Does anyone take Depakote for depresssion?

Question

My dr prescribed this for me for depression. She didn't say anyting about me being bipolar. The dosage is 175mg i think or somewhere around that. I'm almost 18 and my mom doesn't want me to take it because of the harmful side effects. Does anyone have any information on the liver disease, pancreitis, or loss of blood platelets? and do you have to drink lots of water with it? also like what are the chances for these side effects and what is your expirience with taking it?

Answer 1

I'm being treated for Bipolar II and Borderline personality disorder, where the depakote surpreses the manic episodes and I'll be starting Wellbutrin soon to eleviate some of the depression I've experienced.

I am currently on 1000mg of Depakote and I am doing fine. I was up to 2000mg at one point and never experienced any side effects that wern't bearable.

Depekote is an anticonvulsant, used to treat people who are epileptic or as an mood stabilizer for those who experience manic episodes in a number of different disorders, primaryly Bipoler and Borderline Personality Disorder. While Depakote manages the mood swings, it is not theraputically proven to reduce depression. Typically, a mood stabilizer is used as an adjunct treatment, where after you reach a theraputic level, you can attach a complimenting antidepressant or other mood stabilizers.

I did a lot of research on Valporates once my Dr. prescribed them for me. I then approached my Dr. with concerns regarding the typical side effects;

You'll get fat.
You'll go bald, or your hair will thin or change in some way.
You'll always have heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain or similar stomach complaints.
You'll be tired all the time.
Your hearing won't be as good as it used to be.
You'll have the shakes a lot. Gee, and this is an anticonvulsant?
Your liver will hate you.
You just won't feel that sexual any more. As if all the the above weren't enough to turn you off, valproates and other anticonvulsants

After discussing these with my Dr. she assured me that out of the above mentioned side effects, only the weight gain and stomach problems can occur. As per the hair loss, she mentioned that this occurs for women, but only a small %.

You can avoid the stomach problems by asking your Dr. for the ER (Extended release) tabs. As per the weight gain, there's nothing you can do, other than work out and eat healthy.

As per the liver problems, Depakote does matabolise heavily in your liver. Therefore, your Dr. will have to monitor your blood levels regularly (usually weekly until you reach the theraputic levels, then once a month afterwards). Unless you're not being monitored, you have nothing to worry about as far as having liver problems over the long term.

Understanding the above, you absolutely cannot drink while taking Depakote. The results can be fatal, yes it can kill you! You shouldn't be drinking while taking psychotropic medication anyway, especially with valporates.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) has been around for a very long time. So it's not like you're taking an experimental drug or something that has a high risk of giving you liver problems. If it did, the FDA would have yanked it off the shelf. The key is that when you're on Depakote, you must be monitored and you'll be fine.

Before I started taking Depakote, my Dr. discussed a dosage schedule and she explained that we can avoid the side effects by increasing the dosage slowely, while monitoring my blood levels.

Since then, I have not experienced any of the above side effects (some minor weight gain and minimal stomach problems) and the medicine works quite well for me. I've tried other anticonvulsants, such as Trileptal and Lamictal. I've experienced the best results from Depakote.

Different people react to meds differently, but you should discuss your concerns and reactions to meds as frequently as you can with your Dr. That's what they are there for.

Answer 2

Depakote does not have a lot of side effects except weight gain. Everyone that I know that takes it is Bipolar and that was how they determined that I was Bipolar when I was hospitalized. They had tried everything and the only thing that worked was Depakote. It didn't work on my depression at all so I told my doctor and he put me on something else. You should drink a lot of water anyways. As far as all of these side effects where did you hear all of that from. I never had problems with side effects it just didn't work on me. Good Luck

Answer 3

My husband takes Depakote for his depression. He is not bi-polar either. Depakote has been around a very long time and other than an occasional allergic reaction (the person whose hair fell out) it is a relatively safe medication. The most common side effect of Depakote is weight gain and a "foggy brain" (meaning it can make it harder to concentrate until you get used to it). All medications can have potential bad side effects, just read all the warnings on Tylenol. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and make sure you get your levels tested regularly.

Answer 4

That crap made my hair fall out by the hand fulls. Most of the time that medicines side effects are worse than the problem you are taking them for. Good luck. Google Depakote and read the info on it. Write down any changes you are having while on the medicine and take it with you next time you see your doctor. Follow the instructions on the bottle exactly.

Answer 5

Your frame will reject such a lot of it. If you do it too more often than not you're going to get in poor health, This cure can motive poisonous stages within the blood circulate. I took this drug for many years in my lifestyles. It move to a factor that my frame would not paintings correct. So it is a drug to be wary approximately. If you think you are having problems with it, and it hasn't been to your process too lengthy , You can vomit a few of it again up and from your process. Call your dr to discover out what you must do. and ask him what can occur at stages that top , too rapid within the blood circulate. You might discover your urge for food is suppressed or you'll be able to get relatively worn out and heavy for a even as. Sometimes the results do not hit your instantly, however can take a couple of days later after you have taken a couple of extra steady doses of it.

Answer 6

Go to the website "WEBMD" it should give you the information you need.

Answer 7

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