Depakote and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Tim...
• August 1, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote does wonders for me but have heard it's not well for others. I don't get many of the side effects except for the weight gain. But let's face it, why am I gaining weight? Because I'm not as stressed out anymore. I try and use it to my advantage being a weight lifter/exercise nut. Which is also a good thing for someone dealing with anxiety and depression by the way. I do have to say when I want to read something I can without having to go back and read it over again because I just had 33 1/2 things run through my head during the last sentence. I'm not saying it is for everyone but for me it is life changing. I hope this helps in your quest for finding the right script. I know it can be hell working it all out, but trust me you will get there!"

• Eko...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 20, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Diagnosed 6 years ago as Bipolar 2 after 20 years of being all over the place. Crazy ups and downs but only ever treated for depression. I was put on a variety of medications in the first year that made me so ill - weight gains/losses, irrational thoughts/ideas, constantly felt ill with colds/flu. Had to keep changing medications and doses to see if they would work. Then given Depakote, and wow, I felt human again within 2 weeks - settled, calm, clear head, no side effects. It's done wonders for me that no other drug got close to. I have my life back."

• kel...
• December 10, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I was falsely diagnosed bipolar, which I think was the first issue. However, Depakote on a low dose (750 mg) did alleviate some racing thoughts and was effective. Once a doctor inappropriately put me on a high dose for someone who is not bipolar (over 1000 mg), I was a zombie! It made my depression significantly worse, I gained 50 lbs, slept all day and had no feelings. I am a talkative person by nature, and on this drug I barely uttered a word. I'm sure it may work for those with true mania, but I'd say if on too high of a dose, or even a low dose, weight gain is inevitable and sugar/carb cravings. I also just feel it dulls your ability to focus and suppresses happiness. Of course, that could've just been my depression. Just wanted to warn people either way."

• ams...
• January 15, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote for about six months for bipolar II after being taken off lithium. I am feeling more like myself but still feel a slight emptiness and falseness. I am also taking lamotrigine and pregabalin for extreme anxiety. I have put on nearly a stone in six months. I am also being tested for ADHD. I am 48 years old and have had this from when I was a child. When you have grown up with this, you do not know any different until you become very ill. Sorry for the rambling, not sure if it makes sense. x"

• Mat...
• December 28, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "By chance, I started taking Depakote around the time that my SAD normally kicks in, and after a month, it had stopped it dead in its tracks; no depression and only very mild manic episodes. I'm also now experiencing a sense of inner calm and mental clarity than I ever thought possible. No side effects other than vivid dreams and some weight gain, which is par for the course for me this time of year anyway and a small price to pay for the improvements I'm seeing."

• Swe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 3, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Depakote for 10 years. I can tell that it does calm me down. As most people are saying in this forum, it does make me very tired. The symptoms that I have had for 10 years are extra sweating (it seems to be coming from my scalp and down my face), weight gain that I can't seem to lose, and I'm wondering if anyone else has a ringing or drumming in one or both ears. I've been to many doctors just about my ear but they can't find anything wrong."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I would give Depakote a lower rating based on my personal experience with it, but I don't want to skew the overall rating. For whatever reason, I did not respond to Depakote as a mood stabilizer. This is surely not the case for everyone. The problem is that while taking this medicine, I gained 30 pounds, as I constantly felt hungry. I was warned ahead of time that this tends to keep the brain from perceiving fullness (or something to that effect). I noticed this within a few days of starting Depakote but continued taking it because I didn't have many other options at the time. The weight gain created an entirely new aspect of depression. Just something to keep in mind if you're just starting it and weight gain is an issue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I am 29 and just diagnosed with bipolar after a horrible manic depression cycle. It's worked great to stabilize my moods, but I'm scared after reading everyone's weight gain stories! I will have to hitch up my diet and exercise plan more. One thing I noticed that I didn't see anyone else write is that I have these horrible and extremely vivid dreams - they seem to be my fears realized. But they are so vivid and real that they hang over me all day. Has anyone else experienced this?"

