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scared of depakote

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Posted 7/9/2008 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
i've never really noticed the side effects of depakote until now... i was losing so much hair when i took it regularly; in the shower and even handfuls of it while i was romping around in bed. there's never a time when i don't have at least five or six bruises on my legs. i take about two naps a day. ahhh!! i'm scared of turning into a bald, bruised, bipolar shut-in. i've always told my doc i never experienced any symptoms, but i had never read about them until recently. then once i knew what they were, i could pinpoint several of them i'd experienced regularly.

any alternative suggestions? and how the heck do i go about asking for a change of meds? i like my hair, and i want it all!
Posted 7/9/2008 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Little b,

It's nice to have you on the board, welcome to HealingWell.

It's easy to ask for a change of meds -- you just need to be a little brave if you're really non-confrontational. Tell him/her you are experiencing a number of side-effects you believe are coming from the depakote (he/she can tell you if they're not) and that you would rather be on something that wouldn't cause hairloss, etc. However, be sure to ask what the common side effects are of any new med he/she puts you on. A popular one is zyprexa, for instance which is effective but can cause weight gain.

Every med out there is going to have side effects, you just have to find one that has effects you can live with.

serafena
Posted 7/9/2008 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
thanks serafena, im glad i found this place.

to tell you the truth, meds scare me. i'm only 18 and i was put on meds about 2 years ago, but i haven't quite come to accept the fact that yes, i have a chronic illness! and yes, it's my responsibility to do as much as i can to keep it under control! recently i've been going on and off my meds, and lying about it to the docs... i was kind of blaming bp for ending my relationship with my boyfriend. and since i dont really have him around anymore i haven't been motivated to start taking my meds steadily again. i'm really anxious to find something that i like. depakote doesn't seem to be cutting it. i'm on 1000mg a day and i feel like a zombie.
Posted 7/9/2008 10:10 AM (GMT 0)
My bp fiance took depakote for a few months until he couldn't take the exhaustion and depression it seemed to thrust onto him. Although it isn't the magic pill for everyone, maybe ask your doc about lithium. Often it isn't prescribed because it is considered "old school". However, it is considered the gold standard as well. After years of being put on every name brand mood stabilizer in the book, a good doc finally asked him whether anyone had ever tried lithium. In 8 years of on and off treatment, no one had given it to him.

We've had a very stable 6 months now.
Posted 7/9/2008 2:49 PM (GMT 0)

Hi B

I was on Depakote for two months and it caused hair loss for me as well.  The hair on the front half of my head is half as thick as it used to be. 

Depakote also caused weight gain (in conjunction with the Zyprexa I also take).

I stopped Depakote on my own about a month ago. I hope my hair comes back soon - some say it comes back in curly!   It is not recommended individuals stop their medication on their own and I am not recommending it. 

Georgie Girl

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