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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / April 2005Divalproax and depakote
My neuro has prescribed me divalproax. I am reading that is is a form of Depakote. Any one on the drug that can tell me about it and their experiences? My neuro says that my hair is going to fall out mainly!! Ha,ha I just pulled off my hat and showed him my shiney spot and laughed... Of course I will miss the hairy chest as it has been a conversation piece..... Funny, I was trying to describe some of the side effects of the Gabapentin, which he is taking me off and replacing with the divalproax (I asked for keppra, but it is too expensive for the VA for prescribe)to the nurse but drew pretty much a blank at the time. When I got home (?) and starting reading about epilepsy again, I noticed that the side effects of the gabapentin I was having, i.e. flashes moving by my face like hair blowing by, were actually types of "seizures" caused by the drug. The more I read, it seems that almost everything a person does could be considered a seizure if using these definitions (http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/simple+partial+seizures). Anyone out there have any idea in how to help me in filling out my seizure record charts so that I don't overdo it? I mean I know about the grand's and a lot of the others, but where do you draw the line??? I know the answer already probably, "it's different for each person", but I just thought it was really odd that I could mark down that "flatulance" was a seizure. :) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~..~ owlvee >My neuro has prescribed me divalproax. I am reading that is is a form of >Depakote. >Any one on the drug that can tell me about it and their experiences? My >neuro says that my hair is going to fall out mainly!! Divalproex and Depakote are one and the same. Hair loss can ocur with the drug, but it is uncommon. It is reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** > Divalproex and Depakote are one and the same. Dr. Fink, I have been prescribed Depakene, Epival, and now, valproic acid (generic). During the period of time that I was taking Epival, I was *never* able to reach 'therapeutic level' at normal dosages, whereas the other drugs were able to achieve this in normal dosage. A pharmacist once told me that divalproic acid is not the same as valproic acid and that 'a lot of physicians are unaware of this'. I've never been able to get a straight answer. If you have the time, could you edify? Thanks >A pharmacist once told me that divalproic acid is not the same as valproic >acid and that 'a lot of physicians are unaware of this'. > >I've never been able to get a straight answer. If you have the time, could >you edify? Valproic acid is Depakene (in the USA) Divalproex is Depakote (in the USA) Divalproex is a long-acting version of Valproic acid and basically, releases valproic acid over a time period. Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** > Valproic acid is Depakene (in the USA) > > Divalproex is Depakote (in the USA) > > Divalproex is a long-acting version of Valproic acid and basically, > releases valproic acid over a time period. How does Depakote ER ("extended release") fit into the scheme of things? Thanks. --DR >How does Depakote ER ("extended release") >fit into the scheme of things? >Thanks. >--DR Even more extended, so one can dose once a day (but I don't think that it works as well). Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. ********************************** >>How does Depakote ER ("extended release") >>fit into the scheme of things? >>Thanks. >>--DR > Even more extended, so one can dose once a day (but I don't think that > it works as well). > Best, > > Bob In reference to one dosage a day, I have been taken off the gabapentin three times daily(2700mg) and switched to divaproex of a dosage of 500mg a day. It says it is "EC delayed release" and is in a tablet form. I am weaning off the gabapentin and will start the divalproex next week... ~..~ owlvee > How does Depakote ER ("extended release") > fit into the scheme of things? I guess that this is just the same -in The Netherlands we call the Crono. So, Depakine Crono (I used to think that this is the so called "Extended Release"). Did not know about the name difference regarding Depakote / Depakene. It thought it was just a brand name difference and that one was being used in Canada and the other one is being used in US?  SignatureThanks. Marco The Netherlands > My neuro has prescribed me divalproax. I am reading that is is a form of > Depakote. [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > seizure record charts so that I don't overdo it? I mean I know about the > grand's and a lot of the others, but where do you draw the line??? Are you supposed to be keeping track of when the seizures are occuring, or is this a chart to keep track of what kinds of symptoms you are having? By the way, I like bald guys. Barb > I know the answer already probably, "it's different for each person", > but I just thought it was really odd that I could mark down that [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ~..~ > owlvee > My neuro has prescribed me divalproax. I am reading that is is a form of Depakote. > Any one on the drug that can tell me about it and their experiences? My neuro says that my hair is going to fall out mainly!! > Ha,ha > I just pulled off my hat and showed him my shiney spot and laughed... > Of course I will miss the hairy chest as it has been a conversation piece..... I don't know if the two above are the same, but on Depakote I find everything in sight interesting to eat (and I have gained 20 pounds, not good for sleep-apnea issues, or anything else...), and my hair thinned somewhat (it was heavy before, but now it is on the wispy side). I have no other side effects while on it that I can identify, but with each step up in dose level I felt like my head was stuffed with cotton for a couple of days, and I moved like I was drunk (I don't drink, so I'm not completely sure of that...;-). I suspect that experiences vary widely with Depakote - and my impression is that weight gain is common, but hair loss is much less so (and it is supposed to grow back when you stop taking Depakote). > Funny, I was trying to describe some of the side effects of the Gabapentin, which he is taking me off and replacing with the > divalproax (I asked for keppra, but it is too expensive for the VA for prescribe)to the nurse but drew pretty much a blank at the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > (http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/simple+partial+seizures). An interesting and thorough site - with what seems to be more wide-ranginging yet concise and organized information on seizures than I remember seeing elsewhere (but my memory is short...;-). > Anyone out there have any idea in how to help me in filling out my seizure record charts so that I don't overdo it? I mean I know > about the grand's and a lot of the others, but where do you draw the line??? > > I know the answer already probably, "it's different for each person", but I just thought it was really odd that I could mark down > that "flatulance" was a seizure. Always a problem, and no suggestions, alas... > :) > !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! > ~..~ > owlvee "Borrowed" from another NG --- "What is Irish and stays out all night? Patio Furniture." (Oooops! One 'olliday late! 8^} --DR i have had seizures for 8 years now. it is scarey. i have a sixteen month old baby and i get scared with every episode. i have them right in the mornings after my husband is gone to work. so i am always alone. the last one i had i took my daughter out of her crib and I DON'T REMEMBER IT!!! i haven't found anyine that can give me pointers on how to raise my child and be safe doing it. do you have any suggestions? if you do i would like to here from you. : i have had seizures for 8 years now. it is scarey. i have a sixteen month : old baby and i get scared with every episode. i have them right in the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] : and be safe doing it. do you have any suggestions? if you do i would like : to here from you. When my daughter was that size there were some days I would spend the whole day (until my wife got home) sitting and playing on the living room floor. My wife would help me set up 'camp' and we would stay there until she got back. We would avoid TV and anything that could make too much noise, and got thru the bad days that way. Just think about what you need during the time your husband is gone, ( bathroom on the same floor to avoid stairs, quiet things to do thru the day, food the baby could eat if your was incapacitated for a while) and set up the safest way you can do it. There's some risk in anything you do in life, with epilepsy or not , so the best thing you can do is manage the risks. Is there anyone who can come over on your bad days and babysit ? I had a neighbor who was about 3 million years old who would just sit and wait to call the EMTs if I needed them. We had a good time talking and having tea, and she was happy to get out of the house every now and then. Tinker > My neuro has prescribed me divalproax. I am reading that is is a form of > Depakote. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Of course I will miss the hairy chest as it has been a conversation > piece.... Hi Owlvee, First of all, I hope you are doing great out there. Regarding Divalproax / Depakote / Depakene, I am using that and I guess it all depends on the dose you will have to use to prevent the seizures from occuring. I am currently not aware of any side effects other then a little bit sleepy now and then but the reason for this may also be that I do not go to bed before 01:00 in the morning -I will have to change that a bit I guess? I am also not gaining weight or something and I am not really interested in eating more -actually I started to loose weight not because of the medication but more because I wanted to stay healthy and I have been fitnessing again for a couple of months now. I guess the answer is that it all depends on the dosage you will have to take in combination with your current body weight, etc. Take care man. SignatureThanks. Marco The Netherlands
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