Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> depakote?
        
(Message started by: violet on Oct 8^th, 2003, 10:06am)

Title: depakote?
Post by violet on Oct 8^th, 2003, 10:06am

Hi Group,
Anyone here use Depakote with any success?
Thanks,
Vi

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by UnsolvedEquation on Oct 8^th, 2003, 10:51am

Maybe others...but not me. I got up to 1750 mg. Caused tremors (shakey hands) and didn't stop any headaches. Hope you have better luck !
~ Unsolved ~

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by vig on Oct 8^th, 2003, 1:24pm

I still have the unused prescription.
I personally hate these kind of drugs.
I'd rather have the headaches.
I told the neurologist I wouldn't take it and he offered no alternatives.

Stalemate.

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by Artie on Oct 8^th, 2003, 6:31pm

my husband uses depakote (750 mg twice a day) in combination with verapamil. It seems to have helped. Best of luck to you.

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by JECableGuy on Oct 29^th, 2003, 4:05pm

I have used Depakote for over a year (1000mg/day) now. It seemed to work at first during a cluster, but it doesn't seem to prevent the headaches anymore. The side effects are real--nausea, loss of appetite, and ringing in the ears. I think its because of the dosage I am taking now, but I am ready to go to my neurologist for another solution, because the side effects are pretty gross. :P

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by LasVegas on Oct 29^th, 2003, 4:26pm

Three years ago i tried Depakote, 250 mg twice a day, total 500 mg daily. Didn't help at all, just got me sick to my stomach and sleepy. Still have majority of the expired bottle. But, what doesn't work for some, may work for others. Don't drink alcohol with this (shouldn't anyway with CH's as alcohol is a known trigger) and also be careful driving as this causes drowsiness.
Good luck.
Gregg in Las Vegas

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by Yos on Oct 29^th, 2003, 5:02pm

I seemed to have a lot of success in the past with this. It seemed to have prevented my last 2 or 3 cycles with 250mg twice a day. As soon as I'd feel the first onset of a cycle I'd start taking it, and it generally would be gone within a week. I might get a couple heavy hitters, but that was about it. I had been attributing that to the Depakote since that was not normal for me for the previous several years - usually it was 6 weeks of hell. Then after 6 or 8 weeks, I'd quit taking it.

However, this time it didn't seem to do a thing, even after 2 weeks. So doc up'd the dose to 500mg twice a day and that cut the attacks from 8 to 10 a day to 2 or 3 a day, and now after about 10 days of that I think my cycle may be trailing off. Of course it's been about 5 weeks since it started so it's hard to say if Depakote had anything to do with it.

Interesting thing is this cycle came on out of the blue with no warning. Usually I know it's coming at least 2 weeks ahead of time with shadows, twinges, etc. I wonder if this might be why the Depakote didn't work for me this time. I'll probably try it another cycle just to make sure.

Unlike others, I have experienced no side effects from either 500 or 1000mg per day. I seem to be pretty lucky when it comes to side effects though. I do seem a little more tired than usual, but I can pretty much always sleep anytime anyway! (accept of course during a CH).

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by notseinfeld on Oct 29^th, 2003, 7:40pm

Tried Depakote (as a chaser to verapamil) and suddenly I couldn't remember where I lived or what my dog's name was. Frankly, the ramifications on my memory (short term) were so astounding that I ceased using it. Again, this was just my experience but upon cessation my memory did return to its normal, somewhat diminished, state.

nots

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by Prense on Oct 30^th, 2003, 7:09pm

I am starting Depakote today...250mgx2/day in combo with verap 240mgx2/day. I asked her to try lithium, she said ok...but only if this doesn't work. I'm not going to tolerate all those side effects...this could be short-lived. I'll keep you all posted.

She stressed to me that I should take it with food if there is any nausea encountered...

Title: Re: depakote?
Post by NotH20 on Nov 3^rd, 2003, 4:49pm

Hey violet....sorry to say that I did NOT have good results with this medication. I too, like NotSeinfeld, had some short term memory problems and I gained a great deal of weight as well.

But as someone above said - what works for some doesn't work for everyone. Let us know how you're doing.

The best of luck to you....

Mia