Depakote

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Depakote Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium

Valproate (VPA) and its valproic acid, sodium valproate, and valproate semisodium forms are medications primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder and prevent migraine headaches.[2] They are useful for the prevention of seizures in those with absence seizures, partial seizures, and generalized seizures.[2] They can be given intravenously or by mouth, and the tablet forms exist in both long- and short-acting formulations.[2] Common sid...

Depakote ER Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium

Valproate (VPA) and its valproic acid, sodium valproate, and valproate semisodium forms are medications primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder and prevent migraine headaches.[2] They are useful for the prevention of seizures in those with absence seizures, partial seizures, and generalized seizures.[2] They can be given intravenously or by mouth, and the tablet forms exist in both long- and short-acting formulations.[2] Common sid...

I have been on depakote for 5 years. 3 months ago I got a small rash and went to the Dr. She treated with hydroxizine with no success for 2 months then referred me to a dermapathologist. The dermapathologist looked at it and said it was stevens Johnson syndrome and to stop the depakote which I did. He gave me a shot of kenalog, singulair, and topical steroids. As of yesterday the rash is still spreadi g out of control. Any ideas? I'm desperate, tried every OTC potion cream and pull. ## How long ago did you receive the shot? The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, and drowsiness. Are you on any other medications? Has there been any change? What other medications have you tried? Have you gotten a second opinion?

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is 1500 mg too much to take. 500mg tid?? ## what are you takeing for bi-polar or seziure? ## I am taking it for bi-polar disorder ## no, but you will need to take blood test's to check your level ## I was on 3200 for BPD, with no probs. I only had my blood checked once; however I could never tell a difference!!! ## I AM GOING TO HAVE LEVELS CHECK AT THE END OF THE MONTH WHICH WOULD BE 2 WK ON NEW DOSE CANT REALLY SEE ANY BIG CHANGE. MY HAVE TO ASK FOR SOMETHING ELSE??? ## does anyone know if its ok to take half of a depakote ( cut a 500 mg ) because of certain adverse effects, or can it have a negative effect ## If taking for BiPolar condition, dosages may depend on what other medications are being taken for BiPolar and what dosages give you the appropriate level. A level that is to...

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I'm used to my son taking 500mg of depakote, a large, grey, oval pill. Now he's taking a larger white oval pill with M 473 on one side. What is that? ## I located a match for M 473 white oval pill it's Divalproex sodium ER 500 mg, which is used to help with certain seizures as well as epilepsy. To learn more about this drug click on the link below... Do you have any more questions or information to add? Please post back if you do. ## I take this. It is Divalproex ER 500mg, but it can also be used for mood stabilization and bi-polar disorder.

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I'm 21 and have been taking 500mg (morning) / 1000mg (evening) of Depakote ER. I was not in range so my doctor recently increased me to 1000mg/1000mg. Now I have severe gas and abdominal pain. I've read in previous posts that this side effect is usually transient. I was wondering if there is anything special I can do in my diet and or lifestyle to reduce the pain? ## Hello, Gabe! How are you? Have things improved, at all? Not really a lot you can do, side effects are going to happen, if they're going to happen. However, your doctor may approve your taking something to alleviate the gas. Other side effects may possibly include nausea, dizziness, headache and weight gain. Is there anything else I can help with?

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I have reduced depakote 500mg to 250mg 2 weeks ago. I have schizoaffective disorder. But not bipolar. I tought I d onot need to have this medication. But now since it is reduced I have no motivation, I have irritation and depressed mood. Shall I continue this medication? I take also Zyprexa 25mg and respiridol 5mg. But I have now oculogyric crisis from the zyprexa. My Doctor prescribed me cogetin as needed. It seems to help for that crisis. But the Depakote decrease make me miserable. Does it go away? ## I have reduced depakote 500mg to 250mg 2 weeks ago. I have schizoaffective disorder. But not bipolar. I tought I d onot need to have this medication. But now since it is reduced I have no motivation, I have irritation and depressed mood. Shall I continue this medication? I take also Zyp...

