Spadez87 Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 i was prescribed this drug a month ago...im freaking out big time. i keep starting it for a few days then stopping...I read its really bad for your liver and pancrese(sp) ...how likely is this to happen. Anyone have expeirences with this drug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 I was on sodium valproate (Depakote) for a few years and did not have any problems with my liver or pancreas. As long as you have regular blood tests your doctor can keep an eye on things. It worked well for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooladdict Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 Depakote made me nearly narcoleptic with sedation when I was on it about 10 years ago. Now I'm on neurotin which is similar but it seems to have less sedating effects. It did worry me that they were constantly testing my blood level when I was on depakote. I didn't like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingteapot Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 As previously stated, have periodic blood work done. I've been on Depakote before and had no physical issues at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lms10691 Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 Ive been on this medication since i was 15 (I'm 22, nearly 23 now) and only once did i experience toxic side effects. This was caused by raising the dosage during a period where i was losing a lot of weight, however was quickly picked up by a blood test after i told the doctor i began to feel like shit (headache, nausea) after the dosage increase. We dropped it back down a little bit and there was no damage done. So i think as long as you notify your doctor if begin to feel bad after upping the dose but that goes for pretty much any medication i believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spadez87 Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 thanks for all the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spadez87 Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 thanks for all the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpladybug Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 I was on Depakote for several year I did have a small increase in my liver numbers - but not something that was of great concern just something my doctor kept his eye on when we did biannual blood work I went off of it for other reasons - and I greatly prefer Lithium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 I took Depakote (for migraine) twice: The first time, before there was a time release version, I could only get up to 500mg without constant vomiting. And even then, I spontaneously threw up about once a week. I took it for about 3 years, I think. The major side effect (other than the vomiting) was weight loss, which is the opposite of how it is supposed to work. I was on Depakote again once there was a time release version, and I got up to 1500mg with very little nausea. This time, I lost a lot of weight, then gained it back, in the three years I used it. It totally pooped out on me about 4 years ago. Oh, I also had a fine tremor. My hands shook, but it usually wasn't a huge issue. But sometimes not being able to hold your fingers still can be infuriating (i.e., threading a needle). And no change in liver levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spadez87 Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 I saw my pdoc today... He says blood tests were not even necessary... What kinda crack is he smoking. My gdoc is a friend of my mother and is willing to do tests for me.. Now I'm worried that will piss of my pdoc. I'm so sick of being anxious all the time. Not giving up is to hard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 I saw my pdoc today... He says blood tests were not even necessary... What kinda crack is he smoking. My gdoc is a friend of my mother and is willing to do tests for me.. Now I'm worried that will piss of my pdoc. I'm so sick of being anxious all the time. Not giving up is to hard When I was taking it I had blood tests to monitor my liver function, blood cells and blood clotting time before I even started treatment. And my liver function tests were monitored every 6 months throughout treatment. My pdoc also used to check the blood level every 3-6 months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spadez87 Posted April 18, 2014 Author Share Posted April 18, 2014 I saw my pdoc today... He says blood tests were not even necessary... What kinda crack is he smoking. My gdoc is a friend of my mother and is willing to do tests for me.. Now I'm worried that will piss of my pdoc. I'm so sick of being anxious all the time. Not giving up is to hard When I was taking it I had blood tests to monitor my liver function, blood cells and blood clotting time before I even started treatment. And my liver function tests were monitored every 6 months throughout treatment. My pdoc also used to check the blood level every 3-6 months im actually healthy (except having crap knees). I think he did mention blood level thing. I took Depakote for a long time--I'd tell you how long but my swiss cheese memory won't allow that. I'm pretty sure it was for at least six months. I never had a blood test specifically for Depakote that I recall. I know I get them every few months when I'm on lithium. I get regular blood test so now, pdoc just gets the tests he wants add on to the ones my GP gets. They automatically fax a copy of all lab results to my pdoc. I do have a liver disease--NASH. They say that's what will probably kill me. It can be