death from depakote

[barbara]

iwould like to know if any relative or friend or anyone you know has died from complications from the drug depakote? this is very important to me because my son i feel did,

[sandy]

hi barbara, im so sorry about your son. im not writing to give you any answers but just to say im so so sorry. im trying to get thru depakote withdrawal now. i wish i could hug you and give you some comfort. a son is precious. how old was he and how long did he take depakote? you dont have to respond to me but if you want to talk im here.

[Parris]

I've been taking depakote 1500mg every day for 13 years. Extended release is the best way for me. I have done very well but may be noticing some problems with lethargy and malaise from time to time just lately. I notice when I take it in the morning, and in combination with antidepressant Celexa, I just don't feel like moving! I am trying to switch the order to the evening and since I've already withdrawn from Celexa maybe stay off it. I've been told that taking myself off Depakote is not a good idea for me, for many years and by many doctors. They are concerned psychosis could set in and that I may not be able to return to "normality." I believe the medication is better than the alternative, so I stay with it and stay closely managed with a doctor's supervision. I read just today that death is possible by depakote.
http://www.healthyplace.com/medications/dival...

I can only counsel, as to your son's death, that life/death are mysteries to us and perhaps he is in a truly better place and life is good there. You can only rest in that...

[PLEASE READ THIS]

barbara wrote:

iwould like to know if any relative or friend or anyone you know has died from complications from the drug depakote? this is very important to me because my son i feel did,

Our son survived and we now have Depakote sydrome to deal with. Depakote can cause severe heart problems....what was cause of death? If heart related I would get an atty and sue the pants off of Abbott who produces this evil drug!

[Debbie]

Suicide is what this drug caused. Billy was 16 when he took his life, and I have always felt the Deperkote ER was what caused him to take his life.I hope this will open the door for other parents who has kids that take this dangerous drug to watch for signs. Billy complain of stomach pains, and we had notice he was aggresive at times, and would have tremors in his hands.

[EZ Rider]

I'm sorry Debbie, do you know what the level of drug was in blood before he died?

[kevin]

Debbie wrote:

Suicide is what this drug caused. Billy was 16 when he took his life, and I have always felt the Deperkote ER was what caused him to take his life.I hope this will open the door for other parents who has kids that take this dangerous drug to watch for signs. Billy complain of stomach pains, and we had notice he was aggresive at times, and would have tremors in his hands.

I have been taking depakote er for 15 years everyday i feel deprssed and think of killing myself multiple times a day i used to be an artist but now i seem to have no imagination or ability to want to live.

[Connie]

My Daughter has been on Depakote ever since it was given FDA approval to be given to patiets for severe cluster seizures. In February she almost died from Severe Pancreatitus (the life threatening form). Her liver was also and is still inflammed (eyes still tinged yellow). Doctors removed her Gallbladder but did not find a logged stone while the Gallbladder did have some stones in it. Pancreas tissue has died away and she suffered so horribly as the pain would not subside even with Morphine injections. The burning enzymes(like stomach acid)loose in her body cavity tortured her. It had to be drained through away from her collapsing lungs. She was hospitalized for almost six weeks. She is home and is doing better and still on the Depakote. While I still wonder..Was it the Depakote?
I feel it's a catch 22. Depakote has been the only seizure drug to ever give her any relief from the seizures. While it could be killing her (possibly),it is also the only thing that ever helped her (and yes we have tried everything seizure drug available). Sadly, it is not a perfect world for any of us as much as I wish it could be. And things are much rougher for some than others. But from the bottom of my heart, I blame No Doctor or the drug. I believe it was created and given with the best of intensions.. My best wishes to each of you for better days.

[Catherine]

My 18 year old daughter was abrubtley taken off Depokate in February due to nausea and stomache cramps. She was put on it for depression and suicidal tendancies. Ten days after coming off the Depakote she commited suicide, she was given nothing to replace the Depokote. I feel this was the cause of her taking her life and feel she was let down terribly by the psychiatrist concerned.

