Tea & Sympathy Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Pdoc is switching me from Abilify to Sodium Valproate (Depacon) soon & told me some pretty scary side effects, like hair loss... I wanted to know what people's experiences are of this medication? Did you find it helped? What were your side effects? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susieb Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Depakote/Valporaic Acid (so named in the USA) worked well enough for me- for years.. IE: 20 plus years. I got through college and graduate school on the combination of Depakote & Wellbutrin. what I noticed most of all was weight gain, which eventually, 20 some yrs later (last spring) caused me major depression. Depakote stopped working for me. I went off it, and switched to Lamictal, which I loved. until I didn't. Seven mos. later, I am back on Depakote. off the Wellbutrin (cold turkey??-- all the p-docs I have spoken to about this are FINE with my stopping Wellbutrin this way...) I am experiencing some unpleasant side effects this time around. Facial swelling, sores in my nose... I am not pleased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 I took Sodium Valproate for a few years. I did gain some weight but not a huge amount. I liked it, really kept my manic episodes under control. However I developed PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and I went off it then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 I've been on Depakote twice, and I have both gained and lost HUGE amounts of weight. Like 75lbs in either direction. I was on it for migraines both times, and it worked well, but eventually pooped out. Also, it killed my libido. But it really did help my head when it was working. I didn't have hair loss. I've heard from a neuro-psychiatrist that Herbal Essences and Prell were both bad shampoos to use when on it. Who knows how he came to that conclusion. I've suddenly had hair loss in the last couple of months, but none of my meds were even tweaked in a year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimako Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Depakote worked well for the three weeks I took it. My ears still haven't recovered tho and I expect that they never will. I had the rare side affect of ears thrumming. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy...maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea & Sympathy Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 I took Sodium Valproate for a few years. I did gain some weight but not a huge amount. I liked it, really kept my manic episodes under control. However I developed PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and I went off it then Rowan do you think the PCOS and the medication were linked? Also thank you for your responses guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 There is a possibility they are linked. http://psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/polycystic.htm "The relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome and valproate treatment is unclear. One uncontrolled report indicated that 80% of women receiving long-term valproate treatment for epilepsy before the age of 20 had polycystic ovaries or hyperandrogenism" http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/capsules/pdf_articles/bipolar_disorder.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomposed Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Every time I start/restart Epival I have about two weeks of increased suicidal ideation, sometimes to such a point that I've actually had to sit in the ER foyer until it passes, so you may want to discuss with your psychiatrist in advance what he would like you to do if you should find yourself affected by this lovely horror. Other side effects: - nausea if I take it in the morning, likely because I'm taking it on an empty stomach. - tinnitus only when I start the medication, eventually goes away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea & Sympathy Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 There is a possibility they are linked. http://psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/polycystic.htm "The relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome and valproate treatment is unclear. One uncontrolled report indicated that 80% of women receiving long-term valproate treatment for epilepsy before the age of 20 had polycystic ovaries or hyperandrogenism" http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/capsules/pdf_articles/bipolar_disorder.pdf Awesome news, I'll just have to keep an eye out for that, thank you for the links Every time I start/restart Epival I have about two weeks of increased suicidal ideation, sometimes to such a point that I've actually had to sit in the ER foyer until it passes, so you may want to discuss with your psychiatrist in advance what he would like you to do if you should find yourself affected by this lovely horror. Other side effects: - nausea if I take it in the morning, likely because I'm taking it on an empty stomach. - tinnitus only when I start the medication, eventually goes away Beyond excited for that lovely side effect should it hit, my suicidal thoughts have calmed down the past few months so I REALLY hope they dont come back :/ Would you recommend taking them at night or just making sure I eat first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomposed Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 I take it at night because of the nausea, but if you were planning to take them in the morning with other meds, talk with your pdoc about trying in the morning and switching to bedtime if you're hit with nausea, see what his preferences are just in case. Note that liquids were not enough to prevent the nausea for me - I just ended up with a fantastic morning of vomiting pure liquid into one of those little hospital vomit cartons so make sure it's, you know, actual solid food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobc Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 I am on sodium valproate 200mg a little story about myself,i suffered from hell since my diagnosis in 2009 and was on abilify forever for 5 years till on November 2013 I was put on mirtazapine and it worked 3 months later after my doctor insist me on continue it and it worked for 2 monrhs before it stopped working,and then on 14th may my mirtrazapine was increased to 30mg and then it worked and not worked,i was having mixed episode...finally I visited my doctor once more on 4th june 2014,i was added sodium valproate 200mg,its been 8 days now and its not been working as much as I hoped,i know 200mg is a low dowse but I don't know whats the next step I should do,should I quickly adjust my meds or give the 30mg mirtazapine and 200mg sodium valproate more time to work?can someone give me an advice and also is psychiatric medication work like this?sometimes it work sometimes it doesn't?it really sucks when its not working,everthing seems bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Yes, finding meds that work is hit or miss. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take several years to find a combo that works for you. It usually doesn't take that long, but just so you know. You are on a super low dose of sodium valproate. When other members here took sodium valproate for mixed episodes, they raised the dosage really quickly. You should call your pdoc, and ask when are you going to start to titrate up. When do you see her next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobc Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Yes, finding meds that work is hit or miss. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take several years to find a combo that works for you. It usually doesn't take that long, but just so you know. You are on a super low dose of sodium valproate. When other members here took sodium valproate for mixed episodes, they raised the dosage really quickly. You should call your pdoc, and ask when are you going to start to titrate up. When do you see her next? I really appreciate your reply and I read it thoroughly,i agree that finding meds might take long but I think your right,200mg of sodium valproate is indeed very low dose for it to work...I am visiting my doctor on 2nd of july,but its hard to wait till that date because I am not doing fine but I will move forward the appointment maybe in 5 days time and I will ask for titatration up my dosage for sodium valproate... the thing that concern me is that how long does it usually takes a meds to deem if its effective?1 week,2 months?cause I was actually on mirtazapine and it helped me only after 3 months,i hope my sodium valproate does not work this way and it can kill my depression quicker and stabilize my mood,i been mildly depress and my pdoc said it can touch a little of depression and event out my mixed episode....my mixed episode mostly is depressive and little elevated mood,Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Usually 6-8 weeks once you get to a therapeutic dose, sometimes up to 12. Although everyone is an individual, so it might start earlier (or later). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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