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feelgood
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 56
Location: Calabasas
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
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Depakote...anyone On It
Posted: 02-05-05 14:36pm
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Does anyone have any bad side effects from
depakote?...I've been on ever med and they
all work for a little while and then they
don't work.....My doc wants to switch me
from gabitril to depakote and I would like
to hear from someone who's on it or has
taken it before and what you think about
it....I know everyone reacts differant,
but it will still help me...........Thx
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happiness
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 21
Location: America
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Posted: 02-05-05 14:50pm
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No my kids have taken this my older one is
doing well on it
right now. He takes 1000mg of er right
now for things
other than seizures. He has mainly the
side effect that
sometimes he needs more sleep.
Happiness
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feelgood
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 56
Location: Calabasas
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
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Posted: 02-05-05 20:57pm
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Thx happiness....How long has he been
taking depakote and what does er mean in
your 1st reply to me??
....
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kayakmom
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 252
Location: Conn
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
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Posted: 02-06-05 07:29am
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Some do ok on depakote and it really
helps. My son had rages on it, gained a
lot of weight and then had bouts of
pancreatitis. Severe, periodic vomiting.
For him it was not a great medication.
Hope you find the best med to work for
you! Everyone is so individual with these
meds!
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blackcat521
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Location: Oklahoma
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Posted: 02-06-05 10:07am
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When I was first diagnosed, which was just
a couple of weeks ago, my doctor placed me
on depakote. I was only on it a week.
When I went in for my check up, he
questioned me about wanting to have
children, since I am of the child bearing
age. I told him my husband and I weren't
sure as of yet, but that the doctor's
weren't even sure I could have them. He
stated he wanted to get my off depakote
immediately since it could cause major
birth defects in a baby if I were to get
pregnant. But I was taking 1000 mg and
had no side effects while I was on it.
Not much help I know, but hope you have no
problems with it.
Blackcat
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happiness
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Feb 2005
Posts: 21
Location: America
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Posted: 02-06-05 10:29am
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Hi have two that have taken it for
migraines and help with
depression. One has taken for 4 years
the other has
taken about 15 months.
The er stands for extended release.
Happiness
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mrock0405
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 5
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Depakote
Posted: 02-21-05 16:28pm
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I wouldn't recommend this drug to anyone.
I've been on about 5 or 6 different meds
and this one was the worst. I gained 30
pounds, lost a ton of hair and I got some
acne. These are terrible side effects,
especially for a girl. It didn't really
help my seizures so I went off of it.
After switching to a different medecine
which was/is lamictal, I lost all of the
weight plus a little bit extra. Since it
only took about 4 months to lose all the
weight, people were sort of suspicious as
to how I was losing weight so quickly.
Anyway, I don't recommend depakote. It
also had me very depressed.
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SleepyJen
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 41
Location: NYC
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Posted: 02-24-05 00:19am
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I've been on depakote for pretty much 10
years off and on and in combo with other
meds. I hate the side effects, but it's
the only one that continues to work. For
me depakote has caused a lot of weight
gain and hair loss. The hair loss can be
stopped with selenium and zinc supplements
and it will grow back, but it's still
annoying to say the least! Believe it or
not i'd still recommend depakote, because
it's the one that works best for me and
maybe you'll be the same. I take it in
combination with other meds (now lamictal
and zonegran) so I can keep the dosage
down to minimize side effects. Best of
luck.
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kim poe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 3
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Depakote User
Posted: 05-04-05 19:14pm
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My 6 year old son has been on depakote
sprinkle capsules for about three years
now. Because this is timed released it
works pretty well for him. He takes 500mg
in am and 500mg in pm. He has been
seizure free for almost 2 tears now. He
started off on a low dose. As with any
seizure meds it is trial and error. She
don't get discouraged. The only side
effects that he suffers from is tremmors
and he is off balanced some. The doctors
say that it is because of the dosage. He
goes to school and functions as a normal
child. He takes a nap in the afternoon.
But for the most part does fine. He has
tired several different drugs. He was
diagnosed at 2 years of age. Not every
drug works for everyone. I wish you all
the best.
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jackilovesscott
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Huntington Station, NY
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Been On Depakote For 18 Years Now
Posted: 05-05-05 11:49am
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Hi,
i'm new here. I'm 28 and have been on
depakote since age 10. It was the only
thing that helped me be totally seizure
free during childhood, but like everyone
else is saying, there are really bad side
effects. I gained about 25 lbs, lost
lots of hair, and had ovarian cysts. Now
i'm switching off as we speak to lamictal
(which i'm worried about) because I want
to start thinking of having kids. Bad
side effects, but very effective medicine.
