Depakote - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Eostre · 11-02-2005, 08:59 AM

Hi, I'm new to this board and this disorder, honestly. I was only recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and I'm about to start taking Depakote to deal with the symptoms (starter dose of 500 mg., going up to 1500 probably). My current depression is very severe, potential for hospitalization. I'm a seventeen year old high school senior. Despite my utter need to get better, I'm really scared of the side effects of this medication (mainly the potential for rage and weight gain). Is there anything that I could take to counteract the weight gain? Or anything I can do to avoid it (besides watch what I eat and exercise...which is easier said than done during a crash)? Thanks very much, and I wish you all health and happiness.

ToughTimes · 11-05-2005, 09:50 AM

Hello Eostre,
Welcome to the board! When I was 18 until I was 22 I was on Depakote. 250 mg in the am and 750 mg in the pm. During those four years, I gained 70 lbs! I then got pregnant and stopped all medication and then lost all the weight after I had my son. I am now back on medication, started on Seroquel but it makes me very tired so my PDoc is now switching me to Lamictal. The only advice that I can give to you is this: If you start gaining a lot of weight, ask your PDoc to change your medicine before the weight gain gets out of control. There are a lot of mood stabilizers out there and if the Depakote causes weight gain for you then you can always try something that might work better for you. Good luck to you!!!

schwartz · 11-12-2005, 08:25 PM

The one thing I wasn't warned about (I've been on Depakote for about a year now, with other times I've been prescribed and not taken it in the past...) is that it *can*--not always--but it can make your hair fall out. My hair is about half the volume it was previously. Depakote strips the body of trace minerals, including zinc. This is nothing that can't be avoided with a good multi-vitamin; I take prenatal vitamins, which have extra zinc in them, and the hair loss seems to have abated somewhat. The most important thing is to stay on it until your doctor iindicates otherwise, and to take it as prescribed. Going on and off, I can say from personal experience, is not a good thing. Best of luck.