I'm on 500mg for the first 2 weeks (1 week in), going to 1,000 next week. While my HA isn't gone, I feel a lightening of the load, and the hits in the evening aren't as severe. Not sure if this is simply the end of a 110 day cycle, or if the Depakote is already starting to work.
Is it possible it starts working in a week and at such a low dose?

I would like to know about anyone's experience with how soon Depakote may have helped them as well, since I am about to start on the same dose schedule as you are. Good luck to you, I hope it is working & hopefully the increase will knock it out completely.

When I first got CH, my neurologist put me on Prednisone, which made the attacks worse. Along with it, he had me take Verapamil, which didn't do anything. Next up was Indomethacin, which also did nothing.

Then he had me try Depakote, which became Divalproex thanks to BC/BS. Took one 500 mg. pill, and the headaches stopped. Completely. No shadows, no ice picks, nothing. After nearly 4 months of 3-a-day  K 8-9 hits, I was euphoric!

I eventually stopped taking the pills, and the CH didn't return. Got a few shadows during the next two winters, so I'd take the depakote again for a few days, and the shadows stopped.

This year is different. The headaches returned at the end of December, and the Depakote wasn't working. My doctor doubled the dosage, and the hits still became more frequent and more severe.

Going to see a new neurologist (I've moved since 2009) tomorrow. I've given up on the Divalproex altogether, and it really made no difference whether I got any attacks or not.

NOTE: My doctor discovered that Depakote and Divalproex are NOT 100% compatable; dosage should be increased by something like 20-30% if taking Divalproex.

But 500 mg is the minimum starting dosage; if it seems like it might be helping, try taking two of them, and never mind any warnings you may find that say not to do that. That's what my doctor meant when he doubled the dosage: Take two pills instead of one.

Good luck, and hope the stuff helps!

And I don't know why that line about the Depakote/Divalproex compatability came out so large... sorry 'bout that...  :-/

Paul_zero6 wrote on Apr 17^th, 2012 at 11:52pm:

...he had me take Verapamil, which didn't do anything.

What dose of verapamil did you try? Most people need around 360-480mg a day, but some need to go to 1000mg before it is effective.

All too often doctors give people far too low a dose and then assume that it is ineffective.

I had a very low dose, if I remember correctly it was 120? but I also didn't tolerate it well. Luckily I'm finally out of my cycle, 115 days!! Worst one ever. I did 10,000 IU of D3. I think that helped.

Mike Bernardo wrote on Apr 18^th, 2012 at 10:58am:

I had a very low dose, if I remember correctly it was 120? but I also didn't tolerate it well. Luckily I'm finally out of my cycle, 115 days!! Worst one ever. I did 10,000 IU of D3. I think that helped.

Mike...thats great news...may it last forever.....Lenny

Look into this but...

I came across Depakote information in a stack of papers presented at a Neurology Symposium over a year ago.  As I understand it Depakote is no longer considered effective in the treatment of CH.

I'll look for the specific document and post it when I find it.

Tom

   

Never again will I waste my time with Depakote. Give me pred, some immigran, and D3.

I am another one who Depakote did not work for. I lasted about 11 days on it. I had terrible side effects at 500MG and it did nothing for my HA's.

Another two cents here, it hasn't touched my CH or shadows after 1 month at 250mg or for the past two weeks, 500mg.

The only thing I've had in increase in is insomnia & uncharacteristic crying jags.