• Qbu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote was given to me for onset postpartum psychosis and underlying bipolar 1 as a mood stabilizer. It did its job. Wonderful results mentally, obsessive thoughts were all but gone and combined with my antipsychotic, it made my life much better. But, the weight gain was hellish. I have gained 11 pounds in two weeks, and am looking at switching at my appointment on Monday. So, not good if you are looking for a weight neutral mood stabilizer."

• Ann...
• May 15, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Depakote for almost a year now. I also take Paxil and Wellbutrin. I gained around 10 lbs right from the start. My weight has seemed to have stayed steady the last few months. It's extremely hard to lose it. I have been through a lot of different medications to try and treat bipolar disorder. Even with the medicines I'm on, I'm still depressed and feel like I don't matter. I'm very sleepy and can lay down and take a nap at any time. I started taking B Complex because I stay so sleepy. My new concern is memory. I can't think of words and dates or names like movie stars very fast and it concerns me."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 22, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "No way! Been on it twice in my life. I was extremely bloated beyond recognition and in a deep mental haze. I could barely function. My doctor kept saying, “You need to take care of yourself before you can care for your family.” And she was right. I got off it, weight loss has been slow, but I got my face back. I looked like a hamster on it, and I went up 5 pant sizes on this medication. I got my energy back. On this stuff, I slept all day. Off this medication, I am enrolled in school and on the path to a new career, and I am able to be awake to live my life off this stuff and care for my family."

• 1ks...
• October 4, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I started Depakote 3,000 mg straight off when I was 15 years old. I have since been taken off it and am still paying the price for it. It made me hungry constantly, I gained a total of 50 pounds in 7 months. I had no energy at all and no feelings-no happy thoughts, no sad thoughts. I was literally a zombie, and now I'm still seeing new doctors and switching meds all the time, and I've had enough. Nothing is working, and no one can help me. I really need help and can't find it anywhere."

• Glo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 14, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "I am a female, first diagnosed at age 19 with bipolar disorder. They first tried Zyprexa which I had a horrible reaction to. The Depakote made me feel like a zombie for months, until it brought me back down to 'normal'. I stayed on approx 500 mg/day for almost 6 years, then backing down to 250mg until I stopped. I had started to feel depressed at 31 and was put on Lexapro, this led to a manic episode within a few months. Alas I am back on Depakote 500mg/day. It has saved me. Luckily no significant weight gain besides 10 lbs I lost being manic, but I do work out and try to eat healthy."

• cle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II. This medication has been a lifesaver (literally) for me. It has helped keep my emotions in check. I took another medication, Lamictal, that caused one continuous headache that never went away. My psychiatrist started me on a low dose of that medication so I wouldn't get a deadly rash. My emotions were all over the place, and I was miserable. My psychiatrist put me on Depakote. At first, this medication made me sluggish and hungry. I gained 5 lbs in the first 2 weeks. Since then, I have laid off the snacks and beverages and have since gotten adjusted to the meds (also taking Zoloft). Three pounds have come off without trying. Each person is different, but this has really worked for me."

• jdk...
• March 1, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "I am on the 500 x 2 ER, and people tell me I'm a lot calmer and they see the change. I guess I was on the depressed side of the spectrum. It may also be that I am on Celexa as well. At first, I was severely drowsy, but after about seven months, it kicks in. As far as weight gain goes, no changes there. Hair loss? I was already losing it. I have been on lithium, and that didn't work. Tried Tegretol as well, come to find out I am allergic. So, if I can feel normal and blood tests on liver and kidneys come back fine, hey, I will give Depakote 2 big thumbs up for a normal life."

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote has been a lifesaver for me. I take 250mg in the morning and 500mg at bedtime. Weight gain was minimal, 5 lbs that I have lost recently by going on the South Beach Diet. I also take 200mg of Zoloft. I sleep okay but usually need a nap in the afternoon. I look forward to my life now instead of just existing."

• mda...
• March 26, 2008

For Mania "I have been using Depakote for nearly eight years now and it has kept my mania episodes under control. The only thing is I have weight gain from using this medication, but that's a small price to pay. Thank you."

