[Powermind14]

I have known I was bipolar for about 2 years now, started on lithium, worked great but was concerned that I would gain weight. Used lamictal but it has stopped working, don't want to increase dosage. I just discovered that my husband as well as my 10 year old son are also bipolar. I have never been manic enough to hear or see things but my husband is going through this. It is a chaotic unstable nightmare around here. So here's the deal, I am 5 ft 3, 144 lean pounds (bodybuilder) I have been a fitness model etc. My husband has been very insecure lately about my appearance being too "good". I am switching to 1000mg of depakote, how much weight gain is average at this dose? What is weird is that I am almost looking forward to being fat for a change in my life. My husband says he does not care. If I get sick of the weight will it come off? I THINK I can tolerate 30 to 50lbs. Any feedback on this? I am active and workout about 2 hours a week.

Sorry I don't have any answers for you, as I've never taken it, but I just wanted to send a . Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now...
And welcome to the forums! . I've found a lot of great people and support here and hope you do too!

[polyonamous]

Im on depakote, 1000mg, i was putting on weight anyway, but it hasnt increased?
hope you find a good balance for you, sounds like you have enough to worry about without worrying about a few extra pounds!

[BNLsMOM]

When I first started depakote, I felt it flattening me out. I felt very flat and zombie-like for a few weeks but it passed and it has become an important part of my currently successful cocktail.

[Anneinside]

When I started Depakote I think I gained 8-10 pounds... and lost hair. My pdoc had me start taking Centrium Silver vitamins to help with the hair loss. The hair loss was noticeable to me but not enough for others to notice.

[witchywoman]

I took Depakote for 6 months and had to get off it because it made my hair fall out (ALOT!!!) But I had no weight gain.

[Powermind14]

8 to 30 lbs I can tolerate...more than that and I'll flip!

[midnight_soul]

That all sounds terrible to me. If my pdoc wanted to give me something that was going to cause me to gain a lot of weight AND make my hair fall out....I would ask for another option. Just MPO. I hope you can find some thing that you are comfortable with taking.

[lonegael]

It made me start to throw up excessively befre I could get to therapeutic levels, and made my hair fall out. Not a success for me.

[sadface]

I was on depakote for years. I took 750 mg and it flat lined me. My hair did come out some but not that bad. I would come home from work and lay down on the sofa and take a nap which would piss my husband off and I gained weight. The energy did come back somewhat but the emotions never did. I finally had to change docs to get off of it. I am on seroquel and lamictal which works well for me. I still have the weight on though.

[Laurie1041]

I took Depakote for over one year at 750 mg. a day. I had a flat affect which my family noticed and my hair fell out at an alarming rate. My former pdoc said to take some vitamin supplements which did nothing. I gained about 10 pounds - no more than that which came off after I discontinued Depakote.

I really like Lithium. I have actually lost over 10 pounds. My pdoc said any weight gain on Lithium would range from 2 to 4 lbs of water weight in any given day. I like the anti-depressant effects that I get from Lithium in addition to its mood stabilizer properties.

[Powermind14]

Thanks, so far only a mild increase in shedding and a 2 lb weight gain. I sleep really really good at night but that could just be because of all the recent stress. It is not excessive yet and I am at 750mg and my mental state is very good so hopefully this will work out.

[Fresia]

I took depakote for 2.5 years, for most of that time was on 1000 mg. Had no hair loss or weight gain, actually had weight loss initially and it stayed off. It did cause a flat effect initially, but it went away as got adjusted to it fairly quickly. It stopped working for me those last few months and why I had to change to other meds. It was a lifesaver during the rest of the time however. I was disappointed when it stopped working.

*** Just remember, everyone's chemistry and reaction to a med is so different. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing until trying.

There was one med the doc wanted to put me on for years that I strongly was against b/c of everything I had read in the PDR itself, from the literature and hearing patients' reactions. It became a last resort in my mind, and finally I was out of options. It has since been a lifesaver without any of the reported side-effects. There's just no way to tell how you yourself will react. So even though other patients may have a reaction, does not necessarily mean you will; you may or may not.

So no matter what my reaction or anyone else's has been to depakote, please keep the above in mind as you decide what treatment might be right for you. Wishing you all the best in the meantime as you go forward.

[Powermind14]

Thank you for your post! I've been on it now for about 2 weeks, first week was awesome as far as feeling good mentally and energy wise. Now though I am extremely tired but I don't think it is the depakote, I think it is the season change. I have had more appetite and I have gained about 5 lbs but I think it is just the stress I am under. I am considering switching though because I am getting an eye twitch, not sure if it is related but concerns me. Did you gain weight when you switched to Seroquel? that is my next option. Thanks again!

[Moose72]

I took it for a couple years. I gained 50 lbs. Zoned me out and made me hungry all the time.