Like many here, I too had rashes from dilantin and tegretol. I am now on depakote and am eating like a pig! Gaining weight and hand/arm shaking are two side effects I have read about for depakote. Only my right hand shakes at certain times when holding something, even just a small book. (I am left handed). Anyone here experienced either? If so, did they go away?

Hi umpfan
Im an epileptic too...I was on epilim until the past month or two where i started out on lamictal because i was gaining weight when on epilim. But anyhows, about a month or two or so ago, and just the other day, i experienced a shaky/trembly arm, on my left arm, as i am right handed...Those are the only two times in my whole life of epilepsy, that i have experienced a shaky/trembly arm when either upon waking up in the morning or still asleep in bed...It just sort of started (i could feel it coming on, in my arm) then it stopped for a split second, then it all just carried on..Its kinda scary at the time, cos its quite hard to try and fight it/stop it from shaking, cos its just over powering you at that time...How long have you had epilepsy? I had a few funny turns when i was about 2-3 but the epilepsy wasent really diagnosed until i was about 7....


Originally posted by umpfan:
Like many here, I too had rashes from dilantin and tegretol. I am now on depakote and am eating like a pig! Gaining weight and hand/arm shaking are two side effects I have read about for depakote. Only my right hand shakes at certain times when holding something, even just a small book. (I am left handed). Anyone here experienced either? If so, did they go away?

I have food cravings too, I am on depakote. I think I would become very depressed if i started gaining weight on top of this, so i try my best to ignore the food cravings, I try drinking water to fill up my stomich. its hard sometimes. thankgoodness we dont have alot of money so the food cupboard isnt filled with alot of goodies, lol/ I had the hand shaking when i first started taking depakote but it went away. I hope for you that it will go away for you too((())