I'm in my forties and I've been on Depakote ER since 2002. Depakote has
been a wonderfully successful drug for me with only recent troubling
side effects. Since I began taking Depakote in 2002 my fasting blood
sugar, my blood pressure and my body weight have all slowly but surely
increased. After my latest physical in June, my internist needed to
double my blood pressure medication and my fasting blood sugar was up
to 97. My internist isn't that concerned about my blood pressure or
blood sugar, but I would like to see both come down and I'm sure they
would if I could shed some extra weight. I'm over six foot tall and I
weigh 220 pounds. Before I began on Depakote I was much closer to just
over 200 pounds, so if switching from Depakote to another medication
could result in a 10% weight loss for me over time I'd approach my
neurologist tomorrow.  I'm on 2 grams od Depakote per day. Anyone who
has switched from Depakote to another AED, I would appreciate hearing
if you experienced weight loss, did it happen slowly, and if the
results were worth the hassle of changing medications. Thanks in
advance for your input.
Jim