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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> How long does it take depakote to kick in
        
(Message started by: Linda T on Mar 5^th, 2002, 9:42am)

Title: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Linda T on Mar 5^th, 2002, 9:42am

I've been taking 300 mg depoke for 6 nites now. Nothing. Doc says it may take 2 weeks?????? Have 50 mg tabs of Imitrex and have been taking 100 mg nightly. Got hit 3 times last night-pretty bad. How long does depakote take? Should I have any results by now?

Maybe I'm being overly optomistic but.....

I'm not looking for drugs to lessen the intensity, lessen the duration of the attack - I want the bastard to go away. Period. Plain and simple. Don't get me wrong - I'll take a 15 minute #5 over a 2 hour #10 anyday. Am I being too optomistic. Is lessening the intensity, etc., the best I can hope for? Say it isn't so. Been suffering the beast since November 2001 this time around. Can't say the attacks are getting any better or worse over this time, except during my short lived pred burst.

Any words of wisdon out there? Thanks.

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Jodi on Mar 5^th, 2002, 8:40pm

Linda It takes about a month for me at least and I take 1000 mg a day . If you start getting moody its not you its the depakote.
Godd luck
Jodi

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by kim on Mar 12^th, 2002, 6:55pm

Hey Linda, I relate. Just let the bastard get out of town! I know. Depakote did not work for me at all. Sorry. I did not stay with it though. A month to work? Yikes. I am not a patient person when i am getting my royal ass kicked every day all day long. so you have the depakote and the imitrix? i had that plus midrin. did nothing. I ended up not able to eat for weeks (dr. told me to mix milk bread and sugar so wouldn't dehydrate). Can you believe this? The WORLD should KNOW! Here's a pretty picture: Kim sitting in the living room lank hair (from repeated dunkings in hot tub), bathrobe on, face looking like just freed from concentration camp, a dubious bowl of some kind of food substance (uneaten) on table, various medications ripping through body causing various behaviors. Here comes the LILCO man to check my meter (which is in the basement) . It ain't a pretty sight... Damned if that guy didn't scoot down the walkway quick. Keep at it and PFDAN to you! Kim

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by MaryD on Mar 16^th, 2002, 5:58pm

Hi Linda,
it took me two an half months and taking 2000mg of it to finally work. Watch out for the weight....I gained 40 pounds on it.
MaryD

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Linda T on Mar 16^th, 2002, 6:07pm

Yikes!!! Did you say 2.5 months - 40 lbs. ??????

Actually, I've been taking 500mg for a little of 2 weeks and have seen a decrease in the number of attacks as well as a decrease in intensity. Really don't know if it's the depakote or, dare I say, the end. The 22nd of the this month I hit the 4 month mark. My longest cycle yet.

Appreciate the input. PFDAN always, Linda T.

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by nancyc on Mar 27^th, 2002, 10:24am

Please dont say weight gain...hell, i gained weight on topamax and it is suppose to be the new diet pill..lol..i will start on 250mg tonite along with compazine and verap...then move up to 2,000mg..In 3 weeks, we add the doxepin too....guess i better hide all the food. Praying this works...

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Pinkfloyd on Mar 27^th, 2002, 2:12pm

I hope everyone on depakote is having regular (every 6 months) liver function tests! It's pretty important.

Pink

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by NotH20 on Mar 27^th, 2002, 2:44pm

Depakote did nothing for me except weight gain....so there I was having awful ch's and feeling awful that I had gained so much weight >:(

The topomax worked but better for the ch's and especially for my weight - I've lost approx 12 lbs ;D

Stay strong....

NotH20

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by nancyc on Mar 27^th, 2002, 3:18pm

Yeah, my Doc said i would need liver function test...course i already expected that...as far as topamax, yes, it stopped my chs at 200mg...but the side effects were disabling for me...i was a total zombie and extremely suicidal on it at that dose...and i gained 20 pounds on it...figger that one LOL..everyone else loses...i am trying not to worry about weight gain with the depakote...i just want to be able to be pf again and return to nursing...i will have to live with the weight thing... :)

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by NotH20 on Mar 27^th, 2002, 3:23pm

Nancy,

You are SO correct with your attitude about the weight gain. I think that if Depakote had worked for me - no matter how much weight I may have gained, I would have stayed with it to be PF.....isn't that the name of game?