months or decades. I'm voting for decades. In the mean time, I do everything I can to protect my liver. There are several things you can do that are fairly easy. Avoiding certain meds, taking high doses of certain vitamins, getting vaccinated, etc. The NASH was most likely brought about from being some form of overweight/obese/morbidly-obese/super-morbidly-obese most of my life. The only time I recall not being overweight was before the age of 10. I know how terrible the weight gain from some of these meds those of us that are MI have to take. A lot of thought goes into my med choices. Quality of life is important. Being thin (hahahaha--I'll never be thin but I can be not-super-morbidly-obese) and crazy is not better than being overweight and stable. You pick your battles and you compromise. You get good doctors that can all work togeter. You do what you can to improve things. At the end of the day, it boils down to doing the things you can to keep your mind and body healthy. Worrying about things that most likely will never happen needs to go to the end of the list. I find that there are plenty of things on my list of things to worry about that might actually happen. I try to concentrate on fixing those. both these(and all the posts) have made me feel better enough to take it. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachael Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 I've been on Depakote once for about 7 years, then went off cold turkey and now am on it again, I never had any issue with my liver (I was once told I had liver values like a baby), but you should monitor blood levels. I do have mild tremors and do have nausea if I take it on an empty stomach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirazh Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 I've been on divalproex sodium ('nother version of Depakote) for about two years now. In my first year I was given monthly blood tests to look into liver function, and also valproate levels. Since all those kept coming back fine, I now only get my blood tested every six months, again to check for liver function and valproate levels. I have been known to drink alcohol in EXTREME MODERATION, like we're talking rarely and it's a beer or two. And I won't do it near to med-taking time. So far everything keeps coming back roses. It manages my depressions like woah, well the suicidal stuff anyway. I don't have any long-lasting side effects that I can determine. A bit of gastro upset when I first started, but it's all good now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalto Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 I was on sodium valproate for 6 years without a single issue. As others have said, if your doctor keeps an eye on you with blood tests, then you should be fine. Any med can have potentially serious side effects, but that doesn't mean most people who take the drug will get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unkemptsnugglepepper Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I took it for a year or so without any problem. I believe if there is a pre-existing condition or if you drink a lot of alcohol it will put you at a greater risk for issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Stopping and starting a med, like said above, is going to stress out your body and mind big time. I've been off and on Depakote a few times, from months to years, because it effects me differently. Sometimes I end up in mixed episodes. The longest I've been on it is two years, but I always end up mixed. It's not a good med for my mind, but I have few, if any, physical side effects. My first pdoc worried a lot about the dose (I was 17 years old and on 1000mg) and had me get blood tests WEEKLY. Seriously. I was on Depakote and clonazepam and getting blood tests weekly. Ugh. After a couple months he switched it to every other week. Side effects: Slight sedation and getting yelled at by teachers for being late because the lab was packed at 7:30am when it opened and I was late for class. I was later put on it and had monthly blood tests. Then they were every 3-4 months, eventually 6 months. Nothing ever came up on the tests. When I was last on it, it was every 6 months, nothing ever came up. I have yearly blood work at physicals, I've been on a LOT of meds, and I've never had a problem, except for when my potassium was low due to another med, called HCTZ that has a side effect of low potassium. (It was d/c'd, I took potassium for 2 weeks, got retested, and it was fine, stopped taking potassium). I no longer take depakote, but I've recently had a physical, and everything came up normally. I've been on meds for 12 years, no permanent damage, and I've had some odd side effects, such as diabetes insipidus (water diabetes, from lithium, which is gone now) and a rash (not sure which) from lamictal. So, long story short, I've probably been on Depakote for a combined total of 6 years, and had no short term or permanent damage from it. My doctors kept good tabs on it (weekly blood work for cryin' out loud!) and nothing. Nada. Other than an occasional bruise on my arm from a needle stick, that was about it. Most of the time, blood work is every 3, 4 or 6 months. It's generally well tolerated, and the pdoc will adjust the dose to blood work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnxietyGirl74 Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I've been on Depakote ER 1500mgs a day for 7 years. I have liver tests every six months and they've all been good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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