Depakote and hair loss

I have been taking 500 x 3 each night of Depakote for 7 years. It caused me to gain 50 lbs. I used to take walks every day at least 6 miles a day after i started taking Depakote, my motivation to walk and do much of anything at all, went away. All i wanted to do was sleep.

I still suffer from depression which was my main problem in the first place and the main reason I went to the Dr. and I still do suffer from depressions.

I used to write poetry, now I can't do that anymore because I don't have a single inspirational thought coming to my mind about anything.

I don't notice the beauty in things like nature anymore as I used to, Basically I just feel like a walking half-zombie. A wall of partial numbness.

Recently, now I have been having short term memory loss and it is very irritating and I find it getting worse with each week.

The thing I hate the most about this med is the fact that it has made me physically dependent on it, because if I miss a day, or if I am some hours late with taking it, I get a horrible headache, and everything starts to get real bright to my eyes and I feel nauseated and I get stomach pains, which worsensw by the hour that goes by without me taking it.

which means I have to always make sure I have an extra dose with me in case I go somewhere and don't get back in time for my next dose. I hate being controlled by a med like this.

I am afraid to stop taking it because I have heard stories that if you just stop taking it suddenly, your body will shut down and you can drop dead. I have actually heard this. and I am afraid to tell my doctor that I don't want to take it anymore.

Reading about the hair loss is scary, so far that hasn't happened to me.
If it does, you can be sure I would end this med faster than anything.

it works most of the time for my epilepsy have always had pretty good luck till lately. I am 36 and I have been on depakote 500 mg 3xs daily now for 21years. I am tired a lot and my memory is so bad I get so mad. I recently went to the Dr. sick and he done some blood work and said that the depakote has made my platelets low and my pancreas has elevated a little so its time I think to come off the med. really does well a side from all the hair loss and a little gain over the years 10 to 20 but also love to cook so cant blame it all on the medicine. Look they have new good meds out there don't be afraid to try them this med was good in its day but theres new and better and I'm going to try some time soon to do just that good luck everyone and God Bless each one of you as you go through all this.

I have been taking 100 mg Depakote ER for several months and had noticable hair loss combined with dry, itchy skin.

How I cured it: One tab Centrum Silver multiviatmin per day provides the zinc and selenium you need to avoid this side effect. Also take an extra 40 or 50 mcg tablet of just selenium, because the amount of selenium in Centrum Silver is too low. That did it for me.

I have heard it takes six months for lost hair to grow back.

well i havent been on long but i do feel better. my moods no highs and lows.i dont haft to say im sorry all the time.my balance is of. i always had short term memory loss.i have migrains at least once a day.so im on a diet i watch how an when i eat.no hair loss yet.just pray for me an i will do the same for everyone.

I am a 38 male and have been on 1000 mg of Depakote daily for about 4-5 months to treat bipolar disordor. I can honsetly say that this drug saved my marriage, my job and perhaps my life.

I am sorry to read that so many fine people are experiencing such terrible side affects. I seem to only experience a very slight lack of concentration, increased sleepiness but no more than 8-10 hours tops and a touch of weight gain. Hair loss?? Not sure as I have losing some for a good while :)

As far as the weight gain goes; strongly suggest that people try and eat smaller meals broken out throughout the day and keep sugar-free popsicles in the fridge :-) And of course working out. This seems to have kept my weight within normal range.

Good luck all and don't be so quick to dismiss Depakote, it cant be all things to all people but may help the rest of us.

I have not experienced any hair loss or weight gain with this drug. I take Depakote 250 milligrams 3x per day for migraine headaches. Once in the morning, and two in the evening. What I do get is an unbelievable case of indegestion. I always make it a point to eat when taking this medication. I was also wondering if anyone has had a decrease, in thier sexual desire ? Being on this drug? any comments would be greatly appreciated

I have been on Depakote for bi-polar for about 4 months. I have gained about 15 pounds and I have a lot of hair loss. The doctors at Mayo told me that 10% have hair loss and I am one of them. The worst part is not only that my hair is falling out, it no longer will even curl. I have tried different cuts and no luck. The bi-polar is better, but is it worth it?...

hey im 16 yrs old and i've had a very tramatic past. i've been through a hell of a lot and sometimes cant get my thoughts all together and think right. i take depakote and i think it is the best thing that has happened to me, of course there are the side effects like gaining weight and hair loss which i have seen in my own case, but then again you have to look at the bright side and figure out what means more to you. if you are a changed and better person when you take this drug then those minor things wont be such a problem for you. i dont know but i have struggled my whole life and i am only 16 turning 17 like i said and finally i feel like i can live and have a normal life with no stress and with people feeling like they want to be around me not being scared that i might snap at any minute. well good luck you guys and if nothing i said mattered or even applied to you then follow your heart and do what you know deep inside is good for you and dont let your emotions tell you what to do cause they come and go. thanks for listening email me if you would like to talk.

my daughter started taking depakote at 2 yrs. old. She was taking 375 mg of depakote per day plus 200mg of topomax. She had hair loss but it has since grown back. She cannot concentrate at all. I have slowly but surely started weening her off of everything myself. She seems to be doing much better.

I just started Depakote about a month ago. I'm just now getting what I believe to be "side effects" or they could be from a mixture of meds that I take (Zoloft and wellbutrin in the morning, and Depakote Temazapam and amblify at night). I am haveing hair loss...which is fine with me cuz my hair is so thick anyways. I'm starting to lose weight, and lately my legs have been hurting. As of the last week or so I've become a total bitch. I am irritated all the time and wish people around me would just leave me alone. There is a good chance that I may even end my relationship....just on a count of my moods and bitchiness. I see the Dr on the 2nd so hopefully there is a happy median somewhere

this is a terrible drug, severe memory loss, anger, hair loss, irritation. This drug needs to be banned, its killing our precious minds, may as well fry our minds, it slows me down..I am not the man I used to be,.,,,,

i am on this med for 47 years i was birth at it was ok till i read this all i was not should about the hair loss but now i am guess it is the depakote and weight how do you get off of it and my dauther is on it to and she can not gain any thing

my sister took depakote for approx 8mo., has been off for approx 2mo. she experienced severe hair loss after the first few months of taking depakote, and the hair loss is still just as bad. if someone can please tell us how long hair loss might last after your off the terrible drug, please help..