Purpose:Bipolar manic episodes(Started Aug 11, 2010)
Date
Dosage
Perceived effectiveness
Side Effects
Adherence
Burden
Sep 14, 2010
1000 mg
Daily
Moderate
Moderate
Always
Not at all
Aug 27, 2010
1000 mg
Daily
Moderate
Mild
Always
Not at all
Date
Sep 14, 2010
Advice & Tips
After a little over a month of taking this med, I've gained over ten pounds. I'm starting to think this is not worth it, but a few weeks ago I picked up an exercise regimen and I seem to be shrinking back down to my normal size due mostly to my body's adjustment to the medication (Valproic Acid).
Date
Aug 27, 2010
Advice & Tips
There is definitely some weight gain, though its anti convulsive benefits are extraordinary. Will probably help with bipolar episodes, especially mania. You have to weigh the pros and cons of this drug if considering consumption.
Purposes:Other, Depressed mood, and Migraine headaches(Started Dec 19, 2008)
Date
Dosage
Other
Perceived effectiveness
Depressed mood
Perceived effectiveness
Migraine headaches
Perceived effectiveness
Side Effects
Adherence
Burden
May 02, 2010
1500 mg
Daily
?
Date
May 02, 2010
Advice & Tips
I started taking this medication for Statis Migrainosis where I got terrible headaches that lasted for days and days and then increased into migraines for days and days on end. The depakote seems to have helped stop these kind of migraines I had almost completely and when I do get one, taking imitrex is effective where before it was not.
In the past month my new P-doc pre-scribed taking a therapeutic dose of depakote to be a mood stabilizer as my moods change radically through the day, especially in the last two years since my youngest son joined the Marines.
At first he increased it (after ordering bloodwork done) from 1000mg. a day to 1250mg. a day. I noticed within a week a difference in my mood. I was waking up feeling positive and feeling much less depressed about life in general -- especially my depression about N soon to deploy to Afghanistan.
He saw me two weeks after I started taking the 1250mg. and decided I might benefit from taking four at night and two in the morning as my nightmares were still very bad and I was talking in my sleep a lot and so feeling unrested and needing two or more naps (one big one and a couple of short ones).
Immediately I begain to experience intense dry throat and mouth. I drank a quart of water at night and then had to urinated several times a night and still I got the nightmares though less talking.
I see him again in two weeks but I decreased back down to 1250mgs. on my own. We'll see how that works and what he says.
Updating results…
Moderate
0 helpful marks
2 helpful marks
