I've been taking depakote for 9 months and it has some what helped my mood swings, but it has really improved my concentration and anxiety problems. Depakote combined with adequate nutrition and exercise is the ultimate treatment for my bipolar dis order.People need to realize that medication alone will not provide them the best results. The worst thing about the depakote for me, is occasionally I have very blury vision. People are complaining about the weight gain due to depakote this has not been true for me.Without the sucess of depakote I could not be persuing a nursing career. I simply could not think.I hope it keeps working for me because other treatments have been a real night mare for me. Abilify and Seroquel about made me lose my mind. I was estatic when depakote worked for me!Though all people are different, I highly recomend it. Good luck and don't give up. Published: January 11, 2008 ::

I have been BP all of my life and diagnosed at 13yrs but never remember being "level" or happy (even as a young child). I was misdiagnosed and mistreated for depression most of my adult life. After 5 days of taking DepakoteER I have noticed a big change. I am a rapid cycling bipolar (minutes not days and hours) I have noticed increased appetite, sex drive and enjoy time with my family that I have not had in 36 years of my life. I am calm, collected and NOT exhausted from my mania. Also, my depression now just a slight sadness that quickly disperses without much effort. I can now laugh and mean it, it isn't just the "appropriate response". This includes the smiling and the crying. I am no longer in the "fog" of BP but a REAL person with REAL reactions. I would take the side effects and risks to remain this way. I am a person for the first time in my life. When I began the medication, the first three days were a little rough with the changes my body made (urinating every hour, thirst and frequent bowel movements) but as the drug levels out, my body responds more normally now. I hope this post helps some of you. This drug has helped with my mania AND depression. Published: October 10, 2007 ::

Depakote has been the old stand by in my treatment for my Bipolar.Please make sure to have the blood work done regulary, to check up on your liver.Have been on this drug well over 10 years.It has been a great mood stabilizer for me. Lithium never agreed with my system, causing me to have a great deal of stomach distress. Consider Depakote, it is a older drug but can be effective.Everyone is different though.Take care,best of sucess always. Published: October 26, 2007 ::

My mood swings have improved and I can fall to sleep without my mind jumping from one thought to another. Published: December 13, 2007 ::

This medicine worked for my bipolar disorder, BUT it also made me gain a lot of weight, my hair was falling out and worst of all it gave me LIVER DISEASE! There is far more harm than good from this medicine and I wanted to let everyone know the dangers of this medicine. I know not everyone will have the expierence I did, but why take the risk where there are better medications out there? Now I am sicker than I have ever been in my life and there is no relief from the stomach aches I get due to my liver. Published: November 25, 2007 ::

After about a week, I experienced a decline in migraine headaches. Now, four weeks later, I have only had about 1-2 headaches. I was getting them daily for 4 years. The only side effect complaint is constipation. Published: October 11, 2007 ::

My daughter who is 29 tried several different medications for bi-polar disorder, all the others made her gain weight, sleep all the time. This medication is working WONDERFULLY for her. No more major mood swings, acting eratic, living on the edge. This medication is probably not for everyone.SHe had to try several others and 3 different psychiatrist before we found the right one for her. She has been on it 3 months and could see a immediate difference in her.If you or a loved one suffers from bi-polar disorder do not give up, there is help out there. With medication and the right doctor they can be helped. She also had no side effects from this drug.We found her miracle. Published: January 30, 2008 ::