Depakote ER

[darlalu00]

Hello, Everyone I'm new here. I was diagnosed with BP 5 years ago. In those five years I've been on alot for different medications. Depakote ER worked the best. I was on it for three years or more. Now I'm on Stavzor which is working just as well.

My question is for several month I've been back and forth to the doctor for another problem. I've become anemic and they can't find  the source of the bleeding or the reason why I'm anemic.

I just read somewhere that prolonged use of anti-seizure medications can cause problems with the blood. Does anyone know if this is true. I would appreciate a little help.

[ILADVOCATE]

Abilify can sometimes cause weight gain. Its relatively common with Depakoate so in that regard Topomax would make sense as it can actually cause weight gain. When I was on it though I believe at the time it was only used as an adjunct (additional) mood stabilizer. Not sure if that's the case still but if so you might want to ask about Lamictal as well as that does not usually cause weight gain.

[darlalu00]

Hi,

I was on Depakote ER for over three years at 1500mg. It did stabilize me as well, but in those three years I have gained over 100lbs. I also began having bad tremors, so bad that I could not write cursive anymore and I would not eat in public because my hand would shake so bad that the food would fall off and make a mess.

Just about a month and a half ago my pdoc weened me off Depakote and put me on Stavzor 1000mg 2x a day and I lost 11lbs so far and I do not shake anymore either.

I hope this helps good luck!

Darlalu00

[sharonpp]

my daughter started on 1000mg of depakote along with abilify and this combination seems to keep her stable, but the weight gain has been awful, depakote was decreased to 750 but weight is still going on despite being with slimming world since oct 2008 and still gaining weight.   have an appointment with her consultant on the 24th to discuss this have been looking into topomax????

[darlalu00]

I've had gastric problems for years now. I was diagnosed with GERD for over ten years now that's why they thought I was bleeding internally. I just want for a upper and lower GI earlier this month and now they want me to take a video capsule endoscopy. They found several ulcers, but no bleeding. It just made me courios about Depakote because for the article I read.

Thanks for the response I appreciate it!

[ILADVOCATE]

Yes according to a medically reliable site I found Depakoate can on rare occasion cause decreased red blood cell counts. The best thing is to have that specifically tested for and ask your doctor in that regard. As the site itself don't make any changes on your own but inform your doctor immediately. This is not a typical problem of Depakoate and not what they are usually testing for which is liver function (and there's usually no problem in that regard either). They usually test for decreased white blood cells with Tegretol (which is now being replaced by Trileptal which is far less likely to cause this effect) and of course Clozaril where its a major concern. Every anti-convulsant used as a mood stabilizer can't cause this and that doesn't mean because it occured from one it will occur from the other. However, there is indeed a very slight potential that Depakoate can cause this so speak to your doctor in that regard. If he believes its of concern and that's the cause (which it may not be) he can transfer you to something else.

[bernie40]

Hi, Welcome to the site.

I had to look up stavzor as I wasn't familiar with it.  I see it is another form as valproic acid.  

I've not heard of any problems relating to the blood from taking anti-seizure meds longterm.  You say that they cannot find the cause of the bleeding, which convused me a little.  You don't have to be bleeding anywhere to become anaemic.  Anaemia is to do with the haemoglobin levels in the blood and although blood loss can cause a drop in levels it can also be caused by other factors such as poor diet, or malabsorption.

If the docs cannot find a source of blood loss then I would suggest that the anaemia is caused by something else.  Have they checked your diet?  Have you been losing weight? etc  

[pdr7686]

Thank you for the information. I just thoght it seemed to be a very high dosage.

[tres1965]

I was on 500 mg x 3 a day.
For several yrs. They are tapering me off now, at 250 mg per month due to weight gain & tremors.
I know of a few people that the same result (weight gain)...
Hope that helps! Tres

[pdr7686]

just wondering if anyone had ever heard of taking 1500mg Depakote and how it acted on them?