weakness; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual weight gain or loss; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; yellow eyes or skin Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome: More common Abdominal or stomach cramps (mild); acid or sour stomach; belching; heartburn; indigestion; stomach discomfort, upset or pain; change in menstrual periods; crying paranoia; quick to react or overreact emotionally; rapidly changing moods; depersonalization; dysphoria; diarrhea; euphoria; hair loss; indigestion; lack or loss of strength; loss of appetite; loss of bowel control; mental depression; nausea and vomiting; paranoia; quick to react or overreact emotionally; rapidly changing moods; sleepiness or unusual drowsiness; trembling of hands and arms; unusual weight loss or gain Less common or rare Absence of or decrease in body movement; absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods; stopping of menstrual bleeding; anxiety; nervousness; restlessness; bloated full feeling; bloody or cloudy urine; bloody nose; bruising; burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles" , or tingling feelings; burning, dry or itching eyes; change in taste; chills; clumsiness or unsteadiness; coin-shaped lesions on skin; cold sweats; confusion; constipation; cramps; decreased awareness or responsiveness; degenerative disease of the joint; difficult, burning, or painful urination; difficulty in moving; discharge; excessive tearing of eye; discouragement; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; excess air or gas in stomach or intestines; excessive muscle tone; muscle tension or tightness; muscle stiffness; feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings; feeling sad or empty; feeling of warmth or heat; ; flushing or redness of skin, especially on face and neck; frequent urge to urinate; headache; heavy bleeding; irregular heartbeats; irritability; joint pain; swollen joints; lack of appetite; lip smacking ; uncontrolled chewing movements; loss of hair; loss of interest or pleasure; loss of memory; problems with memory; mimicry of speech or movements; muscle aching or cramping; muscle pains or stiffness; mutism; negativism; normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected; pain; passing gas; peculiar postures or movements, mannerisms or grimacing; puffing of cheeks; rapid or worm-like movements of tongue; redness, swelling, or soreness of tongue; severe sleepiness; shortness of breath; difficult or labored breathing; small red or purple spots on skin; stuffy nose; runny nose; sneezing; redness, pain, swelling of eye, eyelid, or inner lining of eyelid; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there; sensation of spinning; shaking; shortness of breath; hyperventilation; skin rash; sweating; tightness in chest; tiredness; trouble concentrating; trouble in speaking; slurred speech; trouble sleeping; uncontrolled chewing movements; uncontrolled movements of arms and legs; unusual excitement, restlessness, or irritability; wheezing"

anyone have a bad reaction to depakote or tri-leptil? I'm talking serious depression and mood disorders? My daughter is 16. She's been epileptic since she was 7. She's been on the same dose of meds, depakote and tri-leptil, for at least 3 years. However, her mood this summer has gone from pretty happy and normal to angry, moody, and depressed. We are honestly worried she's becoming sucidal. Please Help.

ghost replied: "Depakote does nothing good. It does make people gain weight, and is expensive though. In lay mans terms it's poison."

Cassie T replied: "Reactions to those kinds of meds is really, really common. They're powerful meds. And since they are also used to treat disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar, they will definitely play with your emotions. Also, she's very young. Her brain chemistry is changing. It's possible that these drugs worked for her 13-year-old brain, but she may need something different for her adult brain, if that makes sense."

SUSAN K replied: "either talk to a naturopath to see if they have a natural treatment or check on curezone.com and see if they do good luck"

should people with depression be taking depakote and can it make you suicidal? any one with any experiences of taking depakote? My little sister commited suicide recently (18 yrs old),she was taking depakote though they made her feel sick so the doctors took her of them about a week before she died (with no other replacement medication) we recently found out that depakote now ( since last month ) comes with a leaflet stating that it increases feelings of depression and suicide ,yet this is suppost to help depression??? she was taking it as she had bipolar ,,though there was talk among the doctors it could be border line personality disorder

christina w replied: "awwwwwww im sorry to hear that pet yes a lot of meds do make u feel worse im afraid i hope ur sis is happier now"

?????? replied: "dont take medication"

Chris S replied: "Doctors should be treated with the same disbelief as you would treat a witch doctor. They are too happy to label and provide drugs."

native c replied: "Absolutely not & Absolutely!"

nick replied: "I am sorry to hear about your sis. I am bipolar and I was put on Depakote for 4 months. It made me feel worse!! They were the worst meds I have ever been on in my 12 years as being diagnosed bipolar. I don't see how your Dr can get away with that, putting her on it taking her off it then not giving her anything. When you just stop taking meds like that you are asking for a big problem, you never just quit taking antidepressants! You should check into that. They have warning labels that come with all antidepressants that warn you that your sisters situation can happen when you just stop. I am sorry for you and your family's loss."

