side effects

[jaquaila]

lej wrote:

I have been on Depakote 750 mg for over two years. I have experienced very disturbing dreams, hot sweats, so now i take the smaller dose 250g at night and the dreams have stopped, I didnt know that this is a major side effect (along with all the others) has anyone come off this drug? What side effects did you experience?

my son is 6 nd he also takes 750mg for almost a year.... I thought everything was OK but he also have like bad dreams like four times a day nd its like he sleep walks and everything.... now he sucks his bottom lip because he scared of everything now..

[lvdb]

Gina wrote:

I have been on Depakote for over 3 yrs. now and have recently tried to get off Depakote and am having lots of withdrawal symptoms (severe dizziness, racing thoughts, anxiety, feeling like was going to pass out, racing heart, and fluctuations in my blood pressure and just plain didn't feel good!) All of these symptoms just happened yesterday as I had missed one dose the night before. I've called my Dr. today to get a lower dose so I can taper off more slowly. I quit taking Paxil (1) month ago and was taking Cymbalta when getting off Paxil. I stopped taking Cymbalta cold turkey 2 wks. ago so not sure if some of theses symptoms are related to them but i would think they would be out of my system by now? I haven't heard out there if anyone else has ever been addicted or built up a tolerance to Depakote but if anyone has had any of these withdrawal symptoms or (other ones) from discontinuing Depakote please let me know because I think it is addicting too!

I wonder if you people would put corn syrup in your gas tank! Thats how much sense it is to put these DRUGS made by MAN in your bodies! Try eating leafy greens that are full of B-
Vitamins that would help your nervous systems and brain. Or take B-5 Pantothenic acid which is in our grains and many other foods but we use it up with stress. I took depakote many years ago when I still trusted Doctors but it made me suicidal and destroyed my pancrease and hurt my heart and liver. Now I have a weird sort of diabetes and have severe pancretitis every so often but since I went to Naturopaths and quit ALL my medications, started eating only what God made on this planet (plus some herbs and vitamins-which are supposed to be in our bodies) I'm doing much better. Most drs have monetary interests in pharmacuticals so that's all they know about or WANT to prescribe--greedy pill pushers-that only damage our bodies. People--look to natural things to help your bodies--you won't regret it.

[Upper Cervical Care]

Harold wrote:

My wife began taking Depakote 2 years ago. My wife had an IQ of 136. The initial effect was good. Her mood swings were calmed and she was stable.
After a short time I began to notice a small change in her mental ability and slight weakness. By the end of the first year her mental ability had decreased significantly and her stamina had decreased significantly also. Her Doctor and her Psychiatrist who had known her for only a few months did not recognize her decrease in mental ability and only prescribed exercise to build up her stamina.
During her second year of being on Depakote her condition began to drop rapidly to the extent that I had to help her with almost everything. When we went out I would have to tell her to turn around to sit down in a chair and then move the chair where it needed to be.
I suggested taking her off of Depakote and switching to another medication. I encountered resistance from my wife as she did not realize what was happening and was afraid of changing medications. She stated that she was comfortable now and did not want to have to go thru the discomfort of changing medications. As she did not wish to change and the symptoms were not a listed side effect of Depakote, the Psychiatrist agreed with her and continued the Depakote.
Last month she went down rapidly. I took her to a Neurologist and he scheduled several MRI's to be taken 2 weeks later. After taking the MRI's within 3 days time she could not walk, could not even turn over on her side in bed, she had to sleep on her back, could not remember what day it was, could not control her bowels or bladder. I took her to the Hospital where she was admitted by the Neurologist. After 3 days of testing he stated that he could find no biological problems and brought in a Psychiatrist that he knew well.
After reviewing the tests that had been taken the Psychiatrist suggested taking her off of Depakote and starting her on Lamactal. He also suggested that she be admitted to a mental ward to monitor the medication change. He went ahead and started her on 25 mg of Lamactal that day. The next Day the change was remarkable, She knew what day it was, she had control of her bodily functions, and could even roll over on her side to sleep. She still could not sit or walk, but by the second day if someone helped her to sit up, she could then sit unassisted. If someone got her on her feet and held her up then she could walk a few steps.
At my request, he cancelled moving her to a mental ward and allowed me to bring her home and allowed me to monitor the medication change. The mental ward would not have been able to give her the individual attention that she required.
She has been out of the hospital for two weeks now and can walk short distances unassisted. Her Lamactal is now at 50 mg and the Depakote has been reduced from 1000 mg down to 500 mg. Her mental ability has increase slightly also but she has a very long way to go.
I researched the listed side effects of Depakote and could not find any indications of this type of side effects. Is it possible that the company wanted to hide this side affect? Do you know of any other cases like my wife's?
I also researched the drug interaction between Lamactal and Depakote. I found a listed interaction that stated that Lamactal reduced the effects of Depakote. I feel that this is the cause of the change in the first few days she started on the Lamactal. This would also account for the fact that the Depakote was not reduced for over a week after starting her on Lamactal.

