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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Depakote
        
(Message started by: Paige_H. on May 16^th, 2008, 10:14am)

Title: Depakote
Post by Paige_H. on May 16^th, 2008, 10:14am

Help. Verap stopped working, inderal isn't working, nothing works. Everything sucks. Now I have a script for Depakote. I've had CH for 30 yrs, so I know the trial and error bull crap. But who has taken it and what side effects could I possibly be looking at? And does the junk work? Yes, I'm very bitter over this CH crap.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Brew on May 16^th, 2008, 10:55am

on 05/16/08 at 10:14:41, Paige_H. wrote:

And does the junk work?

It works for some. It didn't work for me.

Quote:

Yes, I'm very bitter over this CH crap.

You don't say.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by karma on May 16^th, 2008, 11:59am

Can't help with the Depakote but can suggest you take a look here.
http://www.clusterbusters.com/faqlsa.htm
I haven't had much use for pharmaceuticals since trying the R.C. seeds

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Paige_H. on May 16^th, 2008, 12:31pm

The buster stuff would be great, but I need something now. I'm about to lose my job because of this ignorant crap. This cycle has pretty much pushed me over the edge. I guess it is back on prednisone and to try the Depakote.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Trooper on May 17^th, 2008, 12:22am

Depakote worked very well for me for two years. I am episodic and most of my ha's hit while I am asleep. This may not matter but then maybe it does. The only side effect I found was that it made it a little harder to get up in the morning. I started at 500mgs. at night for 5 days and then went to 500 at night and 500 in the am. The first night I took it, I slept ha free for 6 hrs. I know that may seem crazy but at the time I was in one of the worst cycles I had ever had. I was getting hit every night at 3 am and from the first night I took the Depakote it stopped.

I hope you find it works as well for you.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Paige_H. on May 17^th, 2008, 7:17am

Thank you so much Trooper. I took it last night and slept all night.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Trooper on May 21^st, 2008, 7:34pm

Paige that is awesome to hear! I hope it is still working well for you!

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by chefjohn on May 21^st, 2008, 10:28pm

I found this article which was good.

http://www.headachedrugs.com/pdf/HA-2008.pdf

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Paige_H. on May 23^rd, 2008, 8:25am

Thanks guys. The Depakote seems to be the trick, this go around anyway. No problems with it so far either, except I'm kind of groggy in the morning. But I was far more groggy when I was up 3-5 times per night!!! :o

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by cash5542 on May 23^rd, 2008, 11:02am

Depekote has been the final straw med used with my daughter. It works but the side effects are hard. She gets very lethargic although she had been on 2000. She seems to be able to tolerate 500 at night and still function. The funny thing with the 2000 is HA were gone but she was such a zombie she couldn't work or drive to work so what's the benefit. Some other side effects to watch for are weight gain and hair loss. Both occur with prednisone too and she was using both together. IV depekote was very effective. Usualy she got it that way inthe hospital then was sent home with a script for the pills.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by purpleydog on May 24^th, 2008, 8:28pm

Depakote worked for me for awhile. I had to ramp up on it, of course. It made me tired for a couple weeks, then I didn't notice it. Got up to 1600 mg per day. There is also an extended release version of it, without the side effects, like being tired. You may want to ask your doc about it.

Just hit the caffeine first thing in the morning for awhile. The grogginess will probably resolve itself on it's own. Glad to hear you are getting through the night alright.

You may want to check this site, as suggested. http://www.clusterbusters.com/faqlsa.htm

RC seeds work, and right now. And the effects of killing the CH last for awhile. Look on the CB website there for more info.

I hope the Dep helps. I was in a cycle once, and was taking neurontin, and it made me lose some (lots of ) IQ points, and I almost lost my job due to that. Had to stop taking it.

Title: Re: Depakote
Post by Trooper on May 25^th, 2008, 10:43am

When I was on Depakote I was only using 1000mg. ER and the effects were not so bad, just made it a little hard to get out of bed. When I went to the Nuero last time she told me we could try Depakote again. She said I was only at an introductory dose in the past and that we could have upped it quite a bit to get it working for me again. Maybe a lower dose or the ER form will curb some of the side effects.

Right now Depakote is not an option for me because dear hubby and I would like to have another kiddo soon. It is good to know that I can look at this as a viable treatment option again in the future though.