The only real bad side effect I can say i've had from depakote (was taking 1000 mg a day - recently went up to 1500 because of a couple of seizures) is pretty bad memory lapses, trouble concentrating on anything, a feeling of general confusion most of the time. I like to say that it makes me feel "spaced out" but not in a good way :lol: I wouldn't mind it so much if it was merely making me feel "high" (kinda embarrassing to admit that but whatever) but it's more than that. It makes me feel distant and just really out of it.

I've been taking it since I was 14 and am 32 now. Seizure control is pretty good for me. I've recently noticed that i'm losing some hair but that might be normal for me at my age. It isn't coming out in clumps or anything. I haven't noticed any other serious problems. Maybe a small amount of weight gain but not bad. I was a very active kid so I never had to worry about gaining much weight until I hit my 20s.

Overall, I think i'd still rather live with the side effects than seizures. I've had enough of them that if I never have another, it'll be too soon.

Hi, I agree that enduring some bad side effects are better than putting up with seizures.

Deprokote, for me.............Was one of those medications that had too many down side effects. After taking it for quite some time, I was @ the point of saying i'd rather put up with seizure activity than have to deal with all the side effects I experienced. Side effects like "feeling out of it", always sleepy [i'd fall asleep during a sentence - this was most frustrating to my husband]. The weight gain was considerable and my gums didn't overgrow (as my neurologist suggested they might) it did just the opposite [that's probable due to the fact that my neuro told me to brush extra well] - my dentist told me to never listen to a neuro about things involving dentistry, always consult a dentist [good idea]. I now have sensative teeth. :(

deprokote was years ago for me, i've since been taken off it [because regardless of the side effects, it did nothing to control my seizures].

Since deprokote, i've been place on and taken off of dilantin and klonapin. Two medications I never want to take again. Talk about side effects! :!:

i'm currently taking felbatol and keppra for seizure control. This seems to be a better solution. :d the side effects are minimal -- weight loss [weighed 140lbs when started taking felbatol, 3 months (of living hell) later, I weighed 115 lbs - I lived on apples (the only thing my system would keep down, every thing else came back up); I do have days where I become dizzy easier; I have to stay away from greasy, fatty foods (they don't seem to react well - gives me major stomach pain - this has only happened since taking felbatol],, headaches & nausua seems to be a side effect of every medication on the market. The good thing is that I don't have this cluster of days where all I have is partial-complex seizures! Since felbatol, I still have a good number of seizures; but, they have been downgraded to "simple seizures". These are easier to deal with (they can still drive one looney; but, at least there's more control.) my neuro added keppra ~ 3 years ago to see if it would help further reduce # of simple seizures. It's done fair. Side effects are bearable - nausea, headaches, dizziness (sometimes), losing your train of thought among others (sometimes). The addition of keppra seems to have some further control on seizure activity [except during that time of the month ].

Good luck and take care!

I just started having seizures and just started taking depakote and lamictal. I want to get pregnant soon, but the doctor said lamictal would take a while to build up in my blood, so he started me on both. I will gradually increase the lamictal and then stop the depakote. How long will it take to increase the lamictal? How long does it usually take to gain weight on the depakote? I am having memory problems and a general feeling of being out of it. I don't like it at all and I don't want to take it any more. I'd definately rather put up with the seizures! The first week on it was the worst. Nausea every day and vomiting! The problem is I won't be able to see a neurologist again until after I move (over a month away). What do I do until then? Can my regular doc take me off the depakote?

it really depends on your body for one. And you need to be very careful taking seizure medication and becoming pregnant I was fortunate that I dont get the grandma seizures because they took me off my medication during pregnancy for the babys sake and the depakote is a steroid I was taking it and due to that fact that is why someone had gained the weight but all in all I didnt like it or anyother seizure medication it makes me sit in a trance all day in and out of sleep I thought I was the only one who had this problem but if someone else does id like to hear about it because I feel like im on a high when on any of the medication. With the tegratol I walked into walls with the trilepital I slept with the keppra I am not with the world and fear traveling any advice