Hello,

My daily dose is 1000 mg of Depakine ER and yes, it is a constant fight
against the increase of KG but with or without valproid acid, I have to
fight anyway because I like eating food and my body is quite easy reserving
fat.

My history however is as follows:

1. last year (no Depakine ER as have been seizure free for about 15 year
approximately) I weighted 105 KG (I am 1.92m)
2. started loosing weight by taking strict diet (approx 1200 calories per
day) + started sporting (I swum daily)
3. this year prior to my first seizure: 92 KG :-)) which is healthy
according to thousands of different indexes
4. february 2004: first seizure / march 2004: started taking 1000 mg
Depakine ER daily + started increasing weight due to:
   a) my doctor forbid me to swim without supervision (suddenly stopped
   sporting after taking diet etc. always results in an increase in weight)
   b) I was not "happy" at that time, so I probably ate more then I should
   (my body started to reserve more then it should reserve => increase in
   weight ofcourse)
   c) Depakine ER also a cause of probable weight increase ??? Dunnow...
5. this year: 99 KG which is the bad news :-( but still no 100 which is the
good news
6. as it seems that my seizures are controlled, I started loosing weight
again by taking strict diet (but not that strict as last year because of
possible seizure that might happen) + started sporting again (3 or 4 times a
week I fitness to improve heart condition, etc.)
7. presently: 95/96 (I really can't loose more weight while I sport more
then ever before!)

So, I cannot really conclude that in my case it is the Depakine ER that is
to blame for any weight increase, but yeah there are others out here that
report the same issues as you are reporting. It is more a combination of
factors that had my body increase weight I guess. Anyway, people with
epilepsy who take Depakine have to fight this unwanted side effect I guess.

Are you already controlled by Depakine and what dose are you on and do you
sport, etc.?

Stefano, I put on 20 lbs while on valproic acid. HUNGRY all the time. The only
way I found to combat it was to keep lots of low calorie but filling foods
around. V-8 juice, chicken boullion with soda crackers, veggies. Would fill up
on fluids before meals. Good luck. Vicki

Howdy!

While I was taking valproic acid I beat the weight gain cycle when I started
practicing Tae Kwon Do.

Anything that makes you expend more calories than you take in will make you
lose weight.