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My mother has been on depakote 500mg tablet (1 every night) and quitipin 50mg ( 1 every nght) for 2 years now. She is constantly worried though not panicked. She talks to her self sometimes more than other times and hears voices constantly. Most of the time she is upset with the voices and other times she is peaceful with them. What are these medications for and how do they work in tandem with each other. Also any idea what it is my mother is suffering from, cause no one tells me. They just say she has a chemical imbalance and nothing more. Schezophrenia is taboo in India so no one tells me whats going on with her. PLease help me ## WHAT IS QUITPIN PRESCRIBED FOR ## there is a reason for not telling u the cause.may b ur mother is bn detected wid brain atrophy..which cannot b cured...m b...

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Ive been on depakote 125mg for a week. Ive had what feels like a severe panic attack for almost that whole week. I was just wondering, ive only been on it a week would it be ok to just stop, because i cant function like this. Its awful, and i never had this problem before taking this drug. ## Hello, Lindsay! How are you? Anxiety can be a side effect of Depakote and most other similar medications. You may also experience dizziness, blurry vision, dry mouth and indigestion. However, these side effects usually start to taper off after about 3 to 4 weeks, once your body gets used to the medication. Have you consulted your doctor? They might be able to prescribe something temporarily to help with the anxiety. ## I have been taking divalproex sod er, twice a day 250mg, for 4 weeks. And I noti...

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Have reduced Depakote, as it gave me painful sensation of numbness and tingling, still have this 8days after not having any. Other reason for not wishing to continue this regime was severe fatigue, used to run regularly, could only manage a few yards, every step was an effort. Also No motivation, strange feelings of not being myself, irritability, which was horrid as I am normally very gentle ,kind person, do not ever want to go through this withdrawal again felt horrid for weeks, Practiced EFT and Yoga ,also mindfulness to ease chemical symptoms, heard online, that this was once used as an industrial solvent. Psychiatrists, give too high a dose of reducing at 250mg. Research suggests that you must only reduce 10% a month,especially if you have been on drug for more thaN A FEW MONTHS,Ho...

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I have been diagnosed with epilepsy/complex partial seizures since 1981. I've been taking Depakote (1000 mg) for at least 15 years. It has caused weight gain always, my neuro added Zonegran to my cocktail to counteract this but now I'm starting to experience tremors and cognitive thinking is slowing down. My neuro told me today that most likely this is due to Depakote. I am hesitant to come off it because it covers my seizures so well and offers a mood stabilizer for my PTSD. Has anyone experienced these side effects - my neuro expects they will get worse as I get older - and I'm curious what others have moved to as an alternative. I've tried so many meds, it's always the side effects that kill me. ## Unfortunately, these issues have been known to occur with all of t...

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My husband just started on Depakote they upped him to 2000mg a day all in one dosage at bed time. He is having many problems with siezures wanting to start. He sees the light effect,feels dizzy, and is having headaches along with some vision problems. Is this normal when starting on Depakote. He has had his blood tested and they upped it to 2000 mg. recently.He had three episodes today. What do we do? ## Here's the monograph with more information: It sounds like he may be suffering from both normal and unusual side effects, he really needs to talk to his doctor and explain them all, they may need to lower his dosage or try a different medication.

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So I've been on Depakote ER 500mg for 3 months now.(sorry if this is tmi) I've always had regular menstrual cycles but since I have started I didn't have one for two months then had a terrible painful one, hair loss, weight gain... just every terrible side effect I am on it for bipolar not for seizures and I want to get pregnant haven't been using protection since I've been on this and ive had two pregnancies before the meds easily, so I'm wondering how long it'll take after I taper myself off to be able to get back into a normal cycle and feel normal again any personal expierences are welcomed too. ## The FDA lists Depakote as being in pregnancy category D, meaning that there is definitive evidence of fetal risk, if women were taking it while pregnant. Thus,...

