My 16 yr old daughter was just prescribed Depakote by a Dr for hyperactivity, test taking and concentration problems as well as sleeplessness. Dr says its a form of Bi-polar although she does not have mood swings nor has she had any behavior or social problems ever. Concerned this is a bad diagnoses. Has anyone ever heard of this drug used in teens who are not in some sort of trouble or distress?

Hi Joyce -

I would be concerned about the use of Depakote to target those symptoms without a very strong and well supported diagnosis of bipolar disorder – with manic and/or depressed episodes. If the problems are present chronically and not occuring in episodic fashion that would certainly be a red flag to me that the diagnosis might be off target. If she has not had a manic or depressed period at all – then the diagnosis is also hard to support.

Of course I have not done a full evaluation on your daughter and so can make no comment about what her diagnosis is. However, given the lack of stronger diagnostic evidence for the choice of medication I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion before deciding on what medications to use or if medications are indicated at all.

Candida Fink MD

I had been taking Depakote for close to eight years at a dose of 250mg and was stable. After having a great loss in my life and having to change to a new doctor. My doctor increased the dose to 825mg. I started to have symptoms of stomach pain, not wanting to eat, not going to the bathroom, feeling tired, and more. The doctor thinks I need more but I am concerned that it is the Depakote because I have always had drug sensitivities. My question is does this sound dangerous and how quickly can I get off of this dose back to my old dose of 250mg?

I have been trying to learn more about why my husband behaves the way he does. I know that I am not qualified to diagnose whatever the issue is. I guess I am just looking for some clues, some kind of starting point, because we need help. Based on different things I have read I believe my husband may have bipolar disorder. He has epilepsy so I was trying to see if his behavior could be linked to that or a side effect of his med depakote. My search lead me here and I was suprised to see the same med he takes for epilepsy is used to treat bipolar disorder. I am guessing there is a connection maybe in that part of the brain. He has been taking the depakote since he was 12 and though he does seem to show signs of mania it is definitely not as intense as his depressive behavior, so maybe it has been helping. Again I know we need professional help. I am just trying to arm myself with info as I search for a way to approach him. He is extremely sensitive and if you don’t say things just right he explodes or totally withdrawls. Our talks about even the simplest subjects have become awkward because I feel like I am walking on eggshells careful to not say the wrong thing, he has picked up on this and has become annoyed with my new timid behavior. I really want to understand what is going on in my husband’s mind, he seems miserable too and I don’t want us to live our lives this way.

Boots – Much of what you wrote applies to me exactly – my husband was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago with bipolar 11 – The lithium he started to take has not yet started to work on him – He is impossible to talk to -he is hostile – angry – finds me the “stupid one” other the smallest issue – argues with me all the time – and drives the car like a maniac when he picks me up after work – I feel like walking away from him completely – but I do love him – although I DO NOT like him most of the time – I hate going home after work and I hate weekends being around this miserable angry man – I have no one to talk to as he does not want our children or anyone to know about this – He seems ov the verge of a complete breakdown – He is the one who is sick but I am also suffering – although I can’t even tell him that – I feel for you – I know exactly what you are going through!!!

husband has successfully been on depakote. has recently been diagnosed with renal failure and put on phoslo which is a bindery drug..but also needed. he takes depakote ER and now levels are very low…20-30 range when used to be at 75ish…. know it has to be the phoslo that is binding up the depakote? what can we do? which is more essential the phoslo or the depakote? doctor will not go back to regular depakote because state too much confusion around the two….what can we do?????

Wife -

Have your psychiatrist and renal docs had an actual conversation? I suspect there is a way to help your husband get his levels back to therapeutic but it will take some coordination of care between the specialists. Perhaps the psychiatrist feels your husband will be stable on a lower blood level of depakote – you may want to ask her what she is thinking about that. “Too much confusion” isn’t a reason for not doing something – it is a reason to go out and get more information and find different ways to solve the problem.

