Depakote Anti-seizure drug?

[oneighty]

Any opinions on side effects?

180

[Spinzonner]

1. For what purpose and dosage

It's also sometimes used to reduce agitation in dementia patients

[oneighty]

3. I do not know Spinzonner

a former in-law has been/is taking it. She is having a terrible time in her life right now and I am very sorry for her. I do not wish to see her further damaged by drugs. Her mood swings are dangerously fast and unpredictable.

She takes it for seizures she says.

Thanks

180

[Spinzonner]

6. My mother has moderate Alzheimer's and has been taking it

for a few months for agitation. I have some doubts about the need as I think her so-called agitation is purposeful as it only occurs when they move her around and causes pain with her arthritis.

However, it does not seem to have caused any significant side effects although I have some concerns it may be inhibiting some cognition in its inhibitory functions. No proof, of course.

Overall, by personal experience once removed, I don't have significant concerns about side effects.

Edited to correct the fact that I missed mention of seizures.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. My mother has moderate Alzheimer's

Type in at the ncbi.nlm.gov link "Pycnogenol Alzheimer's" in order to pull up these papers.... pycnogenol is available at reputable health food stores... see also www.Pycnogenol.com


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi

1: Veurink G, Liu D, Taddei K, Perry G, Smith MA, Robertson TA, Hone E, Groth DM, Atwood CS, Martins RN. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Reduction of inclusion body pathology in ApoE-deficient mice fed a combination of antioxidants.
Free Radic Biol Med. 2003 Apr 15;34(8):1070-7.
PMID: 12684092

2: Peng QL, Buz'Zard AR, Lau BH. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Pycnogenol protects neurons from amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2002 Jul 15;104(1):55-65.
PMID: 12117551

3: Liu F, Lau BH, Peng Q, Shah V. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Pycnogenol protects vascular endothelial cells from beta-amyloid-induced injury.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2000 Jun;23(6):735-7.
PMID: 10864026

4: Kobayashi MS, Han D, Packer L. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Antioxidants and herbal extracts protect HT-4 neuronal cells against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity.
Free Radic Res. 2000 Feb;32(2):115-24.
PMID: 10653482

[Not_Giving_Up]

2. I took it for a whiile for migraine prevention

1000 mg a night. Made me gain weight, worked for the headaches for a while, then stopped working, so I stopped taking it.

[China_cat]

4. It was given to my grandson

when he was 10 because his mother convinced a doctor that he was manic.

It made him zombie like. He shit his pants. He did really weird things like get in the tub without taking off his clothes. He wet the bed. His father finally got custody of him, weaned him off the damned stuff and found a normal kid under it all.

Well, almost normal. Without the damned drugs, if that kid had been any more laid back he'd have been in a coma.

But those were side effects for someone who didn't really need the drug. You need to talk to your doctor, give it a trial and evaluate both what it does FOR and TO you and then decide if it's the right one for your condition.

[oneighty]

7. Thank you China_cat

Boy I am glad I am not taking it. My ex in-law an almost forty year old woman is taking it for seizures.

180

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. I have an opinion... a friend's wife was on depakote.... and

I recommended that perhaps he should look into the possibility of omega threes helping her... and he bit, she started them, and if I am not mistaken, she was weaned off depakote entirely. I believe she was on depakote for seizures.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_Oct/ai_92282957
Omega-3 fatty acids for epilepsy - Literature Review & Commentary - Brief Article
Comment: This preliminary trial suggests that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids markedly reduced the incidence of grand mal seizures in some severely retarded individuals. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine whether other groups of epileptic patients will respond to this treatment. If the results can be confirmed, doctors will have a simple and apparently safe new therapeutic option for epilepsy, a condition that is sometimes difficult to treat.



http://my.webmd.com/content/article/86/99035.htm?z=1812_00000_5023_pe_01
April 29, 2004 - Children born to women taking the commonly prescribed seizure medication Depakote are more likely to have birth defects and other problems. Researchers say that if possible women should avoid taking this medication during their childbearing years.

[oneighty]

8. Thank you

180

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. You're welcome.. and take a look at these... I wasn't able to

get these to come up at Pubmed (NIH) until I changed my search from "omega threes epilepsy" to "fish oils epilepsy". Believe it or not. When I searched for the first, all I got were references to the med and its toxicity and other related thingies. I helped my friend with his wife's condition several years ago... mind that when you see the dates on these papers..... :)

If you wish to print out any of these... you will need to goto

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi and then enter fish oils epilepsy. Then you can click on the full papers and print out the pertinent details... I will paste the first one here... the rest you will get from the link.... good luck.

