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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Any successes with Depakote?
        
(Message started by: kjaycox on Apr 18^th, 2003, 5:38pm)

Title: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by kjaycox on Apr 18^th, 2003, 5:38pm

I think Depakote is a fairly new medicine for the treatment of cluster headaches, but I am wondering if anyone out there has had any luck with it as a preventative? I have been on it now for about a week and it shows no signs of helping at all. I am taking 1000mg/day.

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by jonny on Apr 18^th, 2003, 5:54pm

I have never takin it but some meds do take up to 10-14 days to fully saturate your blood stream.

Good luck.

.................................jonny

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by fubar on Apr 18^th, 2003, 5:58pm

I'm on 500 mg ER daily, and it has been a *little* help. Maybe increasing the dosage might make it more effective. My neuro appointment is Monday, so we'll see what he has to say. It had no effect at ll for at least 3 weeks, for me. Then, the severity and frequency of attacks declined a little bit.

Hope that helps.

-Fu

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by MarkV on Apr 18^th, 2003, 8:31pm

yes, but only for a year and in my case (chronic) lost its effectiveness. When it did work though, I noticed benefits within a couple weeks. Although it took me 3 to 6 months to get accustomed to the 1000 mg and the minor emotional side effects went away pretty much.

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by M.R. on Apr 18^th, 2003, 9:14pm

worked for me with Prednisone...for about 3-4 months....but I'll take what I can get

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by sailpappy on Apr 18^th, 2003, 10:04pm

Actually Depakote has been a standard treatment for many years now, there are some inherient problems with it being a seizure control medication and I couldn't take it due to the liver problems I have, I will tell you that the first few months you should have your blood work done every 2 weeks or so to make sure you not having any adverse reactions to it as it has been known to cause liver and renal failure! JMHO Pappy

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by little2late on Apr 18^th, 2003, 10:27pm

Depakote was in my house and I had thought about giving it to my husband as nothing his medical doctor seemed to work......that is why i had made an appointment with a neurologist, this episode just seemed to be soooooooo severe and longer than before.

I was prescribed Depakote for bi-polar disorder and did have my liver checked every 3 months....so i had it on hand.

The day before my husband went to the neurologist I had given him a 10mg. valium, an anti-inflammatory med (I'm sorry i can't recall the name as i was taking them when needed for my bulging disk in my back, but their are many of them) and 2 500mg. of ibuprofen.......IT WORKED....we told the neurologist and he asked me if i was a nurse, i said no.......he said "what made you think to give him what you gave him" i said "well a headache causes blood vessels to expand so i figured a valium would calm him, the anti-inflammatory would constrict the blood vessels and the ibuprofen was for the pain...
I don't think he was too happy with me but my husband was as it relieved his pain......I found out later that depakote is prescribed for clusters and always wondered if I had gone with my gut if that would have worked......I hope the information about the other meds i have talked about helps someone........

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by catlind on Apr 19^th, 2003, 9:45am

I took depakote and it made my headaches 10x worse. Not a med that was any good for me.

Cat

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by Mikey on Apr 19^th, 2003, 2:20pm

I've been taking Depakote for around 5 Yrs. now at the rate of 1500mg a day, does nothing for my CH but, has been a God Send for my Meegraines. Before i was on depakote, i used to have some bad neuro probs, and the depakote seems to keep them under control.

Mikey, ;D

Title: Re: Any successes with Depakote?
Post by Kenzie60 on Apr 19^th, 2003, 2:42pm

I was also on Depakote with no help, they actually brought on more CHs.
Roseanne