Candida Fink MD

My 19 year old son has been taking 1125 mg. depakote for bipolar disorder, his mood swings were stable but are back. I think his depakote levels are too low. Does anyone know the recommend dosage of depakote for maintenance purposes? He is 180 lb. and 6′2″ he has psych appointments next week, but I’m just curious about dosage requirements. Also, has phobia of blood tests, but did take one yesterday to check his depakote levels.
Any info. is appreciated.
Thank you.

trying to find the correct dosage for my 17 year old teen age son… right now he is on 3 500 mg tabs a day.

My husband is on depakote and we are trying to conceive. Does depakote damage sperm and therefore cause birth defects in the children of men who are on depakote? I think I read somewhere that it changes the chromosomes in sperms.

LaRue
There has been some data in mice suggesting some changes in sperm in male mice taking depakote. There really isn’t good data in humans. I would encourage you to discuss this with your GYN doc – and consider meeting with a genetic counselor to get more detailed answers on this question.

Toi -
The right dose of Depakote varies tremendously between indiviudals so there is not one “correct” dose. Blood levels help doctors determine dosage range, but the doc will also be looking at age, size, clinical response and side effects in making decisions regarding dose changes.
I encourage you and your son to ask your prescriber how they are making the dosing decisions and to include you in their thinking as they go along.

I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for five years (since I was 19 yrs. old) and I have been on valproic acid (750 mg a day) for the entire time I have been diagnosed. Since then I have gained a lot of weight but I don’t think it is because of the medication but after doing research I keep hearing otherwise. I was quite thin before I was diagnosed and I started gaining weight before I even took the medication and was diagnosed. I never tried to lose the weight or eat better and as a result I am way over the weight I should be. For the first time in the five years since the weight gain I have developed a much healthier eating plan and for the first time in my life I’m doing regular cardiovascular excercise (a combination of speed walking and cycling on an excercise bike). I’ve been doing this for two months and I’ve lost 20 lbs. and I’m not starving myself or taking any weight loss pills. And I take valproic acid and temazapam every night. So what’s the deal? Why are people on this medication being discouraged by being told they cannot lose weight on this medication? I’m defying that statement as we speak and mentally speaking I’m not in a state of mania or depression. I’m feeling fine.

I have been on Depakote for almost 4 weeks now and have not noticed any major breakthroughs with my bipolar disorder. I still have suicidal thoughts for a few hours only to be invincible right after…My doctor is all about controlling the mania but what happens when Im depressed again and do something stupid and get hospitalized again?…by the way im an addict so this comment may be null and void…Thank you

My husband has had abrain injury. Prior to the accident he was very angry with me and really showing signs that he might be bipolar. This had been a cycle with him very angry and rageful about twice a year. Now since the accident he had a bout of very seroius depression and now about 1 year later he is enraged. With me mostly, the kids and our family. His new psychiatrist has prescribed Depakote. I really am praying this is the help we need. I walk on eggshells, and am not allowed to speak because it annoys him. We live parallel lives I hate it. He has told me he hates me and called me every horrible name you can think of. Does this sound like it could be bipolar disorder/or just a result of brain injury? I want Depakote to take away the anger and allow him to be approachable again. Am I unrealistic?

I was diagnosed 13 years ago, Im way more manic than depressive but that has changed over the years. I was treated with Epival for almost 5 years when I began having vivid dreams that lead me to panic attacks and weird phobias. This also caused fertility problems because I began taking it at a very early age (17). Some of them are reversible but my doctor doesn’t want me taking any hormones and stuff like that. I also gained a lot of weight. To help, he added Lamictal and that seemed to work but weight issues got worse. I stopped taking everything for almost 3 years; im rebellious. Miraculously I didnt get better nor worse but was eventually taken back to Valproic Acid. I’m now on Epival, Lamictal and recently started taking Seroquel. Mania is slowly getting worse; Im confused and erratic as well.

