depakote ER & weight gain

My daughter is 23. At the age of 17 she experienced severe depression and was put on Prozac. She takes 60 mg. a day. She started having seizures at the age of 19 and now also takes Depakote ER. This seems to work for her as she had been on another seizure medicine and continued to have seizures once or twice a year. However, since taking this medication she has gained 60 pounds. She has been on it about 16 months. She also takes aderal. I am very concerned for her health. Can you give me any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could give.

I wish I could offer you some good advice, but yes, Depakote is a nightmare when it comes to weight gain, making one get more depressed.
Has she ever been on Lamictal? I have been since Aug.2002 besides Lithium (now weaning off of ) but still will remain with Lamictal which is an anti-convulsant/seizure med. but also used for bipolar disorder, and even migraines.
Tegratol (forgive my mispellings) is another one that I did not go on cause again I did not like what I heard about weight gain, and lethargy. I find the Lamictal pretty good with no major weight gain if any at all, my regular doc and pdoc said the studies show only 1 % will put on some extra pounds.
This is just my 2 cents, but I feel for your daughter with the weight gain, I wish they'd come out with a new med that will cause your "hair to thicken" and your body "to thin", but I guess that is asking for the "miracle drug", which I hope some pharmaceutical company will soon come up with
I wish you lots of love and luck
"darkeyes"

Thanks so much for taking the time to write! I will have her check into the other alternative drugs you mentioned. She was on Neurontin but it didn't stop the seizures. I wonder if the Prozac is causing some of the weight gain too because she takes quite a bit.

I used to be on depakote taking it twice a day but my psychiatrist was able to start reducing the medicine once I started therapy and joined a Peer Support Group. Once your daughter starts dealing with her issues her psychiatrist should be able to reduce her medicine.

I've also been on Prozac in the past, it is not an anti-seizure med. if she does have seizures I would think she'll need anti-seizure meds., is she epileptic? It is true what was said here by another member, that therapy will help, and the doc may then be able to reduce her dosage of Depakote, but I still feel that trying another alternative in meds. can be helpful, while including talk therapy. Depakote like many meds. aren't always going to work the same all the time for everyone, so the pdoc she sees may have to try different ones to get the right mix, but hang in there, a reputable pdoc and therapist can make all the difference, providing the patient is compliant too I went through the Depakote reduction thing and other meds., that did not work for me so I opted to try others and this last mix has worked the best for me, mind wise, so again, it can take trying various kinds before the right mix is found, be patient, oh yes, if she does have epilepsy be sure she still recieves anti-seizure/anti-convulsant meds or alike so nothing else happens to her. Yep, I am a mom too, so I feel for you.
Please take care and feel free to drop by.
"darkeyes"

She has seen a therapist since the beginning of her depression. She really connects with her but she now lives 2 hours away and can't get to her as often. She doesn't want to go to anyone else and have to retell the whole story. I don't feel the Prozac is working for her but she is scared to go off it incase she would spiral even lower. She takes the Depakote ER for seizures not depression. I am convinced the combination is what has made her gain all the weight. She has an appointment with our medical doctor tomorrow and with her neurologist on Tuesday. I am going with her tomorrow. I will check back after those visits. Really wanted her to schedule an appointment with her therapist but she didn't do it. I am just so concerned but she has doctors in 3 different towns!

Hi there,
I know when I moved to NJ from PA almost 2 yrs. ago I thought I would be able to stay with the same psychologist and psychiatrist but being an hour and a half from them re-thought it with them and felt I should establish with new ones for my own safety, etc. but I miss them both terribly. It took a little time, and now I feel comfortable being with the new ones, I really know though what having to "re-tell" docs/pdocs the "story" over again, if the original docs can write an accurate to the point history of her it may help the new ones make the "re-telling" a little smoother, just a suggestion. Sometimes we learn to accept this situation because if we just keep in our minds (if possible) that in the long run it will be to our advantage, at least it was for me, but everyone is different. I feel for you both, this process can be hell, but it is possible that you both can get through the hard spots, just believe. . .
Much luck and love to you 2
"darkeyes"

Hi! I really love this forum and look forward to everyone's support and thoughts! Well, we went to her medical doctor yesterday and he feels she need to try different drugs for both the depression and the seizures. He feels the combination of Prozac and Depakote is what has caused the weight gain. He is recommending Topamax for seizures. Do you know anything about that drug? He said it will promote weight loss. She sees her neurologist next Tuesday. I almost feel like I should go to that appointment too. I try to keep my mouth shut but it is hard!! Thanks for your help!

Gee, Topamax, I don't know if you have read any of my previous posts and replies, but my pdoc had me try Topamax along with my meds to see if it would help budge my weight and also said he wouldn't use it as a single med for my disorder cause it's track record for bipolar is not as good as Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal, Tegretol and the others.
Sad to say it did nothing for me, weight wise and mind wise so the doc and I agreed to forget about it and just stay compliant with the meds that are working for my mind, he said that was paramount, but us ladies hate weight gain too
It sounds like that your major thing here is for preventing seizure(s) so that I am not too knowlegable about what anti-seizure/anit-convulsants are the best or better alternative, but be sure to be assertive with her docs, it's hard sometimes but we have to be today. Many people do have great response to Topamax so I hope you don't take my experience with it to not work for others, we all are individuals with individual meds. that work best for us.
I wish you both a lot of luck and feel free to keep us updated on how things go
Sincerely,
"darkeyes"

She is going to start on Topamax and go off the Depakote--agreed on by both her med ical doctor and her neurologist. I haven't seen her this excited in years!! It was wonderful to see her have hope again!! I new the weight gain had bothered her but never realized to what extent!

Oh yes, the damn weight gain I know has had a major negative effect on me almost negating all the help my meds have given me. It is a hard thing she is going through right now, but it is so good that you are so understanding to her and that is what she'll need, your support and it sounds like you are doing a great job with it, that is wonderful !! I give you an applaud and a big kiss
Take care,
"darkeyes"

Thanks so much for all your encouragement!! I think maybe you should be a counselor!!!