Divalproex is an anticonvulsant mood-stabilizer licenced for the acute treatment (but not maintenance treatment) of mania in Bipolar I Disorder. Research has shown that lithium usually is superior to divalproex for maintenance treatment of Bipolar I Disorder. Divalproex sometimes increases weight and hair loss, but there is no evidence that it increases the risk of diabetes mellitus.
I have tried almost everything to control my mood (I have been in a MDE for more than 3.5 years now...my depression has been extremely anxious and I cycle alot). Epival is the first med that seems to be helping me at all.
I originally went up to 1000 mgs and for the first time in years I slept through the night, had very little anxiety and my irritability/rage felt under control. Unfortunately, the Epival made me extremely fatigued and I had problems with feeling apathetic and unmotivated.
My pdoc tried lowering the dose...but my rage and anxiety came back almost immediately and I wasn't sleeping again. So I went back up for a couple months to 1000mgs. To help lift my mood and give me some energy my pdoc augmented the Epival with Dexedrine. This seemed to help with my fatigue for at least 1/2 the day.
Recently I have become increasingly fatigued and have had really bad short term memory and concentration/attention problems. I am also having problems with depersonalization. I am lowering my dose to 500mgs to see if that will still maintain the good effects of the med, but rid me of the bad ones.
About the weight gain...I have actually lost 7lbs...and am finding that as I lower my dose my appetite is actually increasing...darn! I know that I was really concerned about this side effect before I started the Epival and I have made a really conscious effort to eat well while I am on it...so may have helped.
As for the hair loss...I did notice it quite a bit in the beginning, but it seems to be getting better. I have read that the loss is transitory and usually lasts a couple motnhs and then reverts to normal. Also, I have heard that selenium and zinc supplements can help with this problem.
Divalproex Sodium
Posted - 05/11/2005 : 22:57:12
