Depakote and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

For Epilepsy "Depakote was the first epilepsy medication I ever took, and it did work in controlling my seizures; I never had a single one while on it. However, every single 'lesser' side effect on the drugs.com description sheet happened to me. I became depressed, I gained weight, my body clock went totally haywire, and my periods, which were already irregular, became even more so. I attributed most of this to me just being in middle school (I was in 7th grade at the time), but most of it stopped after my doctor switched me to Lamictal a few months later."

• Bi-...
• April 27, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar back in 1993 after the birth of my last child. Being the youngest in my family, I was not told of the condition being hereditary. I was prescribed 750 mg to begin with and now at 500 mg a day. I cannot attribute any weight gain to Depakote, as at current I am in postmenopause and weight gain is likely. I've had no issues with my liver; however, I do bruise easily. At the time I began Depakote, I was running on overdrive and zapping out, not sleeping, not eating, feeling guilty, anxious, panic attacks, etc. Since then, I have returned to a relatively normal life. I have currently been put on Effexor to help with my postmenopausal symptoms. I'll update you on my progress."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "After I started this medication, I gained 10 pounds in 2 weeks. After taking this for 3 months, I went from 212 to 265 pounds. I hadn't changed my eating habits, so I was annoyed that I had to work hard to lose the 53 pounds I gained on this medication."

• dre...
• October 28, 2009

For Epilepsy "I have been on Depakote for 13 years after I had 2 grand mal seizures in one year. After being placed on the Depakote delayed release, I have been fine ever since. There was a time that I tried the extended release and my legs started to show some spikes, so I switched back to be on the safe side, which was the better call. I also use the sprinkles. As for the weight gain, I never really gained more than about ten pounds, but I stay active and mainly keep it off. My doctor also put me on Topamax, which helps balance out the weight gain because Topamax makes you lose weight and Depakote makes you gain, so they both kind of cancel each other out. Topamax also helps with seizures, so it was an addition, and I have been seizure-free for 13 years."

• Bea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 21, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "Was on Depakote ER for years at a very high dose (2400 mg), and while it completely prevented my migraines with aura (numb face, tingling arm, bad visual changes, dizziness, etc.), the side effects were not worth it. Severe weight gain (I went from about 115 to 170 lb in a couple of years). Menstruation stopped completely. Pre-diabetes. Although it can be used to stabilize mood, it created mood swings in me. Horrible, horrible medicine with very serious side effects. Depakote ER should not be used on women of childbearing age due to the effects it has on your hormones. I've been off it for almost 8 years, and my health has returned to normal. I started a daily calcium channel blocker, and it's prevented most of my migraines."

• Lep...
• August 24, 2009

For Epilepsy "As far as control, this drug has been a godsend. In the way of weight gain, this drug has been a nightmare. I have gained 90 lbs in the 10 years on this drug. I have tried switching medicines, but have had two seizures doing so. I am healthy other than the weight gain. The drug has done what it is meant to do: stop seizures. I call it being fat and functional."

• Jud...
• September 16, 2011

For Hyperekplexia "I have taken Depakote for 21 years for a condition that causes me to hyper-startle and frequently fall. With Depakote, my condition is, for the most part, held in check, and even when I do fall on occasion, it is greatly reduced in intensity. I have gained about five pounds, but what a small price to pay! Incidentally, I take 250 mg morning and night and take no other medications for the condition."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Before Depakote, I was a complete mess. Crying, rage issues, kept feeling like something bad was about to happen or I was going to lose my mind. It was a very rough 2 months of these feelings. When I started Depakote, I started noticing pretty quickly how much better I was feeling. I take 750 mg. My only negative is I've gained 11 pounds in 2 months and cannot shed them. I need this medicine increased, but the weight gain increases my anxiety and depression. So not sure if I'll stay on this. But it definitely helps if you don't mind gaining weight!"

