Help with depakote dosage for migraines?

I have just been put on depakote and am suppose to start taking twice a day tomorrow but i don't think I can take on in the morning and 1 at night. They make me really sleepy and just to lift my arms or legs they feel like they weigh 300 lbs. Is it ok to take both at night. I have called my doctor several times with no return phone call. Don't know what to do, any suggestions?

I just am really scared to take one in the morning because i have to work all day and don't think I will be able to function at work at all. I guess I will just try and see what happens tomorrow, my boss is being a major jerk since I am out so much. I try to stay as much as I can but I get daily migraines, its just so hard.

If this is for migraine prophyaxsis, and you are not comfortable with the medication or the side effects, and especially if you have not been routinely taking the medication, I would hold the morning dose until you can talk to the physician. Do not double the dose as it could be too much at this time. If the side effects cause you problems, the doctor can start with a very low dose and build as you develop a tolerance, or try another medication. The problem with this is that until you reach an effective dose it will not prevent your migraines. There are many medications available for migraine prophylaxsis, and you may need a different medication or a slower titration.

EDIT: Unfortunately, there is a segment of the migraine population which fits into the same type clinical picture as you. In general, they have daily or near daily severe migrainous headaches, have tried numerous medications to abort the migraine, and numerous mediications to prevent the migraines.

If you reach a point where there are no further avenues to try, or you are too frustrated to manage the migraines. I would recommend a trial of an inpatient headache management program. The best program in the US (in my opinion) is the Diamond Headache Clinic: http://www.diamondheadache.com/
This is run by Dr Seymour Diamond who is the formost authority on headaches in the country.

I wish you the best!

Don't take both at night or you will really feel sick in the morning. I was on that for headaches and was very sensitive to the dose. I had to start much smaller in two doses and gradually bring up the dose. Certainly talk to your doctor about it.

I would suggest keep ringing the Dr. If the Dr wants you to take one at night and one in the morning then continue to do so until you get in contact with them. Good luck. :)

pl see what suits you.
If you are in cold country use all warm things.
Pl try cold water bath and observe if in hot country, if pain increases use warm.
If you have cough/cold body hot water bath will help.
Massage and exercise in front of morning sun is good thing, pl try.
Pl try simple acupressure given below for immediate relief.
If it fails you will have to go for Acupuncture.

There is hardly any medicine for H/A OR MIGRAINE. Not only these but for RA, OA, Back ache, Ear ache/ringing, Stomach ache and almost all painful diseases. Hence they become chronic.

Acidity, WORRY, sadness, excessive wind, cold , heat, sour food and sinusitis, constipation, intestinal inflammation; drug side effects, stress, bad smell, TV & COMPUTER SOMETIMES, Blockage in the flow of Vital Energy, BODY CONSTITUTION etc are their causes.
None of them can be treated with medicine.
Our 100% success in treating migraine &H/A confirms it.

Acupuncture is the best treatment.
I can treat it with naturopathy and YOG, but how can you manage pl see.

Pain killers don't treat the pain but we loose the sense of pain for some time; in that duration our body itself treats sometime and credit goes to meds.
The useless drugs have tremendous power of side effects like liver/kidney failures, ulcer, inflammation of intestines and lot more.

Avoid late sleeping if possible; worry, tension, spicy foods, sour fruits, stale bakery foods, SMOKING and alcohole.

Sweet foods, COCOANUT WATER,sweet fruits like dates, milk, rice, SPROUTS, SALADS and good sleep will help if cough is not there.

But you try one herbal remedy- two drops of drumstick leaves' juice in opposite nostril if one side pains and both nostrils if full H/A will give you rescue. Betel leaf helps but it is very strong.

If it is acute pl search a painful point (with round tipped pen/jimmy) 3-6 mm behind your thumb nail and press it, H/A will disappear within 30 seconds.

For forehead/eye pain the points are in front of nails on the finger tips or 3-7 mm below.

It may disappear naturally too.

Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT, TRAINING & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H. 19, Jhulelal Society, Sector 2/E, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, INDIA.