Depakote anyone?

Has any of you taken Depakote (divalproex)? How did it work for you?

I am currently taking it for my bipolar and also for some irregular brain activity I have. I read the side-effects of it and learned that it can cause blood sugar increase. I made myself some lab tests and effectively, I have high blood sugar (not enough to be diabetes, but higher than the normal value). My GP thinks it is because I am overweight and that I should not worry and do some diet and exercise to regulate it. Still I worry that the Depakote is the one responsible for it and wonder if I should try another med that doesn't produce that effect.

well yes there are other mood stabilizers out there without this side affect. what your doc told you tho is a good idea. with diet and regular exercise you can avoid becoming type 2 without stopping the depakote. i'd discuss this with your pdoc and see what he/she thinks. i caretake my ex husband who is schiz.and became type 2. he takes many meds that can elevate blood sugar. by putting him on a healthy diet he no longer has to take meds for type 2. so you can do this too! depakote is a good drug for many ppl. your diet and exercise can avoid type 2 and also make u healthier. that's an all around good outcome. hope this helps.

Of course it helps madisgram. Thank you! It's good to know that there is a solution to this problem without having to change the Depakote since this med has helped me A LOT. I think this last combo of meds I'm taking (with the Depakote included) is the best I have ever tried since I started with my problems. In other words, I feel very well and pretty stable, so I would not want to change and try another med. But I'll have to see what my pdoc thinks about it as you say. Maybe she feels the same about this.

What other mood stabilizers are out there that don't produce high blood sugar as a side effect?

Thanks.