[Elle]

My sister was put on Depakote for bipolar disorder; however she also had advanced liver disease from alcoholism, which her doctor was fully aware of - it was in the medical records. She was not on the medication very long and died shortly thereafter at 34. While she was on a self destructive road, I feel that she might have had a chance were it not for the drug.

[Connie]

My heart breaks for you and your children. My 27 year old son has been on Depakote since he was 9. It was a miracle drug for him. He was having 60 different siezures a day and on 5 different meds. Depakote stopped everything. He had no siezures until 16 when his levels got too low from growing so much. That was the last siezure he has had. He has complained of stomach pain from time to time once he got older and had many tests done. No one indicated it was from Depakote but they never found the cause either. I will have to talk to the doctor about that. I pray you can find peace. God Bless You all.

[Michael]

Firstly, my most sincere condolences to all of you out there who have lost loved ones. I started getting seizures when I was 18 (30+ years ago !) and was tried on a number of drugs, all ineffectively, until I moved to valproic acid (the brand name varies in different countries). The seizures stopped, although I did have a few further ones brought on by a combination of alcohol, fatigue, and hunger (low blood sugar!)- but all these are contra-indicated, so you caould definitely say that I caused them myself!
Valproic acid is quite a powerful drug, and you should remember to keep yourself as healthy as possible while taking it. It does put a strain on the liver, like many other drugs, so aside from having regular (every 4-6 months) liver function tests (blood tests)one shouldn't take too much else with it without talking it over pretty carefully with your doctor.
Catherine: you say that your daughter was taken off Depakote because of the side-effects - I cane see that - but to leave an 18 year old adolescent girl with no replacement, etc., for something that had presumably been assisting her (despite the side effects) is, I agree, a terrible thing to do. I believe that there are NHS safeguard authorities entrusted with dealing with this sort of treatment, and you should seek them out.
Connie: as you say, the drug itself isn't evil in any way. Doctors tend, at times, to make out that they know more than they do, but so do we all - they are only human (that's our problem !). I hope your daughter continues to recover. Minimise the stress on her liver (lots of water, I guess, and good fresh food with as little pesticide, etc., as possible), and make her feel happy.
To all: talk to your doctors about the drugs you're on, and seek out alternatives just in case you suddenly find you can't take the one you're on right now. Sometimes they're taken off the market: sometimes you become sick for some other reason and then can't take them, and sometimes you just can't - they're too expensive, or they start hurting you.

[shirl]

I hope you are feeling better.

kevin wrote:

<quoted text>
I have been taking depakote er for 15 years everyday i feel deprssed and think of killing myself multiple times a day i used to be an artist but now i seem to have no imagination or ability to want to live.

[Laura]

kevin wrote:

<quoted text>
I have been taking depakote er for 15 years everyday i feel deprssed and think of killing myself multiple times a day i used to be an artist but now i seem to have no imagination or ability to want to live.

God Kevin, I know how you feel. I was on the generic version for 3 weeks and I feel horrible! I cry, I think bad thoughts, and felt like leaving my husband and I haven't driven in a while and I lie to not make plans with friends. I'm really worried. Are you going better and if so, what are you changing to imrove your mood or state of mind?

[Laura]

I'm having a tough time. My story is that I was put on this approx. 13 years ago, along with Konopin and atenelol. I take depakote 125 @ 8a.m., noon, and 5p.m. then I take the 250 @ 10pm. I take my atenelol at 8am, the the Klonopin is down to .75mgs. The atenelol is .25 mgs. I began taking this because I was crying and had racing thoughts. Once put on these drug, I could not leave my home. I did so for medical appointments only. I started to feel better, then I built a home with my husband, he was diagnosed with cancer a year later and and had surgery. At that time, my neurogist sexually molested me. I went to court to have him lose his right to practice, my husand is now dealing with his 3rd bought of cancer. I am losing my mind with stress and recetly was given the generic for Depakote...Please do not take this drug! I have had break through bleeding, abdominal pain, and I am so tired I cannot stand or drive. I take a shower quickly and le on the sofa with my dog. I'm scared and haven't taken the DRUG today. I wil go back to the regular one tomorrow...Please consult with your doctor before you take this drug and be aware that the generic can cause people terrible harm. God help us all on this.