Peter J replied: "I will only take natural products for my mood swings and anxiety Instantly enhance your mood. Naturally boost your energy and vitality. Get rid of your depression and anxiety without any nasty side effets That is what i like and a natural product is number 1 for me as I don't want to put artificial products in my body you never know what will happen."

deadrising9090 replied: "disscus with your doctor about trying something new."

Can depakote interfere with your thyroid blood tests? I have the understanding that Depakote is not only to treat depression but is said to help those with thyroid symptoms and people who get migraines. If a person has all the symptoms of hyperthyroid and a nodule is found on their thyroid but they have been on depakote because it was thought they were manic depressive. Then when they go in for their thyroid tests their thyroid tests come back normal. Could the depakote be interfering with their thyroid test results?

Lisa A replied: "I can't find anything that states that Depakote is said to help those with thyroid symptoms. I can't see how it could possibly help either. It is extremely common for hyperthyroidism to be misdiagnosed as a mental illness such as bipolar though, due to laziness on the part of the doctor, and unwillingness to run the right tests. This is from the product insert: PRECAUTIONS There have been reports of altered thyroid function tests associated with valproate. The clinical significance of these is unknown. CNS Effects Irregular menses, secondary amenorrhea, breast enlargement, galactorrhea, and parotid gland swelling. Abnormal thyroid function tests (see PRECAUTIONS)."

have you taken depakote for mood disorder, and what were your symptoms? i was just put on depakote today for depression/bipolar, and i keep reading about serious weight gain and hair loss. any personal experiences, good and/or bad? i'm a little iffy about taking this med.

Lacey G replied: "Try it. It's worth a try to be more stable. If you have objectionable side effects, your doctor can change the medication to another mood stabilizer."

Alaskan Beauty replied: "I got the same effects. Weight gain, hair loss & sluggishness."

steve m replied: "depakote is an anti epileptic med that is licensed for mood swings.... It sucks....... All the stories are true..... Beside that they are huge things....... And have some seriously nasty interactions with other drugs.. like clonazepam..... And you should have regular blood tests....... But on the positive side....they are cheap..but nasty!"

sweetsnickers replied: "I have been put on it for bipolar as well. I gained weight and a little bit of my hair fell out. But these things ca be managed. The side effects do go away after a couple of weeks. So if you find a drug combo that can help you stay balanced then no side effect will matter. Good Luck!!!"

lexi m replied: "I took Depakote and I gained about 40 pounds. Now I take Lamictal (200 mg) instead and I'm at the thin end of a normal weight. Lamictal works fine for me."

what are the dangers of stopping depakote for bipolar disorder? I've been taking depakote for 2 years. I had a severe mania and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Since I started depakote, I haven't had any mood swings, manias or depressions. If I was to ween myself off, what are some things that could happen?

lil bit replied: "Seizures See website below"

nastehnedd replied: "you should not do this cold turkey if anything, talk to your doctor. if he agrees that you can start to get off of these meds, he should lower your dose or frequency of taking."

nightowl24 replied: "Well there are legal cases of people getting off of the meds, having a manic swing and killing others. They were convicted. Don't ask us this question, talk to a medical docter or psychiatrist, You could harm yourself or some innocent person. No one likes taking meds and being dependant on them, but having bi-polar can be dangerous and you could ruin your life if you are not carefully advised about if or how you should stop."

Tammie N replied: "I believe it can cause diabetes, and something in your blood level gets dangerously low, and your mood swings and mania could come back. Which can be a danger to yourself as well as others. Honestly, if your medication has helped, why would you want to go off of it. That generally means it is working. And definitely seek the advice of your Doctor."

maitraya replied: "return of mood swings and seizures, plus if you go off if you want to go back on it may not work leaving you to search for a another drug like lithium"

Jessica replied: "If you go off it you will likley go into a manic state. Don't do it. Talk to your dr first. Why do you want off it? Seems like its working if you have been mood free."

