hls94137 Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 Hello! I am brand new to this board but i was just wanting to hear others experiences with Depakote. I have gained 10 lbs in 3 weeks and i have no sex drive. what are some other meds for bipolar that wont have those effects. i also take effexor, strattera and clonipin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenbean Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 i loved lamictal. no weight gain, no effect on libido, i was the very happiest of campers on it. had to stop it due to skin problems (not the sjs rash, other stuff), but there are lots of BPers here who've had very good results with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CER Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Hello! I am brand new to this board but i was just wanting to hear others experiences with Depakote. I have gained 10 lbs in 3 weeks and i have no sex drive. what are some other meds for bipolar that wont have those effects. i also take effexor, strattera and clonipin. Lamictal never made me gain 10 pounds, and I still chase my wife around the room every chance I can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest noles Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Hello! I am brand new to this board but i was just wanting to hear others experiences with Depakote. I have gained 10 lbs in 3 weeks and i have no sex drive. what are some other meds for bipolar that wont have those effects. i also take effexor, strattera and clonipin. I went on depakote for newly diagnosed epilepsy - my hair thinned and I gained weight. My libido flatlined (and I just got married!!). I was exhausted all the time, and really clumsy and vague. I hated it. I saw an epileptologist who gave me keppra and I got my sex drive back for hte first time in a year (my poor husband). I also lost weight and my hair came back. I don't know if keppra is good for BPD, but have heard that it may be in addition to lamictal, but talk to your doc about those alternatives. good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mejeba Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 Hello! I am brand new to this board but i was just wanting to hear others experiences with Depakote. I have gained 10 lbs in 3 weeks and i have no sex drive. what are some other meds for bipolar that wont have those effects. i also take effexor, strattera and clonipin. computer's not working right- lost my reply. basically, i just wanted to ask what doseage you are on? I've read that over 1000 mg can cause those side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhvw Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I had similar problems going onto depakote. Now I'm at 1500mg of Depakote ER and pretty much side effect free. It took a few months though. I dieted and exercised to help fight the weight gain, which leveled off. I guess I was kinda lucky that way anyway because I'm skinny. The sex drive thing was a real problem. Luckily I have a very understanding partner and through trying, and some major frustration, I learned how to have a good sex life. It was kinda like re-training my brain though..kinda odd but it worked. Anyway, if you're like me, and stuck on depakote because of no insurance and living off free meds, there is hope that it will work for you, just give it some time and try to cope with the side effects and overcome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammity Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 i gained 40 lbs on depakote... i went on lithium and ive been able to lose 20lbs. i dislike lithium too, but i hate depakote more. oh and geodon doesnt make you gain any weight. i love geodon because it got rid of my depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greencativ Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I've gained about 40lbs in a year from Depakote...and I'm a fairly short gal. Let me tell you, this really bites. Does anyone have any suggestions for other alternatives besides the ones already said? I heard lithium is really bad for the kidneys...and I'd rather be a bit chunky now than go on dialysis in the future. Unfortunately, the weight gain has done a number on my self-esteem. So, I'm kinda in the middle of a rock and a hard place here. Any suggestions would be great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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