For the past few  weeks, Dad has had trouble sleeping. He started telling me about disturbing dreams he had–which included ghosts, and death. He felt that the house they are living in, is evil. He was asking me about my brother and if he and his family were ok. It was ironic because when he asked that question, my sister-in-law had just gotten surgery.

We just thought that maybe he was just worrying too much and then the dreaming would eventually stop. After the dreams continued, I decided to give his doctor a call. His doctor told me he thought Dad might have mild dementia ( this probably  caused by symptoms of his Congestive Heart Failure).  He started him on a low dosage of 125 mg twice a day. It’s been about a week and his dreams have ceased.

What is Depakote?

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about it. It’s what Mom is on. She had severe agitation when she was in the nursing center. Doctors there prescribed her Depakote to alleviate her combativeness and her agitation. Normally it is used to treat seizures and convulsions. Other behavioral disorders include: bipolarism.

Side Effects

The most significant and risky side effect is liver damage which can be fatal, especially within the first six months.  Young children under the age of two are most susceptible. The risk to liver damage decreases with age, but one should always be alert for:

• loss of seizure control
• weakness
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• not feeling well
• facial swelling
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• jaundice

Depakote can also cause life-threatening damage to the pancreas. Symptoms to look out for include: abdominal pain

• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting

So, in another week or so, I will have to take Dad back in and get a blood test to test his liver function. He has been a little drowsy so I have to see if his doc would be willing to reduce the dosing to just evenings when he is having the most problems.