Depakote

I began Depakote @ 2000mg a day. Within 3 months I went from 175lbs to 225lbs. Over the years I have developed chronic diahrea and hand tremors. The hand tremors have gotten progressively worse throughout the years. I tolerate the side effects because the Depakote contols my seizures etremely well, where several medications before did not. For me it was a question of what is worse the side effects or the seizures...I chose the side effects. Over the last several months however I have a new side effect of excessive sleep. This has caused huge problems at work and at home and will now have to consider whether another medication choice might be best, but I fear the seizures returning.

excessive weight gain    excessive facial tremors    hands shaking and jerky hand gestures   lack of motivation-zombie-like at times    way too much sleep (14 to16 hours plus 4 to6 days a week

My pdoc keeps uping the depakote level and I continue getting worse physically and emotionally. He tells me to go to the medical doctor and she blames everything on depakote; he says no way. I also take geodon. When I started taking these meds, I was very manic. Now, I don't even have the deire to take a shower or the stamina to accomplish it. I feel like I have been poisoned. The depression gets progressively worse. HELP!!!

Bad!!!! Very weak physically, pain in joints, very depressed, brain fog, over sleeping, tremendous weight gain, loss of interest in life.

Enlarged Liver Fatty Liver

Impaired work ability, mood swings, mental disorder, weight loss probabily because my while family has been goung through stuff I would wish on one-one. My Mon just got out of another coma recently and I thought with all my heart that this depakote really messed with my mind it's l;ike the lady's at the hospital were joking and saying she was in postmortum. I don't know if I should continue taking this medicine since it has done nothing for me

Not sure if it is my Wellbutrin or Depakote.  I have alot of mania going on.

I could not stay awake and had many episodes of severe nausa and vomiting. I could not walk at times and have noticed twitching in my hands. I found out that it was most likely from high amonia levels in my system. but there not really sure. As soon as i reported vomiting they took me off slowly and put me on trileptal (Sp?) I have been on a reduced depakote and trileptal for 3 days now and have noticed a HUGE difference. The long term side effect are also not worth it to me! liver failure, seizures... So very glad that they took me off it!

You can't stop giving someone this medication without gradualy reducing the dose because it can be fatal to just stop. It can also give a person seziures for the rest of their life even if they never had them before. I wish that some one had told you this or i hope that they did. because i just notice that you posted this in august :( I'm currently coming off this med and they have me taking a lower dose for ten days then even lower for ten more days before taking me off completely. hope all is well!

I had nearly daily headaches and migraines several times a month. I was put on low-dose Depakote, only 250 mg a day, but I felt depressed and irritable and just emotional in general. The medication completely cured my headaches and migraines, but it just wasn't worth the way I felt emotionally.

I have noticed the increase of hand trembling and blurred vision, while taking depakote. It has me a little worried as I used to be a pretty stable wirter, now my writing is barely legible. I have also found my moods have not changed that much to the good. I also take lorazepam once in great while if I feel an anxiety attack coming on. That seems to work fine. Is there another drug I can suggest to my doctor other than depakote for the same result?

My mother, while in a nursing home, was given Depakote without my knowledge. She is not bi-polar, has never had convulsions or seizures and does not suffer from migranes or epilepsy. They diagnosed her as bi-polar, but several people have stated it is common for nursing homes to administer drugs to keep patients sedated. She is at home now and experiencing excruiating muscle cramps and spasms in her legs, can barely communicate at times and can hardly keep her eyes open. I stopped giving it to her 3 days ago. Her family doctor prescribed pain medication, but it doesn't work.