blue_bipo2 replied: "First of all, Bipolar illness isn't something that goes away, their is no cure for it. Only medication that can stabilize you and help you live with this illness. Depakote seems to be working great for you since you've said yourself that you haven't had any mood swings, manias or depressions. Therefor you should stay on them, even if you seem to believe you do not need them anymore. Stopping medication because you feel better is the most common mistake people with mental illnesses do !! (I know, I lived it and I assure you it isin't a good idea!!) You do not know how lucky you are!! So many people have a hard time finding the medication (or combination of medication) that stabilizes them. I personally had to go through 15 different medications and combinations (over a period of 3 years) before finding the medications that helps me. Going off of your medication is the worst thing you could do!! It takes about 3 weeks for your body to be cleared of the medication and I guaranty you that your manias and your mood swings will come back!! Whatever you decide, one thing is for sure: you should consult your psychiatrist first of all and you should ABSOLUTELY not stop depakote "cold turkey". You have to ween yourself off the medication gradually over a period of several weeks, because side effects of withdrawal are very dangerous! If your only reason for wanting to stop your depakote is because you haven't had mood swings and manias or depressions since being on it, then I strongly suggest you DO NOT STOP TAKING IT! If for other reasons you want to stop depakote (for example, bad side effects) then discuss this with your psychiatrist before doing anything drastic. Please, for your safety, consult your psychiatrist before taking this decision/action. Good luck ;)"

id like to talk to a depakote user who is bipolar or manic? my 16 y/o son has been diagnosed with bipolar or manic depression. he is in an acute care fac. at this time. the dr put him on depakote. i would like to know how this medication affects others with this diag.

shannon v replied: "I have taken depakote in the past. It made me gain a lot of weight so I stopped taking it. Otherwise it worked well. I also had a male friend who took it and he had virtually no problems with it at all...no weight gain or anything. I preffered lithium to depakote because it did not make me lethargic. However, Lithium did make my hands tremble pretty badly. I hope your son's doctors find the correct meds for him soon. Good luck!"

petra replied: "Depacote is a drug that treats seizures but at times also helps people who have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder by evening out the highs and lows in their moods. It has very few side effects and if your son gets along with it, be happy. Depacote is mildly sedating which will become better in a few weeks as your son gets usued to it. Hope that helped."

miz piz replied: "My son, 16 is also on Depakote ER for bi-polar. He has been on this med. for about 8 months now and his mood swings are as different as night and day. Depakote is a mood stabilizer and is used for many conditions. This med. has been around for many, many years and is widely perscribed, especially in children. At first it made my son tired, but we switched his med. to take at bedtime and he is doing well. It will make you hungry, but after a couple of weeks that goes away also. Every so often he has blood drawn to check his levels and make sure that his liver is filtering out the med. as it is suppose to. He has done so much better. As a mom, I know first hand that putting your son in a facility is one of the toughest things that you will ever have to do. But if your son had a broken arm or needed stitches, you would seek medical treatment for those conditions also. So, I applaud you for caring enough about your son to get him help, and in the long run he'll be glad that you did too. So much luck to you and your son!!!"

Cat S replied: "I have bipolar type 2 and while on other medications (tegretol and lamictal), I can assure you that once the doctors have found an effective medication regime for your son, he can have a relatively normal life as bipolar is not the life sentence it used to be. When it comes to medications and mental conditions, individual responses can be so varied you wouldn't think its the same drug one person is talking about to the next. Some people will be side effect free while others have difficulty and need to change medications. This is not unusual, it took me a few tries and if your sons doctors prescribed him depakote, they took into account his overall situation: physical health, life style, age and his individual symptoms of bipolar. Its important that you realise that bipolar can't be cured but is managed by medication which your son will have to maintain in the long term, as well a probable therapy phase in the beginning. He will also need to keep a regular sleep routine, eat well and get exercise (even if its just walking 20 mins a day). Good luck to him..."

Sarah M replied: "Everybody is different and has different side effects. In general, young men seem to do better on Depakote than any other group. I am an older woman and I took Depakote for a while but stopped because I had bad side effects - terrible weight gain, hair falling out, crying all the time - it was not the med for me. I take lithium now with no side effects. One thing you should know is that if suicide is a risk, the clinical research proves that lithium is 3 times more effective than Depakote in preventing suicide. Good luck - I know things must seem terrible right now but it is a treatable condition and there are a lot of medication options. I wish you and your son the very best."