• Dep...
• October 4, 2020

"Nightmare in a word. I had massive weight gain during the 8 months on Depakote, my face swelled up. I looked like a chipmunk, my once pretty face was gone and replaced by triple chins. I found out I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease diagnosed after 8 months on Depakote. Slept all the time, couldn’t wake up. Made me agitated and didn’t relieve depression. I sort of existed, and nothing made me feel any way or another-numb and sedated and then agitated. How is this supposed to help psychiatric issues? The worst part was that it’s been painstakingly difficult to lose that weight since discontinuing. It should really be pulled off the market. I wouldn’t recommend anyone it, especially getting it from county health care because they forget to test blood levels and herded me around like cattle. That was my experience on it. Discontinued it and moved on with my life and am doing much better now."

• Bad...
• May 2, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote since June of 2006. I was initially started off at 1,000 mg and am now up to 1,500 mg. When I told my neurologist I want off it, she increased the dosage to 1,500 mg. I take it for epilepsy but have had similar problems as you all. I am 24 years old and am now balding. I have decreased ambition and have difficulty with memory and paying attention. I have gained about 50 pounds since starting it. Last year when my prescription was raised from 1,000 to 1,500 mg, I noticed a 15 lb increase in about a month. I am, however, not having any seizures."

• Spe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 14, 2024

For Mania "I'm on a very high dose, 2000 mg/day of generic Depakote ER -- I don't know why -- except the MD at the hospital put me on it and my current MD just went along with it. Has it helped? I can't say. Has it hurt? Yes, I believe it has caused an enormous weight gain."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2011

For Epilepsy "This medicine has been generally quite effective in controlling my seizures, once I controlled for other factors like sleep, caffeine, etc. I gained 10% or so of my body weight in the winter, but I'm pretty confident if I work harder I can reverse that (by more regular workouts and more careful fat and especially carb intake)."

• tmi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 17, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "My experience using Depakote for my bipolar 1 diagnosis has been extremely positive. I was hospitalized 3 times from 2002 to 2003 and given several different medications. Some of those medicines made me tired and almost living like a zombie. Eventually, I was prescribed Depakote, and it's been amazing for me. I've been taking 500 mg twice a day and 250 mg once a day. My dosage has been stable for over 10 years, and I no longer see a counselor. This has changed my life, and I feel confident and stable. I have put on a little weight, but that's a small price to pay for what Depakote did for me."

• Tro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "My experience with Depakote was terrible. From severe weight gain to becoming bipolar to eventually being completely subdued and dumbed down. In three months, while still being sick and hardly eating at all, I had gone from having lost 15 pounds due to my illness to gaining upwards of 50 pounds in two months on Depakote. This took me from 222 to over 270 lbs, and my body did not level off in weight gain until I hit over 300 pounds. Needless to say, the doctors took me off Depakote and eventually put me back on Dilantin brand. For me, this drug was a real nightmare, and over 10 years later, I have still not lost the weight it caused me to gain. Personally, I would stay away from Depakote, but if you do take it, be careful about the weight gain side effect. It's brutal."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "It made me cognitively impaired, numb, had headaches, and caused weight gain. Plus, no energy."

• Bru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "For mood stabilization, Depakote worked out well for me, but it also helped me gain about 50 lbs! Once I started slowly switching off it, the pounds started coming off."

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 20, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was a zombie and gained so much weight. Now I take Lamictal and am so much better."

• phe...
• September 15, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I gained 50 lbs on Depakote, it also makes me lazy since 2007."

• rxq...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Really intense side effects. Weight gain, zombie-like behavior, etc."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I went on Depakote 10 weeks ago. My migraines are no different, but I've gained 25 pounds. That's just crazy! Just switched to propranolol, and I think my headaches are getting better."

• jod...
• October 8, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "This medicine works fairly well. I take the appropriate dosage, no complaints but weight gain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Worked well for migraines but had to stop due to double vision, dizziness, and 16-pound weight gain in three weeks."

• ero...
• November 4, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote made some gain weight? It made me lose about 15 pounds, all fat, and I got chiseled abs I haven't had since 18. I stopped all substance intake, including caffeine."

• col...
• October 4, 2010

For Bipolar Disorder "Felt better than I had in years, but major weight gain caused my doctor to discontinue."

• Dem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on it a few months for intermittent explosive disorder. Helps a little bit with my PTSD as well. Not bad, though I have gained 10 lbs, and I'm okay because I work out."