Long story short: Valproic acid may work but I truly HATE it. HATE IT. Side effects are not so side, are recurrent and normal. Hate it because I wont be able to get pregnant ever and it makes me sad that I might be stuck with this forever. HATE IT.
Any options I might have? Thanks

our son has been on depakote for 1yr.started out with 1000mg nine mos into taking it the pdoc reduced him to once a day 750mg along with 12mg of concerta….his blood workup levels came back at 8….could someone please tell me is this a clue that he IS NOT taking the depakote? we have asked him and he says he is, the pdoc is having him redo the blood workup….could someone tell me where i can find info on the blood levels when using depokate…thank you for your help

hi guys Ive been on 50mgs paxil 250mgs seroquel and up to last week 500mgs depokote ive been out of work 6 mths i started to cut back seroquel from 250mgs to 225 mgs i started to feel more alert and muscle aches doc wants to up the depokote but i told him it will make me feel depressed and sur enough it did i just upped it to 250mgs to 750mgs and i feel more agitated mood swings and at times more depressed so Is this common went you first go on it and if so what are the techniques to minimize this? btw back up to 250mgs on seroquel

I began taking Depakote and Wellbutrin in 1999. I’ve been successfully treated with this combination for a decade. I am mania free, but I do still suffer from bouts of depression or inappropriate mood (crying for no reason) occasionally. The most troubling side effect for me has been weight gain. Prior to my treatment I weighed 145-150 lbs. I am now 190 lbs. I exercise regularly, 3-6 times per week for 60-120 minutes a session. I am reluctant to change medicines because Depakote is working so well for me, but I am concerned that this excess weight will be a problem in the long term. My parents suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Lithium, Neurontin and Zyprexa were not effective for me. What other options do I have? My PA is reluctant to make a change since I am having therapeutic success on these meds.

Does anyone know if this new form of valproic acid is better in its side effect profile then those big pink pills I took yrs ago with a 30lb weight gain I am currently taking 1000mgs just increased from 750mgs Ive been out of work for 9 mths I know I need depokote but hate weight gain I have so far gained about 7lbs Id like to hear from anyone on Stavzor and how it has affected their weight

6 years ago i was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had to take meds after leaving college. at the time i took wellbutrin, risperidol, and depakote. i have been off the meds for 2 years and was prescribed 500 mg every other day bc my cycles were starting to increase in duration and severity. is this common to only have one med now? i no longer have the same psychiatrist and this is what my regular doc suggested, which he was my reg doc during my original diagnosis. thanks for any advice.

My adopted son’s birthmother was on Depakote during her pregnancy and was born with spina bifida; as well as it can cause a lower IQ and attention disorders. It is the number drug for neurotube defects. It seems as though as reading the posts that many people are on this drug. I would be very fearful of taking this drug before, during and after pregnancy. Be sure your doctor is aware of the severe side effects on the fetus.

Entao meu filho ten 11 anos,comecou tomar Ritalina aos 5 anos de idadeaos 1o anos toma ritalina 3o mg e junto o depakote 250,gostaria de saber si existe um remedio com eficaxia e pouco efeito colateral,meu filho foi diagnosticado com hiperatividade ele toma o remedio so qdo vai a escola obrigado aguardo vc.

is depakote for individuals with depresses moods-paranoia disorder? my husband does not show the mania characteristics.r

