Hi Everyone
Is anyone on Valproate as an add on for schizophrenia and if so what are the main side effects you
experience.
Do you find you have cognitive decline and tinnitus?
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I’m on Depakote for the bipolar aspect to my illness
It does a good job stabilizing my moods
My diagnosis is SZA bipolar type
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I find valparoate calms me down.
Do you find that?
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Doesn’t Depakote cause a lot of weight gain?
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Yes it does cause a lot of weight gain. But I have no choice but to take it.
Yes it keeps things calmer for me @synapse321
Also, Depakote is a weight gaining med especially over 1000mg
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I took it about 20 years ago before I was diagnosed with sza. It didn’t help me at all
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I am on 900mg in divided doses.
I take 700mg at night which makes me drowsy and helps me fall asleep for a few
hours.
Do you find it makes you drowsy too?
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I’m on this med but it’s to treat my bipolar and it does make me calm.
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I went loco when they put me on that. I reckon it did some damage to my brains neurochemistry.
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It made me drowsy when I first started it years ago.
Today it no longer makes me drowsy during the day but maybe a bit before bedtime
Does anyone know whether it has any harmful side effects apart from weight gain in the long term? Thanks
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You need to get blood tests so they can check your Depakote levels and liver functioning
Depakote is very hard on your liver
It also slows down your metabolism so it is a weight gaining med.
I will ask my general practitioner for liver function tests. Here in the UK I don’t think they monitor the amount of valproate in the blood. Do you know what sort of test monitors the amount in the blood so I know what to ask my GP next time I see him?
Thanks
No they have to check for the amount of Valproate in the bloodstream
It can be toxic if it accumulates
I should be OK taking only 900mg.
In the UK the National Health Service being free does not have the funds to do such blood test but I can but ask,.
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