You need to look up upper cervical care.com this saved my life read the testamonals, It will save her!!!!

[Upper Cervical Care]

Look up uppercervicalcare.com this will save her look into it the testomonials and such!!!! I had simuliar problems and my life is back to normal!!!! Please please please look into it!! I know how your feeling and this is so amazing!!!!
I beg you to take her!!!

[Alex]

I took Depakote ER 500mg for about 5 or 6 months for migraine prevention. While it helped reduced the number of migraines, my brain was always in a fog and I was in a constant state of apathy/depression. The depression got so bad that I was committed to a psych ward for severe depression/suicidal thoughts. Not once did anyone consider that the Depakote was the cause, even though I've never had depression in my life before this time. But I finally connected the dots after I got sent home from the psych hospital.

I quit taking Depakote about 4 or 5 days ago and I felt wonderful for the first 2 days, I felt more clear headed than I had been in ages. But on the 3rd day the withdrawal symptoms began to appear. Severe migraine that will not go away despite taking migraine medications, chills, hot flashes, body aches, anxiety, cold sweats, insomnia, irritability. Its terrible, but I know going back on the Depakote will only make things worse. Does anyone know how long withdrawal symptoms usually last?

[Jade]

Drug side effects can really be distressing, frustrating and even life-threatening. As for antidepressants like Paxil, check out http://www.paxilbirthdefectlaw.com to find various information of Paxil drug description, Paxil side effects, Paxil patients and Paxil lawsuits. Its harmful side effects include worsened depression characterized by hallucinations, sleeping disorders, psychosis, atypical mood shifts and suicide attempts among others.

[Shelly Bilyk]

Andy wrote:

I appreciate your questions and responses to Depakote side effects and symptoms. I have recently been decreasing my Depakote slowly. I have been taking Depakote for over ten years for Bipolar Disorder - manic/rapid cycler. As a result of taking the medication, and years of Cognitive Behavioral Restructuring, I was able to acquire a Bachelor's and Master's Degree. However, I also needed to make a decision to live with the side effects of Depakote. My personal effects were: cognitive blocking, neusea, lethargy, anhedonia and memory loss - which made it extremely difficult for studies. I had tried several different meds (lithium, Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Tegretol) but Depakote worked best for my symptoms. It has been over five years since graduating and I began a relationship and wondered why I didn't feel enhanced emotions that go along with 'falling in love'. One day I took a huge risk and decreased my medication by 500mg (I was taking 750 mg/day). After a week, I felt more energy, am more creative and my memory is much better. I also noticed an increase in anxiety. I have been on 250 mg of the Depakote now and noticed that I have settled down again. I am planning on discontinuing the medication totally within the next two weeks. I am relying on the fact that I know my body and am able to use the relaxation skills, such as deep breathing and other tools I learned in counseling many years ago. I know my body is adjusting to an increase in the neurons in my brain. I believe it is very important for any person who is taking Depakote for a mood disorder to realize how their body physiologically reacts when their mood shifts, uses their mood specific coping skills such as positive reinforcement, behavioral tools such as doing a calm activity when an elavation in mood appears or doing physical activity and socializing if feelings of depression begin. It's important to understand the reason for the underlying psychological and social issues that predominate a mood disorder and recognize that seasonal changes will also impact a mood. I have been taking the B Complex vitamins in addition to a multi-vitamin and Evening Primrose to help stabalize my emotions, exercise, stay away from alcohol and caffeine and drink plenty of water. I do not promote any other mood stabalizing health remedies such as St. John's Wort or Black Cohosh - my personal preference. Springtime will be a test for me and I will keep the 250 mg on hand if I need to stabalize the mood for three weeks. Thanx again for sharing. I hope this helps someone. Andy

