When I was on Depakote the first time, I put on a lot of weight. The weight virtually fell off once I was taken off the med.
I’ve put some weight on again this time I was put on Depakote. But I was sui for almost a year in the lead up to being on the med and it is still such a relief to have a happy mind. I’d rather be overweight and have my head working.
I take Lithium and my thyroid is dying. My mum, maternal aunts and maternal grandmother all take thyroxine and none of them have bipolar. So I think a dead thyroid was in the genes anyway. If my kidneys started showing signs of failure I would stop taking Lithium and switch to something else.