1: Seizure. 2004 Mar;13(2):104-7. Related Articles, Links

Is omega-3 fatty acid deficiency a factor contributing to refractory seizures and SUDEP? A hypothesis.

Yuen AW, Sander JW.

The National Society for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 ORJ, UK.

Epilepsy, the commonest serious neurological condition, is associated with an increased risk in premature deaths, including an estimated 500 sudden unexpected deaths (SUDEP) per year in the UK. In some patients seizures are associated with cardiac arrhythmias, which are thought to be a major factor in SUDEP. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce cardiac arrhythmias in animal studies and to reduce sudden cardiac deaths, thought to be due to cardiac arrhythmias, in both healthy subjects and in those who have had one myocardial infarction. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids in animal studies and in a small clinical observation study have shown anti-seizure effects. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with refractory seizures may reduce seizures and seizure associated cardiac arrhythmias and hence SUDEP.

PMID: 15129839

1: Yuen AW, Sander JW. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Is omega-3 fatty acid deficiency a factor contributing to refractory seizures and SUDEP? A hypothesis.
Seizure. 2004 Mar;13(2):104-7.
PMID: 15129839

2: Voskuyl RA. Related Articles, Links
No abstract Is marine fat anti-epileptogenic?
Nutr Health. 2002;16(1):51-3. No abstract available.
PMID: 12083414

3: Schlanger S, Shinitzky M, Yam D. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Diet enriched with omega-3 fatty acids alleviates convulsion symptoms in epilepsy patients.
Epilepsia. 2002 Jan;43(1):103-4.
PMID: 11879394

4: Mirnikjoo B, Brown SE, Kim HF, Marangell LB, Sweatt JD, Weeber EJ. Related Articles, Links
Free Full Text Protein kinase inhibition by omega-3 fatty acids.
J Biol Chem. 2001 Apr 6;276(14):10888-96. Epub 2001 Jan 10.
PMID: 11152679

5: Young C, Gean PW, Chiou LC, Shen YZ. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity in the rat hippocampus.
Synapse. 2000 Aug;37(2):90-4.
PMID: 10881029

6: Xiao Y, Li X. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids modify mouse hippocampal neuronal excitability during excitotoxic or convulsant stimulation.
Brain Res. 1999 Oct 30;846(1):112-21.
PMID: 10536218

7: Sovik O, Mansson JE, Bjorke Monsen AL, Jellum E, Berge RK. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Generalized peroxisomal disorder in male twins: fatty acid composition of serum lipids and response to n-3 fatty acids.
J Inherit Metab Dis. 1998 Aug;21(6):662-70.
PMID: 9762602

8: Voskuyl RA, Vreugdenhil M, Kang JX, Leaf A. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Anticonvulsant effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids in rats, using the cortical stimulation model.
Eur J Pharmacol. 1998 Jan 12;341(2-3):145-52.
PMID: 9543232

9: Spirer Z, Koren L, Finkelstein A, Jurgenson U. Related Articles, Links
Abstract Prevention of febrile seizures by dietary supplementation with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Med Hypotheses. 1994 Jul;43(1):43-5. Review.
PMID: 7968719

[kayleybeth]

9. Hi oneighty

My daughter, who has a history of status epilepticus seizures, was on Depakote for a while. I know one of the side effects is that it can cause severe liver damage. We had to have her liver enzymes checked on a regular basis while she was on it. There was also a medication they put her on (can't remember the name of it) that was supposed to help protect the liver from the damage that Depakote might cause.

We ended up discontinuing the depakote after a few months because it wasn't controlling her seizures.

Here's a link for more info on side effects, etc:

http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/dep1125.htm

[pop goes the weasel]

12. I know someone with epilepsy who uses it

He's had good results and is seizure-free on it. But from what I understand, it is one of those drugs that has greatly variable effects, depending on the person.

[flyingfysh]

13. I have a stepson who has taken it in the past

as part of a set of medications to control epilepsy (grand mal seizures) and bipolar disorder; he has disorders from mild brain damage. The medications have helped immensely. Now he is on a different set of medications, but the doctor prescribes whatever works best at any time.

Doctors have choices about which medications to prescribe. If this one is not working well, tell the doctor, and he will try something else.

Anyone taking anything this powerful should be monitored carefully by a doctor anyway.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

14. Perhaps a point of interest for you.....

http://www.althealth.co.uk/services/info/supplements/pycnogenol1.php

[tibbir]

15. I've been on depakote several years.

It's to control my mood swings. I guess it does a moderately good job of that. The only side effect I noticed was that it made it incredibly easy to put on weight. I joined Weight Watchers though, and am now at my goal weight. Now I have to fight to stay there.

