Depakote :(

It's had such a great effect on my mood, but the weight gain is horrible, I really don't want to take it.
In fact tonight I haven't.
I've taken my lamotrigine as normal.
I'm generally pissed off with meds.
I don't want to go manic or depressed, but I hate the physical side effects & feel as though I have to choose between my mental well being & physical well being.

Depakote helped with my elevated moods but not with the depressive moods. I gain quite a bit of weight on Depakote as well. In the end it caused my cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose to rise so it had to be stopped. I'm much happier now. I'm not depressed, not elevated, I feel reasonably happy despite my large med mix. I am 30 lbs less now than when I was on Depakote and I don't have to diet to maintain.

Ugh, I'm sorry it's had that effect on you. Depakote is about the only medication I've tried that has *not* made me gain weight and my blood tests are perfect. Our body chemistries are all so unique. Maybe talk with your pdoc about alternatives. I'm with you on the weight issue--weight gain=depression.

I'm just so frustrated.
If I could get my head over being bothered about weight gain it would be perfect , but the weight gain is enough to kick of my bulimia & that's been under control for almost a year now, I really don't want to get trapped in that again but it's really becoming a struggle at the moment.
At my last appointment my pdoc told me bluntly that as the lithium had begun to go toxic at a level that was still not controlling the bipolar, I had 3 options, quetiapine, olanzapine & depakote.
I've had major weight gain with the first 2 & was hoping the depakote would be different.
I feel trapped & I'm seriously considering asking for a second opinion.
My pdoc will not consider switching anything if I am not manic or suicidal, yet the fact I am desperately fighting not to throw up every time I eat & I know it won't be long before I give in should be enough to look at alternatives or consider a larger med mix at lower doses in the hope of keeping side effects to a minimum.
I ended up taking the depakote in the end last night after speaking with my boyfriend, but I am so unhappy with it.
I will stick out the next 6 weeks & if it doesn't level off & diet get it off, I will be coming off it.
If I resort to purging in the meantime I'm stopping straightaway.

I've taken medication (including Seroquel) that led to weight gain. I've decided that it more important to keep my mind in order than it is lo lose the twenty pounds. But, that's just MY perspective.

How much weight have you gained on these medicines?

P.

Since beginning the depakote I've gained a stone & half - about 20 pounds I think.
On quetiapine I gained 3 & half stone over 18 months, it was my core med & I was on 800mg.
The olanzapine I had to get a severe manic episode under control & gained 2 stone in a month.
It's frustrating because I was down to 12 stone on lithium, not ideal, but it was coming off & it was the closest I've ever been to my pre medication, non bulimic weight of 11 stone.
Now I'm up to 13 & half & with the swollen breasts & lactation I look pregnant.
I just feel disgusting & I know my mental health should be the priority, but this I fear is going to have a detrimental effect on that anyway.
Ever feel stuck between a rock & a hard place?

Sorry, Extreme, I feel for you. Even having those "lactation" symptoms for a few days with the painful breasts, I felt different. As I woman, I get it. I also wanted to eat everything in sight, and I usually eat fairly healthy. All of a sudden, I decided to load up on caffieine, lattes, sugar, and carbs. It's amazing how much hormones can affect our moods. I wish there was a way to treat these separately, but there isn't, as far as I know.

After being off of this med only two days, I felt thinner and less bloated. I tend to not weigh myself, at ALL, but I just feel like this is easier. I go by how my clothes fit, and how I feel. But you absolutely cannot go by the size of your clothes, because they are so different and all over the place.

I wish your pdoc would let you try a high dose of lamictal, but I guess pdocs usually know what they are doing.

Carrie

Depakote is a fairly old med. It does cause weight gain as a side effect. There are many other meds your pdoc could put you on that would be as effective without you gaining weight. Please talk with your pdoc about your concerns.

I have decided to request a different pdoc, this may take a while due to waiting lists & if I can afford it in the meantime I will pay to see a private pdoc. I just find it difficult to believe with all of the medications available that are licensed to treat bipolar, there are only three that will control my symptoms with lamotrigine as an add on.
If another pdoc agrees with my current one, then fair enough, but I have to do this for my own peace of mind & if it is the case then something will need to be done about my purging because it's a battle when my weight is out of control to keep the urge to do so under control.
Thank you all for your responses, I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue xx

Extreme,

Good luck in your search. I have had 3 pdocs in the last 3 years, all because I have moved out of an area. They each had different ideas on meds. I do believe that treatment for our disorder is constantly changing, and I think it is important that the pdoc stays current on reasearch. I think some do, and some don't.

Just for an example, when I met my newest pdoc, in his opinion, depakote comes with all sorts of nasty side effects, and he doesn't prescribe it. I am also confused about your pdoc's statement that lamictal isn't "strong enough" because you are bp1. This might just be because I am ill informed, but I think lamictal is a very strong drug. I recall Bob saying, for example, that he was put on a trial of it, but he got the rash. I guess what I am trying to say is that since everyone's body chemistry is different, why does your pdoc have this idea that Lamictal is not "strong enough" for bp 1?

Everyone feel free to chime in and correct me here if I am wrong.

Carrie

I believe myself, that lamictal could well be worth a chance at being my 'core' mood stabiliser, the side effects other than the chance of 'the rash' seem far more tolerable than many others I have researched & from what I understand it is one of the recommended treatments for bp1 in America, however for some reason here in the UK the majority of what I have read indicate it as a first line choice for bp2 & as an 'add on' for bp1 if depressive episodes are unresponsive to antidepressants or they have induced mania in the past.
If what I've read is incorrect or outdated I would be grateful if anyone could point me to some current literature to take to my pdoc.
I just don't get why it's different views across the Atlantic.