I have been on Depakote for years and years, I have gained so much weight from it, I am bipolar 1 with either psychotic features or scitzoeffective, I dont think the doctors have it figured out exactly, The other drug I take is Klonopin, What other mood stabilizers are good that would help me but not cause all the weight gain, It has also affected my liver

[Wander]

I'm sorry you have gained so much weight on Depakote. Talk to your pdoc about other, weight neutral options. I'm on Lithium and though I gained weight at the start it has been easy to lose and is a great mood stabiliser. Lamogtrigine is another weight neutral mood stabiliser but deals more with depression than mania. Good luck, there are options out there.

[still_crazy]

I was on depakote and switched to trileptal. I take 1200mgs/trileptal and 100mgs/lamictal. aside from a couple trips to the lab to check blood sodium levels (trileptal), I haven't had to do any blood work. Trileptal and lamictal have been weight neutral for me, but I don't know how it plays out in studies or for most people.