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19 years ago I began taking pills for Bi-Polar. After trying different pills on trial basis for 2 yrs we finally found a combination that works for me and that is Depakote and Prozac. I have found out that I can take generic Prozac but I can not take generic Depakote nor can I take Depakote with out the ER - I must have the real Depakote ER. I see the pill as large oval and gray in color. Because most medical insurances including Medicare and Medicaid will not automatically pay for the real thing so I have to get my Depakote ER approved every two months through Medicaid. For it, it is worth it. I have found that every 4 or 5 years I have to stopped the Depakote ER for about 2 years and then I go back on it again., When my brain won't close down day or night (even though I am on Depa...

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What are the side effects of a combination of all three medicines for a seizure disorder? Have been on the Depakote and Topamax for years with the Kepra only recently added for partial seizures. I noticed that my hair is now thinning dramatically and I'm now suffering from insomnia! I'm thinking it may have something to do with the addition of the Kepra. Am I correct? Is there a solution for this problem? Has anyone else ever come across this problem or complaint? I will, of course, consult my neurologist before doing anything. Just wanted to know what you thoughts. ## The basic side effect profile remains the same, and the FDA lists it as including things like nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, sedation, mood changes, weight changes, and the hair loss that you mentioned, however, t...

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I have been on depakote er 500 mg per day for 4 years. Meds weren't working so well anymore, so pdoc added another 250 mg at bedtime. I'm on day 3, and feel jittery and spacey. How long will this last, and is it normal? ## Hello, Donna! How are you? Yes, it is normal to experience side effects, again, any time your dosage is raised. The FDA lists others for this medication as possibly including nausea, diarrhea, depersonalization, loss of appetite and runny nose. It may take several weeks for them to taper off and eventually go away. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Well I'm on day 4 now and the effects have started tapering off. It mostly comes in waves of feeling "high" and spacey. The worst times is when I first wake up in the morning. I have a hard time...

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My husband has Alzheimers and became combative at the Memory Care Facility where he lives. They sent him to the hospital which sent him spiraling down to probably late stage ALZ now. They kept him on lots of haldol for about 2 weeks. He couldn't walk anymore, didn't talk, couldn't feed himself and rarely opened his eyes. After trying other meds, they put him on Depakote. He remained there for another 2 weeks weaning off the Haldol and then went back to the facility. He was still in withdrawal and it took another month to get it all out of his system. But as soon as he returned they put him on Depakote only. 1000mg at night, now changed to 250 in the morning and 1000 at night. He is now awake, talking and no longer combative. He just gets agitated when they need to change his...

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My daughters Dr. put her on depakote and it made her very mean and she wanted to jump on me and her sister. She is not a violent person. I called 911 and held her down till help got her. The police took her to jail even after I begged them to take her to the hospital and it was caused by a reaction from a new med her Dr. put her on. Now she has a domestic violence charge and had to stay in jail overnight and now has to be on probation, go to anger management classes and pay court costs. Is there anyway to get these things off her record? She doesn't even remember what happened. I did not press charges and neither did her sister. She also has a 2 y/o daughter and is a very good mother. She, her sister and her daughter live with me. I'm having to pay the court costs, the anger man...

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I've been taking Depakote for 11 years and went off of it for 3 months. That was not good. Been back on for 2 months. I just don't feel right. Still side effects of headaches, nervous and some anxiety and aches. Could it be that it stopped working? Or something else? Thanks. ## Were you taking it as a mood stabilizer due to being bipolar or did you use it as anti-convulsant? Did you taper off when you stopped or did you just go cold turkey? It could be that you're brain had been "rewiring" itself so to speak, and now it's back in the process of changing again. So it might just be something that will pass as your brain readjusts to it. ## It’s for anxiety and mania. But it’s been like 3 months. It’s working for the worst but I’m just off. M...

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Hi. I've currently stopped taking Depakote and I was wondering how long does it take for the side effects to go away mainly the eye floaters. ## Hello, ChickenMan! How are you? Are you sure they were due to the Depakote? Has this been confirmed by your doctor? It's not a side effect that's commonly reported by people taking it and, if it did cause them, it could be difficult to know how long it will take for them to clear up. How long have you been off of it? What are you taking instead?

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