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.