Good luck to you,

NotH20

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Head_case77 on Mar 27^th, 2002, 8:50pm

Mary D, it sounds like you really stuck with the program. :o . I had never stayed with the depakote for more than a week or two, to my memory. Mary, how did it effect your modes? If my memory serves me, it had a calming effect.
on 03/16/02 at 17:58:53, MaryD wrote:

Hi Linda,
it took me two an half months and taking 2000mg of it to finally work. Watch out for the weight....I gained 40 pounds on it.
MaryD

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by nancyc on Mar 27^th, 2002, 10:10pm

Head case..can i ask why you stop taking it? any side effects for you? thanks .

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Head_case77 on Mar 27^th, 2002, 11:27pm

Smiley:

It sounds like you have a good relationship with your doc, albeit you HAVE a doc. That is more than I can say for myself right now. I am still looking for a new doc or headache specialist :-/, since I got fed up with the headache clinic where I was getting treatment for the past 7 years. What I could never understand is why at the headache clinic they are so free and easy about prescribing Klonopin, for example--- and yet now that I really need remedial relief for the worst headache bout of my life (having started on November 2, a long story) I am supposed to put up with these hard fast ruless about not taking any pain killers for more than two days out of the week. It really upsets me, this is my life they're playing around with---they got me messed up on Klonopin and I was not properly advised when I decided to try to come off of it last August. I have now been off of it for about 4 weeks but have the worst headache of my life, and I am having a helluva time getting the short term pain relief I need (to cover me for a few months). It's interesting what you said about the Topomax, since it is non-addictive and supposed to be good for anxiety and I am now dealing with this terrible rebound anxiety. But neither would i want to be kept on something that makes me a total zombie. Is that really how you felt? How are you doing job-wise, smiley? I have been unable to work since last August, and it is getting very depressing. I want to try the lithium, the doxepin and the Depakote again, since it seems the depakote has a really good efficacy record for vascular headache. Keep us posted on how you're doing on the depakote.

God bless, :)

on 03/27/02 at 15:18:42, nancyc wrote:

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Head_case77 on Mar 27^th, 2002, 11:33pm

I don't really remember what the side effects were, except that it upset my stomach somewhat, and that is fairly common with the depakote. Also, the last round I only lasted 10 days on it with the Neurontin at the same time. I just have never had very much patience with the depakote, but I would like to try it again.
on 03/27/02 at 22:10:29, nancyc wrote:

Head case..can i ask why you stop taking it? any side effects for you? thanks .

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by chuckles8569 on Mar 28^th, 2002, 7:55pm

For what it is worth I never had any luck with Depakote.
I don't think I have enough notes to recall how the weight business went, but nothing but best wishes.
Chuckles

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by nancyc on Mar 28^th, 2002, 8:05pm

Thanks guys, your good wishes mean so much...Headcase, only my opinion and dont know what state you live in but I would try to find a Medical University in your state or close to you...Mikey on the mb went to one in NC and I go to one in SC now...they seem to know more and will experiment more with disorders/diseases. My new neuro was very upset that the last one had started me on a whopping dose of topamax 200mg...she said that was the reason i had such terrible and devasting side effects plus the fact it was very dangerous. As far as work, my neuro will not let me practice until my body adjusts to all the meds i am on and i am out of pain...she says it is too unsafe. I am just grateful when i was on all that topamax , i did not make any major drug errors and hurt someone..She is fighting my private disability company to get my checks started as I have no income now...built a new home a few years ago and sure dont wanna lose it...Today, one of my allies at work in personnel told me a way to get 5 sick days pay and she is gonna push that thru to help me out plus is looking at other ways to help me...my supervisors dont understand chs and have been pretty ugly about it..The personnel director told me not to let their ignorance hurt me and if they gave me a rough time, she would handle it...God looks out for us clusterheads...Let me know if there is any research on a neuro i can do in your area or ask my neuro can she advise you of someone...she is from Italy and very openminded...God bless. "Smiley" lol

