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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Depa Kote
        
(Message started by: johnnypatrick on Apr 25^th, 2007, 9:35pm)

Title: Depa Kote
Post by johnnypatrick on Apr 25^th, 2007, 9:35pm

Hi I'm not really new to this site but since I don't suffer all the time I try and forget about it when I'm free of these bastard headaches. Anyway has anyone's doctor tried them on the anti seizure med called depa kote? It has worked great for me. I have no side effects. Occasionally I get a nocturnal cluster but o2 works good for them , at least for me. Anyone ever need to talk or chat about there suffering please do not hesitate to IM me. johnnypatrick2 on YAHOO MESSENGER

Title: Re: Depa Kote
Post by Bond007 on Apr 27^th, 2007, 10:34am

Depakote was the very first drug my GP tried me on almost a year and a half ago. It had no effect on my HA's AND made me extremely lethargic. I'm glad that it works well for you, though! Best of luck, bro!!

Title: Re: Depa Kote
Post by Gator on Apr 27^th, 2007, 3:47pm

I'm glad the Depakote works for you. Lots of people here have tried it with varying degrees of success. For me, it didn't work. Hope it keeps working for you!

Title: Re: Depa Kote
Post by johnnypatrick on Apr 27^th, 2007, 4:57pm

Do you mind if I ask what has been the best meds for you? Prednisone works a while but I'm diabetic so the doctor won't give me any. Imitrex works great but I can only get a few a month!

Title: Re: Depa Kote
Post by E-Double on Apr 27^th, 2007, 5:50pm

on 04/27/07 at 10:34:50, Bond007 wrote:

Depakote was the very first drug my GP tried me on ~~almost a year and a half ago~~. It had no effect on my HA's AND made me extremely lethargic. I'm glad that it works well for you, though! Best of luck, bro!!

Same here.
Glad you seem to have found relief

Title: Re: Depa Kote
Post by swimchica623 on May 1^st, 2007, 11:21am

Works for me, but I get bad side effects when I stay on it too long (fall asleep when I'm left alone, weight gain the first time I was on it but not the last two times) so I only use it as a last resort.
My dr explained that it takes weeks to build up in your system in order for it to be effective enough for CH, which could be why some people did not find it effective. So whenever I go on it, he starts me on the IV form, because that starts working that day. That form is called depacon (1000mg-2000mg, then take 1000mg pill form the last day of IV, which will be 1000mg of IV). I'll be on the IVs anywhere from one day to one week and then take the oral stuff from 2 weeks to 6 weeks (start at 1000mg then take 500mg). When I just start with the oral form, it doesn't work. But the IVs will stop a high cycle (we are sorting this out right now, we thought I was episodic but now my neuro is saying chronic with high cycles lasting a week or two because I haven't had tehm stop, just slow down with preventatives) and its a good medicine, just makes me kidna sleepy, dizzy, and sick to my stomach. Totally worth it though.
Lisa