Any suggestions for countering lithium and depakote-induced weight gain? I eat very little as it is and my diet is healthy, yet I still gain weight. It's enough to cause depression in and of itself. Topamax helped for awhile, but now it's to the point where the only dosage that will help will also make me so stupid (ie cognitive side effects) that I might as well not get out of bed in the morning.

shaneris5 replied: "Have you tried Lamictal? ~~~ You can eat a LOT, yet still lose weight, and have a LITTLE of your favorites every day, to prevent cravings, by consuming mostly low energy foods, such as cucumber, tomato, capsicum/bell peppers, celery, onion slices pickled in vinegar, grated carrot, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, watercress, alfalfa, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, capers, a few olives, etc., with some lean protein, to delay the emptying of your stomach. Have a large glass of water 20 mns before eating. If you don't drink enough water, you won't lose weight as quickly! One of the tips I got through is to stir half a teaspoonful of hot paprika, or chilli powder, into a glass of water, and drink it just before eating, and you will eat less, as a result. Section 56, at (also see section 10, on bipolar disorder) addresses eating disorders. If you are one of the 40% of people who are fairly suggestible, you may wish to consider professional hypnotherapy, or: View: ALTERNATIVE HEALTH - HYPNOTISM FOR WEIGHT LOSS in section 81, at ezy build. TRY: Weight Loss Hypnosis FREE, at or enter: "weight loss" in the searchbar, at (a choice of many), or: Weight Reduction (ISBN: 1-933154-16-0 (ISBN: 1-933154-17-9) A weight reduction hypnotherapy tape or CD with suggestions for eating healthy food, and with a focus on eating less. This hypnotherapy audio tape or CD will help empower you with the desire to make better food choices. By Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist"

YA Junkie replied: "I am sure the first answerer had good intentions, but I would not recommend lamictal with regard to weight loss. In most cases, it is considered a weight-neutral drug, although it can sometimes cause people to gain weight (but not as much as lithium or depakote). See the following link. To be fair, lamictal occasionally causes weight loss. These opposite side effects are not unusual in the wild, wacky world of psych meds. I take lamictal as a back-up drug for major depression. Initially, I gained weight with lamictal. However, I had success with the alternative health remedy below. I CANNOT offer you any guarantees, but what helped me lose about 20 pounds in 3 months is an old, very inexpensive natural remedy that might sound very strange to you. Put 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and 1 tablespoon of honey in 8 ounces of warm water and drink this mixture. Do this two (or possibly three) times a day. It may take a while to get used to the taste. If you really don‘t like the taste, add extra honey. Use Bragg's ACV or other brands from a health food store, not stuff you buy in a regular grocery store. Also avoid the ACV capsules sold in grocery stories and drug stores. They are a waste of money. As I said, the ACV did work for me. For the 3 to 4 weeks, I don't think I lost an ounce, but maybe my metabolism was speeding up. In the second and third month, the weight started to come off. ACV has been used for hundreds of years for a variety of health issues, so this is not the latest fad diet. If you want more info, google “apple cider vinegar health benefits.” Finally, talk to your doctor about your weight gain issues on your current meds. In some cases, MDs can prescribe meds that may help you lose weight. Finally, I assume you are bipolar from your meds. From a support group I attend, I have heard that lamictal with abilify can be useful for bipolar disorder. Actually, this combo helped me with unipolar depression. It might be worth a try if your shrink agrees."

Is Lamictal good for Bipolar depression? I have been taking Depakote, and I hate it. Is Lamictal better in combination with Lithium which I am already on also?

shekilledhim replied: "I don't know how well it combines with lithium, but I take lamictal and I absolutely love it. I don't even have any bad side effects from it! If you aren't comfortable with what you're currently taking then I'd definitely talk to your pdoc about it - and maybe mention lamictal and ask if it'd be of benefit to you. :)"

jackie replied: "My son was on lamictal and he loved it. Then he had a manic episode so he was put on zyprexa and he had migrane headaches and had to go to the emergency room. They took him off zyprexa and then he was put on depakote. The depakote made his violently ill and he vomited for days on end. It was horrible. Then the doctor put him on seroquel and the combo of seroquel and lamictal propelled him into a manic episode and then he had a psychotic break. Lamictal is a mood stabilizer and really addresses the depressive issues. My son had NO side effects and from everything I read, lamictal has the LEAST amount of side effects. I hope I answered your question to your satisfaction. BUT, as with all drugs, you have to trial and error to see if Lamictal is right for U. Good luck. I wish you the very best."