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Can Depakote Cause Weight Gain And Excessive Sleepiness?
Question: The medicine is "depakote"/////
My son is taking it for paranoid schizophrenia...............1000 mg----he had gained a lot of weight......
wants to stay in the bed much of the time.........has gained about 100 lbs......
Does this drug cause weight gain?? He seems now to act normal---no spells...................
Can it be reduced?
Thank You
My son is taking it for paranoid schizophrenia...............1000 mg----he had gained a lot of weight......
wants to stay in the bed much of the time.........has gained about 100 lbs......
Does this drug cause weight gain?? He seems now to act normal---no spells...................
Can it be reduced?
Thank You
Brief Answer:
Depakote is known to caue weight gain and sedation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
Depakote is Divalproex Sodium and is a mood stabiliser drug. The drug is known to cause sedation so most likely reason for his sleepiness is Depakote.
The drug is also known to cause weight gain. If used for long duration the drug is known to cause weight gain.
Depakote doesn't increase any renal problems in healthy individuals. The drug might increase the risk of liver diseases and in some rare individuals hepatitis might occur while on Depakote. Otherwise the drug is safe.
The drug dose should not be stopped abruptly. The doses should be reduced gradually over 6-8 weeks. Since he is on 1000 mg per day then dose can be reduced to 750 mg per day for next two weeks and then 500 mg per day for two more weeks then 250 mg for next two weeks followed by stopping drug completely. Please talk to his doctor for any significant side effects.
Thanks. You are welcome to ask follow up doubts. Take care
Depakote is known to caue weight gain and sedation.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM
Depakote is Divalproex Sodium and is a mood stabiliser drug. The drug is known to cause sedation so most likely reason for his sleepiness is Depakote.
The drug is also known to cause weight gain. If used for long duration the drug is known to cause weight gain.
Depakote doesn't increase any renal problems in healthy individuals. The drug might increase the risk of liver diseases and in some rare individuals hepatitis might occur while on Depakote. Otherwise the drug is safe.
The drug dose should not be stopped abruptly. The doses should be reduced gradually over 6-8 weeks. Since he is on 1000 mg per day then dose can be reduced to 750 mg per day for next two weeks and then 500 mg per day for two more weeks then 250 mg for next two weeks followed by stopping drug completely. Please talk to his doctor for any significant side effects.
Thanks. You are welcome to ask follow up doubts. Take care
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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