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FRUSTRATED
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 3
Location: LOUISIANA
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Re: Depakote...anyone On It
Posted: 06-16-05 14:49pm
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I was on this for a long time and I had no
bad side effects. The only reason I got
off of it was that I wanted to have kids
and depakote
is category d for pregnancy. If your
ever planning on pregnancy I
suggest no. Because you will have to
start all over again. In fact,
if I never find a med that works for me
that you can get pregnant on
i will get back on that, after i've had my
kids.
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feelgood
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 56
Location: Calabasas
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
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Posted: 06-20-05 22:36pm
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Has anyone out there had as a side effect
of being very jumpy and getting easily
scared??
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eddie83
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 14 Apr 2005
Posts: 11
Location: Australia
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Posted: 06-22-05 02:18am
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Yes! I have! So good to hear you say
that because that was one of the
side-effects I told my neuro about (pretty
unhappy with heaps of things ie. Memory
problems, weight gain, nausea, drowsiness,
still having seizures at same rate
anyways, maybe thinking about getting
pregnant etc, etc, etc) and he just
dismissed it all and pretty much just read
the 'side-effects' listed on the side of
the box, then told me more or less that I
was imagining everything.
I frighten very easily and sometimes think
I see things even when I know they're not
there. My heart races if I walk out to
the car in the dark at night. I never
used to be like that and i'm positive it's
the medication.
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Bobblehead
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 3
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Posted: 06-25-05 21:55pm
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| feelgood
wrote: | | has anyone out there had as
a side effect of being very jumpy and
getting easily
scared?? |
yes, exactly what happened to myself too.
It's side effects were too great to
continue on it for me. I still am a
little jumpy at times. I can't say it was
the deprakote that brought it on, but it
enhanced it.
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Ggary
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jun 2005
Posts: 2
Location: Forest Hill, Queensland
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Effects of Epilim
Posted: 06-29-05 03:23am
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I am on 3000mg a day and find that my hair
is falling out too. My main concern is a
severe gastric upset that may be
pancreatitis my specialist says that the
epilim doesn't cause pancreatitis. Seems
he may be wrong. My fear is that the
pancreatitis could be fatal, the pain is
severe! Thanks for the input.
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GratedTopping
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 2
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Posted: 08-24-05 08:15am
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Yes, I have been taking it for a while but
am planning on getting off of it. Someone
has called it the "instant old-age" drug,
and it sure seems true. I must have
gained 40 pounds and I have some acne on
my back and chest. My memory is terrible
and, although the seizures are rather well
controlled, i'd rather be thinner and
possible have better skin and memory.
That would all be good for my
self-esteem.
Apparently, the drug can cause liver
damage in the long-run and also
enlargement of the gums. I'm too worried
about these side effects now and I am
looking into alternatives.
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darbie05
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Ohio
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Posted: 12-23-05 16:43pm
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Hi
my 6 yr old son was on it for about 6
weeks and we are in the process of weaning
him off of it. His deopkane and liver
leavels are elevated in his blood stream
and he is starting to get green poo from
it and the dr said that it is starting to
affect his liver. He is now on keppra and
seems to be doing good. Just make sure
they check you blood levels. D
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Dlynn8365
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 1
Location: madison
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Depakote.....
Posted: 12-30-05 13:42pm
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My daughter is 20 years old...Has had
epilepsy diagnosed since age 5 with
periods of relatively good seizure control
until the past 5 or so years. Several
drug therapies have failed, seizure
clusters have increased in frequency.
She is a junior in college. Her
neurologist is admitting her to the
hospital and taking her off keppra and
trileptol, putting her on depakote. I
have been reading the information on side
effects and am not real excited about the
possibility of side effects and birth
defects. Am extremely interested in
hearing more from any one who has taken
this drug...All experiences.....What to
watch for... How soon side effects occur,
etc.
Thank you!
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darbie05
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Ohio
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Posted: 12-31-05 10:47am
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Hello
well shane is back in the hospital and the
associate of our neuro dr said that shane
should have not been taken off depokean
and that he was taking too much to begin
with and that his liver levels was "not"
that high. In the last 24 hrs he has had
6 seizures so we are just waiting for the
blood test this morning and it looks like
he will be back on depokean and keppra. D
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shorty1825
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 27
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Debakote - Never Again!
Posted: 02-22-06 13:46pm
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Yes, i've been on depakote to try to
control seizure activity -- never again!
Deprakote, dilantin and klonapin are what
I call "medications from hell". The side
effects of these medications [weight gain,
mood swings, lathargic responses and just
feeling like you're going crazy] was not a
good exchange for seizure control -- which
it didn't control anyways!!
After more medicine trial and errors, i'm
now taking felbatol and keppra. Finally
I am back in my own mind and 50 pound
lighter!
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