63 patient evaluations for Divalproex sodium

615 members have decided to share their profiles only with other members of PatientsLikeMe.

Jul 19, 2010 (Started Jan 01, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for bipolar disorder)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 500 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I was previously prescribed this for Bipolar Disorder but seeing as the mood swings have continued and are more rapid than usual bipolar I am now wondering whether it is actually the CFS/MS/FMS causing the swings. Chicken or the egg...

  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 8, 2010 (Started Jun 05, 2000)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 2000 mg Daily
Cost: $100-199 monthly

  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 28, 2010 (Started Jun 28, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (weight gain, fluid retention weight gain)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg One time
Advice & Tips: Depakote is also known as valproic acid - you can get you insurance to cover it on a name brand and name brand is better and has other effects then yhe off brand.. i got real sick on the off brand .. i have generalized seizures and my seirures can not handle the off brand ... so if you have your neuo submit paper work stating this is true for you for you as well your insurance will cover you. Then take the paper work to your pharmacy. Then they submit it for you and all you have to pay is a copay.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: weight gain, fluid retention weight gain

  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 1, 2010 (Started Oct 01, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (hair loss)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Experienced massive hair loss
Side effects: hair loss

  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 6, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: I statred to take 2000 mg a day I stoppped checking my bank account from 10 times a day to 2x. My mania will killl me I cannot let it out????
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Sep 26, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: I only take 1000mg told my doc it was making me sick taking 2000mg no maina my mania can be deadly
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Sep 4, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: little mania
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jun 13, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: I have taken 2000 mg bt pd since and I am very depressed and fat and no mania
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

May 31, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: I been not taking 2 x 500mg 2x a day untill now I feel better and just 1000mg will not out me in the theaputic range, I had mania since 1/1/10. I have been stable and not soending money but I isolate and gained weight back I have to staRT SOMEWHERE!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

May 9, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, loss of short term memory, social withdrawal, overeating, laziness, no lows/highs)
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: this stops my mania but it makesme normal and hate this but my mania can be deadly possible weight gainer
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jan 1, 2010 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, laziness)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Advice & Tips: I have been on 2000mg daily less minia and depression. But no drive feel druged and miss my mania!!!!Also weight problems mainly do to my lazzyness.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jun 26, 2009 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, laziness)
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jun 13, 2009 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Advice & Tips: it works
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jan 31, 2009 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (weight gain, diarrhea, laziness)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: I tryed to go on abilifty and that was for me a desaster. Depkote is the one i need but i have a hard time gettihg motivaded
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

Jan 1, 2009 (Started Jul 28, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for Other)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (weight gain)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: weight problems
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: overeating, social withdrawal, weight gain, laziness, loss of short term memory, no lows/highs, diarrhea

  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 14, 2010 (Started Aug 01, 1995)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (weight gain, difficulty making decisions, fuzzy thinking, breast enlargement, clearer skin)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Depakote controlled my seizures most of the time, but has not completely done so. The seizures always come back about a year or two after adjusting my dosage. The side effects for me are: weight gain, breast enlargement, tremors, depression, indecisiveness or what is termed "cloudy thinking" on the label... Positive effects were the relaxing effect of this medicine. It calmed me down emotionally. Depakote has made daily life easier but I am ready for a new medicine, as I am developing an immunity to it.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: breast enlargement, weight gain, difficulty making decisions, clearer skin, fuzzy thinking

  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 23, 2010 (Started Jan 15, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for seizures (grand mal or tonic-clonic))
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1750 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I was originally started on Depakote, back in 1989. It was very had to remember to take it on time, since it had to be taken at 4 different times per day. This resulted in larger swings in Depakote levels in my bloodstream, sometimes possibly leading to break-through seizures. Since I have been on Depakote ER this is no longer a problem, and it is much more convenient to take only one time per day.
Cost: $50-99 monthly

  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 12, 2010 (Started Mar 06, 1993)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (memory problems, memory and cognition problems)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 1000 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: memory and cognition problems, memory problems, memory problems

  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 29, 2010 (Started Dec 25, 1995)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (insomnia, depressed mood, fatigue, memory problems, balance problems, brain fog, atrophy of right arm muscles, joint pain, muscle spasms)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 1500 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Please talk to your doctor about negative side effects you are having. Find a neurologist they can help you understand what is going on!
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: balance problems, muscle spasms, fatigue, depressed mood, brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, atrophy of right arm muscles, memory problems

Mar 10, 2010 (Started Dec 25, 1995)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (insomnia, depressed mood, fatigue, memory problems, balance problems, brain fog, atrophy of right arm muscles, joint pain, muscle spasms)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 1500 mg Daily
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: balance problems, muscle spasms, fatigue, depressed mood, brain fog, insomnia, joint pain, atrophy of right arm muscles, memory problems

  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 7, 2011 (Started Aug 22, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for epilepsy)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (weight gain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: weight gain

  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 10 of 63 patient evaluations for Divalproex sodium