Valproic acid and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Bja...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Have used this medication before with great results, but due to alcoholism, have always stopped taking it. I also have Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which during severe flare-ups have to use corticosteroids to control it, which make my bipolar symptoms uncontrollable, especially the mania. Have started this medication again, and this time I will stay on it because I feel it will literally save my life. Some minor side effects like weight gain, dry mouth, etc., but that's nothing compared to the symptoms of my illness. All the best to everyone in a similar situation."

• Pal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on it for about 3 months now. I can’t say it has been good at all. Last month has been the worst - aside from the lack of efficacy, I experienced weight gain, thinning hair, tremors, diarrhea. From a ‘mind’ point of view, I have never been so confused, one minute good, the next very anxious and with lots of irrational racing thoughts (and I’ve been prescribed it over lithium for its supposed anti-anxiety properties). I’m trying to convince my doctor it’s not the drug for me. Best wishes to you all."

• Cry...
• January 9, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I was prescribed this medication after being diagnosed with bipolar. After a few weeks, I found I was in the most depressive state I’ve ever been in - no hope, no will to live, the most insecure I have ever felt in my entire life. Did I mention the weight gain aspect of it? - actually water weight, not fat, but it isn’t pleasant regardless. I work from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. I go to the gym from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every night, yet I couldn’t sleep for the life of me. The insomnia it caused had me sleeping less than 3 hours a night, which when dealing with bipolar is just asking for trouble. I don’t like this medication, the side effects I had a problem with may seem “stupid,” but to me, feeling that way in general and about myself is not a life worth living. This medication made every day more of a struggle to get through than ever before. I have talked with my Dr. and am going to explore more natural supplements alongside my healthy lifestyle and therapy."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 13, 2016

For Schizoaffective Disorder "I hated this medication. It gave me no mood, no feelings, not able to cry or a supposed flat mood my psychiatrist said, plus it made me gain tons of weight in addition to the clozapine I used to be on that gave me seizures and made me break my ankles, and it was completely useless because I never needed it even though they thought 'nothing has ever worked for you.' I was only on it because they forced me to take clozapine, and it was giving me seizures, and the clozapine wasn't even good because I didn't make any friends and I didn't really like anybody. Ever since I've been on Lamictal 300 mg and Invega 12 mg, I've felt more normal, and I'm able to cry and feel true feelings like I used to."

• Lyn...
• July 1, 2010

For Seizures "Depakote sprinkles is the formula my son was taking. It was an almost too good to be true solution for him for over 20 years. For those 20 years, he experienced the following manageable side effects: weight gain, periodic hand tremors, constipation. It also gave him a much-deserved good 'feeling.' After that, his seizures broke through and other side effects appeared, such as hair loss, skin issues, and more severe constipation. We'll miss Depakote."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2020

"I have been on valproic acid for approximately 8 months, which they gave me for borderline personality disorder. Unfortunately, this medication has neither helped with my mental health, and the side effects are dreadful. I have been experiencing nightmares, tremors, weight gain, paranoia, depression, difficulty breathing, and I also had a kidney infection. As a result, I am weaning off of this medication and working with my medical team to utilize a non-pharmaceutical approach to treat my mental health."