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Weight Gain and Depakote

Sun, 02/06/2005 - 09:20

Okay so I went to see my neurologist yesterday and he told me some not so good things about my medicine.  Well lately I've been gaining weight..but I exercise everyday for 20 to sometimes even an hour a day and I lift weights.  I did the no carb thing but that was short lived but I still counted calories and all that and I havent lost any weight. 

My neuro was like "ah you gained weight" and I'm like yeah thanks for reminding me.  He said it's because of the Depakote..I was pissed cuz I forgot about that side effect.  And he said I can never go off of the depakote b/c when I was just on lamictal I kept having seizures.  So I heard Topamax makes you lose weight instead of gain like on depakote.  I was wondering..if you have JME-can you take topamax instead of depakote???

Comments

RE: Weight Gain and Depakote

Submitted by Musichik84 on Tue, 2004-10-12 - 04:40
Hi, I have been on topamax and i am now on depakote. With topamax you do lose weight but sometimes if your doctor notices you are losing to much weight then he will take you off it. By the way my name is leah and i am 14. I also have JME. I was taken off Topamax because it still was giving me headaches and i was allergic so if you are very sensative to medication then you prolly wont work on topamax especially since it is a new medication. New medications really dont work for peolple who are sensative to medication. You will usually have to stick with the old medication. I have taken all the new medication like topomax, zonegran, lamictal, and keppra and none have worked so I am now starting the old. I stayed on the keppra just to find out 7 months later that it didnt control my seizures enough. I just started Depakote actually. I was wondering if you can give me some other side effects or any other information on it. It will be appreciated. ThanxLeah~*~

RE: RE: Weight Gain and Depakote

Submitted by ashkazz on Mon, 2004-11-29 - 22:29

hi

i take carbamazepine (generic for Tegretol), and i have gained all of this weight (about 20 lbs).  does anyone know how to get rid of it (safely and sanely)?  I play sports (volleyball) and it hasn't seemed to have left.  i can't run as fast or jump as high. 

 

Late,

ash

hi

i take carbamazepine (generic for Tegretol), and i have gained all of this weight (about 20 lbs).  does anyone know how to get rid of it (safely and sanely)?  I play sports (volleyball) and it hasn't seemed to have left.  i can't run as fast or jump as high. 

 

Late,

ash

RE: RE: RE: Weight Gain and Depakote

Submitted by mirrorcat21 on Fri, 2005-01-21 - 08:00

Leah,

I was on Depakote for 15 years, the main side affects are the liver damage. I took alot  of vitamins for that while I was on it. But what I really noticed was the hair damage. My doctor did not tell me about that at all. My hair would grow to my shoulders and then break off. Even if I got it trimmed it would still break off. So mabe take prenatal vitamins for your hair.

mirrorcat21

Leah,

I was on Depakote for 15 years, the main side affects are the liver damage. I took alot  of vitamins for that while I was on it. But what I really noticed was the hair damage. My doctor did not tell me about that at all. My hair would grow to my shoulders and then break off. Even if I got it trimmed it would still break off. So mabe take prenatal vitamins for your hair.

mirrorcat21

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