I came across this website as I was doing a search to learn more about why the doctor’s were testing my boyfriend, who just recently started taking Depakote ER, for his Depakote “level.” I found the information provided to be quite helpful and I just wanted to share my story. I’ve been with my boyfriend for two years and six months ago we had a beautiful baby girl. I describe my relationship with him as dating Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One minute he will be the nicest, sweetest, most lovable guy, and then the smallest thing will set him off and he’ll turn into a literal monster – telling me how much he hates me, how disgusting I am to him, to the point where he would literally pack up all his stuff and move back in with his parents, to just call me a few hours later when he came around and beg me to take him back. Sometimes I think that the problem was alcohol related. He would get into this depressed state where he wanted to drink, he would be happy a while while he was drinking, then when the buzz wore off, or, god forbid turned into a hangover, he would get even meaner and more depressed then before. He’s now been taking 500 mg of Depakote ER for about a month (the doctor just recently upped his dose to 500 mg twice a day) and I have to say that I think it has helped tremendously. We’ve gotten into our little arguments but it stopped turning into WWIII. He seems to be less interested in drinking and just over-all more stable. The side effects have been minimal, mostly I noticed an increase in appetite which might lead to weight gain but he is in good shape and works hard so I’m not concerned. He was worried that it would take away his “manhood” but it doesn’t seem to be effecting that much either, except for that if he has to go a few days without any loving he is ok with it, where as before he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that we just had a baby and our sex life has changed dramatically. I’m a little concerned that the drug isn’t used to treat the depressed side of bi-polar disorder since his manic side doesn’t tend to bother me much but I suppose he should just discuss that with his doctor.

Jeannine,

With bipolar disorder, the mania causes the depression.

Some people feel like they became depressed out of nowhere, but it’s usually because they have a very mild hypomanic episode that they didn’t notice.

So yea, if you eliminate the mania, you eliminate the depression. There may be rare exceptions to this.

Jeannine
You have a heck of a problem there. I have been on Effexor for years for depression and on Depakote for about a year for bipolar. My info for you are a few things. 1 I was started on a much higher level than him to get it ‘under control’ and I actually take 500mg THREE times a day now, so I pray that the increase he just started at 500mgs twice/day will make a difference or he may even require more???
2. Effexor or others are for depression. I’m sorry but in my opinion he should not be having alcohal AT ALL. one, you said he would drink and would then later be even more depressed and secondly it does not go well with the Depakote! Plus as everyone knows alcohal can make ppl more depressed when they dont even have bipolar.
3rd does he come from a family of manic depressives? I do. My mother’s side is where I inherited it from, both males and females.
You just need to be sure that he is telling his doctor everything! So that the correct dosages etc will take place…and..and…most importantly that he WANTS to help HIMSELF.
Most women would have left by now, hang in there . Bless you!

Hello, My wife has taken Depakote and Lithium for Bipolar Manic Depression for now over 15 years with good success in controling the channeling. Last year she had surgery to remove her Tonsils and anoids and remove her soft palet to control her snoring and air obstruction for breathing. Now when she eats Chocolate anything or takes her Depakote it causes her to vomit. Why would this occure? We are now back to square one where she looses control frequently and rages again when it was bliss before? She is 40 years old now and also takes premerin for hormone replacement too. Which she did before the surgery she had a complete hysterectomy is why she takes the Premerin. She was even better after the hysterectomy. Why all of a sudden does she have the problems of vomiting when she takes her long time success depakote 250mg twice daily with Lithium 300mg twice a day and premerin .9mg once a day she is about 145lbs 5′2″ tall 40 yrs old. Why would this change for hewr after haveing sinus surgery like that and what would you sugest to fix it so she can stabilize again? Thank You.

I am concerned about my niece. She had a manic bi-polar episode in her early 20’s and was hospitalized. She was on over-the-counter diet pills at the time and was also sleep deprived due to international travel and changing time zones. Her first episode included psychotic symptoms with visual hallucinations. She was set up on Depakote and has been doing great for 2 years. She moved to a new area and saw a new psychiatrist who took her off the medication and said that she may not ever have those symptoms again. I understand that as a young woman she didn’t want to stay on the medication, but I am concerned that without it she will run the risk of another episode. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you.

My 20 year old son was just prescribed Depakote ER (500mg). He took the first dose last night. He also takes Citalopram(20mg).

He has been awake all night. Seems happy, but I’m worried that the dose of Depakote might be too much to start off. The bottle of Depakote says “will by titrating as needed”. The doctor will not be available until Monday. Is is all right to cut one of the Depakote tablets in half tonight so that he can get some sleep?