[Howell-Detroit]

Depakote shrinks the testicles at higher doses, and already turns the feces green at normal dosages. Depakote is not good. If it stops deadly seizure, then maybe a person might see themselves considering it. Not me: I would rather die than have my testicles shrink even the slightest.

[Sara]

I've been on valproic acid for 10 months, and am finally starting to come off of it. It's been an absolutely horrible drug for me. I'm not a person who'd want to kill herself, but the feelings I've had with it have made it seem like the only option. Overwhelming agitation, panic, anxiety, sadness, even despair, feeling so terrible that I can't get out of bed until the afternoon, not being able to enjoy anything. The only thing that kept me from the brink of suicide was a drug called Seroquel.

My doctor kept telling me that valproic acid couldn't cause or worsen depression - you see, I have bipolar disorder, and they're always ready to say that what you're feeling is because of your own depression, not a drug effect. I was on another drug that made me feel awful and restless inside all day so it was like getting through the day was torture. A nurse finally figured out what was wrong and I was weaned off of it. Lots of drugs have made me feel crappy, or not helped at all, and they all have risks. For months I thought that valproic acid was the problem, and I finally reached a breaking point a week and a half ago and demanded to be taken of of it. My theory was confirmed; I only take it at night now, not morning and night, and I feel horrible and have images of jumping out my window for an hour or two after the night time dose, but after I sleep it off I have a pretty decent day. In a few days I won't have to take it at night anymore. I've found other drugs that work for me, thankfully.

What's scary is that I could have killed myself and it would have been blamed on my disorder, not the drug... A needless death, by a person who never had a death wish. I sought help, but they didn't understand what was happening. I went to a place called a Crisis Stabilization Unit, where they give you a place to sleep, food to eat, a quiet environment, and some counselling if you want it. It's a great idea if you're not having a freak-out from your medicine. I was so freaked out that the only thing I could do to survive was to endlessly play solitaire - quickly, desperately - and then one evening I was crying uncontrollably on the stairs, they said I couldn't cry because it would disturb the other people there, and they called the psychiatrist on duty, and that was how I got some Seroquel and was saved. They thought the Seroquel was just to "help me sleep". I don't think they had any idea what was truly happening.

[Dave C]

Man oh man....I totally feel everybody's pain! I am constantly struggling with the side effects of the drug Depakote...It makes me sad to read all these postings, I feel so lost! I have friends that tell me, there is nothing wrong with you or that being bi-polar is a myth. And then my immediate family insist I have serious issues. I feel nobody knows myself better than me!! So now here I am 3 years of Depakote 1500 mgs a day... a miss a couple doses purposely because I hate taking it, and sometimes I go to bed with too much alcohol in my system that it scares me to take it! 3 days without it now and I tremor in my hands, have serious night sweats, major head aches, a feeling of emptiness, I miss my natural feelings and now feel manipulated by the drug. I feel I will never be the same again.

[Jim]

Dave -- If you are drinking alcohol and taking Depakote, you are headed for big problems. Lay off the alcohol. If you are taking any kind of drugs, alcohol only makes it worse.

[Kelsey]

I've been taking depakote ER for 3 years, 2 and 1/2 of those three years I have had depression, anxiouty, and a tremor. I take Depakote for Migraines, and was prescribed them at the age of 15, and have had severe depression, anxiouty, and have attempted suicide twice. My doctors swiched my anti-depression meds. I never thought it could be the Depakote.