[unsavedtrash]

16. weight gain and diabetes many call it "depa-bloat"

[NMMNG]

17. I wouldn't take it..

...with side effects like weight gain, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness and tremor. Also in rare cases people can develop liver damage and pancreatitis.

I've known of people on it who lost most of their hair (though it eventually grew back in, and very curly at that), and/or got the sh*ts so bad they'd lose it anywhere and everywhere. There are many people who take it and have no problems but I wouldn't try it...there are plenty of other anticonvulsants out there.

[Feron]

18. I took it for migraine prevention

The only side effect was that it robbed me of any emotion. I had to get off of it for my own sanity.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

19. Make sure he/she stays on top of the blood tests.

I had an ex who was on it for bipolar disorder, and he would blow them off. He had a pre-existing liver disease, but in a normal person it can cause elevated enzymes.

The side effects are pretty heavy. I take Trileptal which is a newer anticonvulsant, with much less side effects. http://www.crazymeds.org/trileptal.html
Weight gain is not a side effect of this one. They had me on lithium for a few months, and I had to be literally picked up off the floor when I took that crap. Good luck to your ex in law.

[soliddemocrat]

20. My experience with depakote

Hello Everyone, I'm epileptic with partial complex seizures and some grand mals,depression/anxiety disorder, and a social disability and a form of autism called aspergers syndrome. People call us aspies it's a positive nick name meaning "artist" or "intellect" :). I like to talk to my aspie friends most of the time but i always fit in some time for politics :P. I had my share of experiences with Depakote, i was on it probably back when i was in 5th or 6th grade and it really held my seizures back but i also got a bad case of pancreatitas from it :(. I had sharp chest pains, sharp stomach pains, and sharp intestinal pains all at once that i ended up in the hospital for a week. For the first 3 or 4 days there they wouldn't let me eat anything they only let me drink water :(. My parents were with me at the time and they begged the nurses to put me on something to feed me.

And the nurse said "Well we do have these protein packs but it's going to cost you." And my Mom said "I don't care if it costs me just get him on something." And so they put me on these protein packs on an IV (yummy :)) ) and they ran CAT scans, MRI's and EEG's. They said everything seemed to be normal until they finally figured out i had a bad case of pancreatitas (roll eyes), and so my neurologist took me off the depakote and put me on a different anti-convulsant drug, and i stayed there until i was feeling better. When i was finally able to leave the hospital, before i got in i weighed 130 pounds and when i left i probably weighed 90 pounds and i could see my ribs :(. I was very malnutritioned from when i was in the hospital. So don't take depakote you might end up getting pancreatitas which is a swelling of the pancreas. I hope to hear from you soon,good luck in all you do.


Signed,
Greg

[Stang8az28]

21. I gained weight like crazy. and lost all motivation.

was put on it for psych problems. after a few months i forced my dr to give me something else.

dan

[Catffienated]

22. It's alright...

I'm a little tired...but okay.

[jwirr]

23. It can cause stomach upset in people who have digestive

problems.

[Enoch1981]

24. I used to take it

I took Depakote beginning when I was 15 or 16 for bipolar disorder, and stopped when I was 21. I'm not sure why I took it for so long...I don't think it worked. It just made me tired and I still had mood swings. The worst was when I was in residential treatment as a teen and I suffered a sort of manic psychosis. I suspect that I was misdiagnosed (I think the mood swings are part of a personality disorder). Ever since, I've had elevated liver enzymes (AST/ALT) periodically...I don't know if it was related or not, just that it started after I took it.

That said, I don't tell people not to take it. Medications work for different people.

[spirit of wine]

25. Depakote is classified as a "first generation" medicine

it has many more side effects than the more recent medications that have been on the market, like topamax, lyrica, keppra. These newer ones are better targeted to go after what needs to help a seizure stop from occuring in the first place. The best info. one can find is obtained at http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/, since everyone has a different physiology this is a very inaccurate science that takes many trials by fire to get it right. Remember the person that needs to take the medicine needs to take the least amount possible and knows the most about it. Good luck, be patient.

[hashibabba]

26. I took it for at least a few years. It worked fine for mood swings,

but then suddenly it started bothering my stomach so much, I had to switch to something else. Other than that, no side effects.

Remember, when you see the side effects, they're usually a small number of the people who take the meds who may get one or two of the symptoms. It's worth trying it and seeing if it'll help your main complaint.

[cutlassmama]

27. I take Trileptal for that. It works pretty good. eom