• gfa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 28, 2020

For Mania "I have taken Depakote (or a 'good' generic) of this medication for nearly 3 decades. It is very effective, has few side effects (with the exception of weight gain, which is responsive to diet and exercise). This is a far more effective and moderate drug than what I was initially prescribed (Lithium-on which I hallucinated and felt terrible). I've had no long-term effects to date, maintain my dosage, and lead a healthy life with this medication. Be careful when using GENERICS... some vary immensely. Let your doctor and pharmacist know immediately if you have issues. (i.e., find the right generic or return to the original Depakote brand). Lovely and effective for a 'unipolar' patient that I am."

• 46j...
• August 18, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote was prescribed to me after two manic episodes. I've been on a lot of bipolar meds, so many that have made me so depressed I spent a whole summer in bed. Depakote definitely saved my life. It's been a year now, a little anxiety, but not nearly as much as I've had in the past, and a little weight gain and tiredness. But no mania and very little to no depression, so thank you, Depakote. I rate you a 10, it's been a year and no mania. :) You're a lifesaver. I take 1500 mg, though, so that might be why I'm so tired."

• Bel...
• July 22, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "This was my first medication for bipolar. I'm a 40-year-old woman and a long-distance runner. This medication was great because it made the rapid thoughts and anxiety go away. However, if you're an athlete like I am, I found this difficult as it caused extreme fatigue to the point where I was a couch potato not wanting to do anything. I gained 10 pounds in the first month and found it exhausting to run even a mile, where I'm accustomed to running much more. My doctor is switching me to Topamax, today will be my first day taking it, and I'm praying for good results."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "Used this for a few months as recommended to prevent my frequent and painful migraines that I've had since I was 12. Depakote was okay, I guess. I still had two major migraines while on it and didn't give it any extra time because the side effects are awful! I wanted to sleep constantly. Felt depressed and irritable, and hated life! Plus, the weight gain alone I experienced in a couple of months was absolutely enough reason for me to not want to be on it anymore. I gained about 15-20 lbs!"

• Rus...
• June 17, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Since 2006, I have been on some sort of med for my depression or what my family doctor thought was depression. First med was Lexapro, and boy, did it send me into a manic stage. Never felt so high in my life, a cloud was lifted. That drug worked for a while, but soon after, it lost its effectiveness. Tried about every SSRI on the market until we ran out, and at that point, I did not want to live anymore. Family doctor sent me to a psychiatric hospital in which I saw my first psychiatrist, who said my OCD was the root of my depression, so he put me on Luvox along with my Klonopin. After a while, I seemed better, but not for long. Been on Depakote ER 1000MG ever since, and everything seems fine, except weight gain. Mood better."

• BAE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 30, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Depakote worked for me as a mood stabilizer, but caused a lot of side effects. Weight gain = 30 pounds in 3 months and pancreatitis. Doctors didn't realize the pancreatitis was from the combination of two of my medications until I had it three times - pancreatitis is excruciatingly painful and led to me losing my job from losing so much time at work. I'm giving this medication a low rating even though it worked well for my mood because there are so many other medications out there for bipolar that are weight neutral and don't cause organ damage."

• soc...
• April 3, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been having migraines for 3 years. I took a beta blocker that didn't work. Then got put on Depakote for migraines. I was on it for a month with no big migraines unless I had my trigger food. Then I realized I gained 5 pounds, was tired all the time, and broke out like I had never been before. The medicine works for migraines but has terrible side effects. Had to stop taking."

• Man...
• March 10, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Started having migraines about ten years ago. The only treatment that has ever worked for me is Depakote. Everybody is different, but for me this was a Godsend. Nothing worked, and Topamax was only a temporary solution. The thing is that after a two-month regimen, my headaches completely went away. I stopped taking the medication for two or three years before my migraines returned. I went on another regimen, and again I went several years without a headache. Yes, I did have slight weight gain, and yes, it did affect my ability to perform sexually, but I did not have to continue taking it for more than 3 months. Cysticercosis as a child and a catalyst of factors cause my headaches. Depakote works."