Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Weight Gain and Depakote
Sun, 02/06/2005 - 09:20Okay 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 WendyS on Sun, 2004-12-26 - 17:11
RE: Weight Gain and Depakote
Submitted by doksdarlin on Sun, 2005-01-02 - 10:14
I was on depakote for a couple years, when I was first diagnosed. I hated it. I gained about 60 lbs, nothing I did helped me fight the weight gain. Then I started having other problems, hair loss, tremors, and more. I had to have my dose cut and then was put on Topamax. Yes, I lost 15 lbs the first month. I think I lost about 30 to 40 lbs at the begining. My doctor took me off of it because I was loseing too fast. I had to switch doctors, and he put me back on Topamax. I didn't lose any weight the second time, but I wasn't gaining like I did before either. I was staying about the same. For me that seems pretty good.
You use your own judgment, and consult your doctor about it. I found my option, you should find yours with your doctor's help.
I was on depakote for a couple years, when I was first diagnosed. I hated it. I gained about 60 lbs, nothing I did helped me fight the weight gain. Then I started having other problems, hair loss, tremors, and more. I had to have my dose cut and then was put on Topamax. Yes, I lost 15 lbs the first month. I think I lost about 30 to 40 lbs at the begining. My doctor took me off of it because I was loseing too fast. I had to switch doctors, and he put me back on Topamax. I didn't lose any weight the second time, but I wasn't gaining like I did before either. I was staying about the same. For me that seems pretty good.
You use your own judgment, and consult your doctor about it. I found my option, you should find yours with your doctor's help.
RE: Weight Gain and Depakote
Submitted by LeeMc on Wed, 2004-12-01 - 11:18
Hi everybody,
Sounds like all of you are very active people. Increasing exercise and lifting weights and participating in sports all have one thing in common - they build and maintain muscle mass. Guess what - muscle mass is heavier then fat so yeah - you might be gaining some weight in your efforts to lose weight....especially if you are not eating right and regularly.
The key is moderation.....in everything. Eat smart and with reasonable portion size. The exercise will help to maintain your muscles as well as other parts of your body (heart, lungs, etc.) but excessive exercise can build more muscle and thus add more weight. Don't go only by the scale.....it can't tell you how much muscle you have and how much fat you have. Look in the mirror - work on what you see there! If there is fat accumulating where it wasn't before or where you don't want it - target those areas with some exercises that will burn that fat and make good muscle instead.
I think weight gain is a side affect we all deal with. What I have found is that I reached a certain point and then the gain stopped. I have used portion control and exercise to maintain that weight for several years now. Is it where I would like to be? No - but it is better then where I could be if I didn't take control of it. I still have periodic increases of about 10 pounds and sometimes a monthly increase of 5 pounds (water weight) but both are short lived and reduced by increasing both exercise and water intake for a few days.
Your primary care doctor can help you develop plans to help stabilise and maintain a healthy body and healthy weight for you - even with added weight from the med side effects.....but you have to keep it up. Don't give up and don't use the meds as an excuse for gaining weight.....excess weight causes far more health problems then you want to add to what you already have to deal with. Eat smart, exercise wisely and moderate. You'll be okay....maybe not a size 4 but I never thought a size 12 was all that bad anyway!
Later........................Lee
Hi everybody,
Sounds like all of you are very active people. Increasing exercise and lifting weights and participating in sports all have one thing in common - they build and maintain muscle mass. Guess what - muscle mass is heavier then fat so yeah - you might be gaining some weight in your efforts to lose weight....especially if you are not eating right and regularly.
The key is moderation.....in everything. Eat smart and with reasonable portion size. The exercise will help to maintain your muscles as well as other parts of your body (heart, lungs, etc.) but excessive exercise can build more muscle and thus add more weight. Don't go only by the scale.....it can't tell you how much muscle you have and how much fat you have. Look in the mirror - work on what you see there! If there is fat accumulating where it wasn't before or where you don't want it - target those areas with some exercises that will burn that fat and make good muscle instead.
I think weight gain is a side affect we all deal with. What I have found is that I reached a certain point and then the gain stopped. I have used portion control and exercise to maintain that weight for several years now. Is it where I would like to be? No - but it is better then where I could be if I didn't take control of it. I still have periodic increases of about 10 pounds and sometimes a monthly increase of 5 pounds (water weight) but both are short lived and reduced by increasing both exercise and water intake for a few days.
Your primary care doctor can help you develop plans to help stabilise and maintain a healthy body and healthy weight for you - even with added weight from the med side effects.....but you have to keep it up. Don't give up and don't use the meds as an excuse for gaining weight.....excess weight causes far more health problems then you want to add to what you already have to deal with. Eat smart, exercise wisely and moderate. You'll be okay....maybe not a size 4 but I never thought a size 12 was all that bad anyway!
Later........................Lee