I have been on depakote for 14years, I am trying to detox it out of my body. let me tell you how painful it is,I've been sick like you would not believe, my skin feels like it is on fire!! Rash throwing up, dizzy,feel horrible!! my doctors dont even know that I have stop this weight gaining, tummy messed up, medication!! I feel like crap, looking forward to feeling alive again. wish me luck, I am gonna need it!

[Shelly Bilyk]

I have been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder,15 years. I have been on all kinds of meds. I recently stopped taking trazadone, klonopin,& depakote. My body went thru hell, getting off those medications. I now am starting to stop the depakote all together, my body feels like I am going to die!! The rash, is the worst, it feels like my skin is on fire!! I wish it would stop. Pray for my recovery from this horrible drug!!

[Ralph Pet]

I had brain surgery. I had been taking Depakote for 11 years. Gained weight , had no major liver damage. Problem after getting off of Depakote was loss of sleep. Starting to sleep only two to three hours a night. Got onto valium which has helped me regain my sleep. I also added Depakote again, and will be reducing it again. Hopefully Iw ill sleep swell after getting off of it this time.

[marissa]

I've been on Depakote for more than half my life. I am 22 and started taking it when I was 9, for Epilepsy. I have been completely off of the medication for three months now, and let me tell you, the past 9 months (withdrawal to now) has been a living hell. Each time I had a new level decrease (decreased by one pill each month), I would have severe withdrawal symptoms for at least 2 weeks from the decrease day. I always decreased the dose on the same day each month. My withdrawal effects included severe bipolar/depressive swings, headaches, nausea, profuse sweating,intense and sporadic outbursts of anger, sadness, and hopelessness and inability to hold my tongue about anything, lethargy, and extremely frequent panic and anxiety attacks.

Now I am off the medication, and still have this overwhelming, constant looming anxiety and depression. I saw my doctor the other day and he said that the Depakote could've been "masking" my pre-existing anxiety disorder.

[Nicole]

Hi, i have been taking depakote er 500mg for a year for bipolar disorder. Since taking the medication i have become forgetful, i am extremely tired, and i have no desire to do anything. Two days ago against my doctors wishes i stopped taking it. This is the second day i have benn without the depakote and i feel horrible! I am nauseas, dizzy, and my whole body aches! I hope it goes away soon, because i feel like starting it again so i feel better!

[Marilyn UK]

Nicole wrote:

Hi, i have been taking depakote er 500mg for a year for bipolar disorder. Since taking the medication i have become forgetful, i am extremely tired, and i have no desire to do anything. Two days ago against my doctors wishes i stopped taking it. This is the second day i have benn without the depakote and i feel horrible! I am nauseas, dizzy, and my whole body aches! I hope it goes away soon, because i feel like starting it again so i feel better!

Hello Nicole. I hope that since you posted your comment that you are on an even keel and coping with your bi polar. My daughter is in a similar position, we are reducing Depakote as it made her sleep for 12 - 14 hours a day,made her very lethargic and made her feel as though she was in a fog. Her doctor did not seem to accept these symptoms a part of taking tablets, but I feel that we are wiser now. How is your bi-polar now? Regards and Good Luck to you.

[Ingrid]

There are indeed some people who have had several negative experiences with Depakote. However, it is important to take the medication so as to prevent seizures. Although it is important to be careful when taking it because it has severe side effects. http://www.zoloftlawsuithelpcenter.com