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Head_case77 on Mar 29^th, 2002, 6:40pm

Yes, Smiley, God surely does look after we headcases, and I say that with the highest respects. We are headcases only in the sense that our health issues emanate from inside our heads ;). Did you say that your neuro is Italian, and she is an import? That is fantastico, (:-) since I am also Italian. I should check her out, since she sounds very open-minded and not one of the overly-rigid approach. Smiley, thanks so much for all your concern, God knows I need all the help I can get. Interestingly, I do live in a University city in Michigan, and there is a large medical complex here. I have not gone to any of their neuros, but I hear what you're saying about them willing to be more cutting edge and experimental. I just know that I need to be able to live again, and if that means going on something like Methadone I am willing to do it. (Though I must admit, the thought of having to come off something like that is of concern, since I've heard it's very difficult to come off of)... I am a special case in the sense that I have been diagnosed variously down through the years, but in 1980 I was initially diagnosed as having a "cluster variant headache"---at a Headache Clinic in Chicago. It is strange, because the background vascular headachehad been constant for 26 years, and every so many years---like every 7 years I would get an acute exacerbation. Now, I am going through the worst exacerbation of my life, but this was due to coming off the Klonopin as referred to in my last posting.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

HC77
on 03/28/02 at 20:05:15, nancyc wrote:

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by nancyc on Mar 29^th, 2002, 9:17pm

Hi Headcase....yep, she is Italian...her name is Paola Tumminello....she is at the Medical University of Charleston, SC.....was setting up my appt. for my sleep study yesterday, and the lady I spoke with said her husband goes to her..and they both love her...said she is excellent....as far as the methadone, all i can say is DON'T do it....i am an RN in the addiction field and that is the hardest drug to come off of...My neuro gave me an option of going on pain management but I said ...No way..She liked that...told me I was a fighter LOL...there are still too many avenues to explore...check out the study Dr. Goadsby is doing in England ...also, the one in Italy using Aricept...Good luck to you, bro... ;D

Title: Re: How long does it take depakote to kick in
Post by Head_case77 on Mar 30^th, 2002, 3:16am

Nancy, I just retrieved your posting and want to thank you for your quick and thoughtful response. Thank you for your professional advise on the methadone. You seem to be very assertive in the medical realm and this is always so helpful. But when you reach a point of feeling like you're at the end of the course---you just don't have any more energy to fight. God is with me, I know, but after 26 years of daily headache and the worst bout of my life since November 2, I am having a terrible time fighting this all by myself, and have despaired too many times to count since last Fall. I have no family within 400 miles, and I don't think even they understand what is going on, i.e. the gravity of my situation. I desperately need an advocate right now, to help guide me gently along. It is the fight of my life because I want to stay off of the Klonopin, since I made the decision I didn't want to be on it ostensibly for life, and I've been off it 4 weeks now. I know this probably didn't make sense to do because the headache was worse than ever when I started tapering again last January, but I think this drug caused allot of my problems. Yet, I am on the horns of dilemma about it because barring a miracle right now, what options do I have? Either to go back on the Klonopin so that I can at least have my "sanity" back (and not have to deal with the worst anxiety of my life and PAWS on top of everything else)--- or pain management?

Or maybe like an ER doctor said to me last winter, "Maybe it'll go away." Yes, that would be the ultimate.

Love ya,

Francis

PS. I took my phenergan tonight for nausea and vomiting---though I seldom have had nausa with this headache, thank God. Tonight, I think I was precipitated by the flu bug. :-X
and
on 03/29/02 at 21:17:45, nancyc wrote: