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← Return to Successful Depakote weaning
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Hello,
My son is on Depakote, has been for 14 years. It works for him (knock on wood) but we are worried about the long term effects. If it hadn't been for the tremors do you think you would have stayed with that drug.
Is there anyone out there who has been on Depakote for a long time?
thanks!
Trish
Replies to "Hello, My son is on Depakote, has been for 14 years. It works for him (knock..."
@tlb101175
Hello there, Trish,
First, let me apologize for the way I framed my sentence, "was in my 30s through my 50s I was on Depakote but developed tremors that were pretty extreme." That sounds like I believed the Depakote caused the tremors, and that is not the case....it is a possible side effect of Depakote, but I also had an essential tremor (I still have) in my chin; and I was almost 70 PLUS, reading your concern between the lines...I researched my medical records for my age of that change, and it was actually 2006, which made me 66 years old!! not 50. So, I was on it at least 35+ years.
As I started to respond to you, I thought I better research my dates. Yes, I would have stayed on it if I did not have additional issues. It kept me seizure free and I know how precious that peace of mind and security is.
Forgive me if I caused you any anxiety. I've walked this walk, so you have my heart.💞
My 22 yr old son has been on depakote for about 7 yrs. His liver enzymes are high 75 should be max 30… doc not worried but I am. He does have slight tremor and also it has cognitively affected him and really slowed his processing. We are trying to add lamictal in hopes of decreasing depakote … no a rash (not Stevens johnson. Thank God… neurologist not worried but again I am… cuz it has to be lamictal caused). L-carnitine a ped neurologist recommended for liver health… I begged to add it back. I try to get him to take magnesium and omega 3 for brain health… neurologist recommends nothing but pharmaceuticals…. So frustrating. No one is concerned about his whole body health but me. And when I mention sleeps so hard he can’t wake up they send us to a sleep doc who wants to add more scary drugs. And when his mood is low … add antidepressants… and when school is difficult add methylphenidate to focus …. Well all these drugs have scary side effects including suicidal thoughts …. Docs are all about more and more meds… no one knows how all these things affect a person. Also, neurologist did not care that my college student on all of this stuff was also vaping nicotine and drinking alcohol. His liver 🤦♀️🤦♀️. God bless you and your son.
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also were you taking any supplements while on Depakote. No one has ever suggested vitamin d or calcium to him and he has never had a bone density test. He is now 22?
Trish