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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: RE: Weight Gain and Depakote

Submitted by jinx1331xnij on Tue, 2005-03-22 - 13:10
From the time I was 15 on up to 27, depakote was the only aed I was taking. I actually lost wieght at first ( went from 110 to 95 in about 3 months), then had trouble maintaining a wieght that was even close to healthy ( I had trouble staying at 110, and am only 5'6"). I think it was because the depakote made me so sick, it was very hard for me to force myself to eat. Different aeds have different side effects on different people I guess. Now, taking lamictal and clonazepam, I stay between 115 and 120.

RE: Weight Gain and Depakote

Submitted by lprice on Wed, 2005-04-06 - 00:20

I was diagnosed with JME when I was 16 (am currently 23) and was placed on Depakote.  I hated it.  I was shaky and had weight gain and was very sleepy.  I spoke to my doc about changing meds and switched to Lamictal.  I had weight loss and it was apparent to my peers (they thought I went on a diet).  I have loved my experience with Lamictal. 

I was diagnosed with JME when I was 16 (am currently 23) and was placed on Depakote.  I hated it.  I was shaky and had weight gain and was very sleepy.  I spoke to my doc about changing meds and switched to Lamictal.  I had weight loss and it was apparent to my peers (they thought I went on a diet).  I have loved my experience with Lamictal. 

Topamax

Submitted by jms6171 on Sun, 2005-10-30 - 11:25
Hi there, I have been taking Depakote for a while now & hav noticed weight gain as well. I was told that Topamax was an alternative & that it caused weight loss, which sounded great. However, beware of Topamax as one of the side effects is a loss of cognitive ability - it makes 20% of users forgetful (or stupid, as it was explained to me). Because I am in law school, my doctor said Topamax was a bad idea because of this particular side effect. Just something to think about - try checking with your doctor about it.

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