Question: I think I need to talk to a psychiatric specialist..is that okay? I've been on Depakote for 11 yrs. Am 64 female with bipolar since twenties. My legs have given me problems a lot with the constant moving, bending, rocking, tapping one foot. My mouth has movement of inside lips rubbing teeth for most of the time...when dentures are out in p.m. I swallow and move so much it takes time to relax and stop. Doctor I see said he never heard of leg movements and Depakote. It bothers me so and I ache by evening. I used to be able to walk miles up until recently 'cause they are so tight, sore, and are more nervous afterwards. What are the long term effects of these movements? I also just recently had to get hearing aids as my slighter loss of hearing turned into severe in both ears. I asked about that, also. However, one other posssibility may be that I contacted the high-risk cancer type of HP Virus almost 2 years ago from a man who so sweetly told me he had nothing to pass on...he lied. We were friends for a long time, too. His attitude was so what...80% of singles have it. Regardless, I am also on seroquil that was given initially at the hospital last year when I suffered a very long episode from Aug. to Oct. Most of the month of Oct. I had no recall...no conscious thinking to remember. I hallucinated for the first time before going into the hospital this last time whick never happened in all my adult life or ever. I have not had an episode for over 12yrs. before last year. Am I having some sorts of problems with the long term use of the depakote? I also had a liver function test by the fam. doc. & it come back saying I had a fatty liver recently. I was told not to drink and eat so much red meat...I do neither. Then it came out better with the next testing. Are problems starting to take place from depakote? I smoke 1/2 packs of cigarettes a day. What can that do with the meds? Liver? No one has ever told me a thing about this. I'm sorry for having so many questions. This new pyschiatrist I am seeing told me to stop taking the seroquil cold XXXXXXX till he saw me a week later. The pharmacist told me it could've caused some very serious things requiring emergency help, but I had flu symptoms for 10 days instead and am still battling fever blisters going on over 4 weeks now. He also prescribed topamax to see if I'd lose weight from the seroquil....gained 22 lbs. in three weeks in hospital. Print-out from depakote says do not take topamax (topriamate) with depakote. Any help and answers would be so appreciated at this point as I'm losing faith in my new pyschiatrists real fast. I also have trouble with the pupils in my eyes....eye doc said they are too small from medicines I either take or have taken. I fear I've been on depakote too long now. Should I be concerned? The pharmacy info said to notify doc. immediatley if you have leg movements uncontrolled, and mouth, or hearing loss...even though rare. Friends keep telling me to try to stand still. Going on for so long now...some years and I now can hardly stand it...it's worse. I have to take more depakote now...1,000mg at night (like before) but also 250mg in the a.m. Used to be I'd only take the 250 if I felt restless and couldn't sleep. Please tell me if it'll stop, or is damage permanent? By evening my hip and pelvic area on the worse side of the leg movements...right leg...aches so. Am I wrong to question the doctor at this point? Oh..I am taking half as much seroquil now and no topamax. On 150mg of seroquil. What should I ask my doctor? What long term effects has this depakote done to me...reversable or not? My digestive system is so mixed up...so many b.m.'s with lots of cramping, but only small amounts each time. Bloating and gas often. Is that the medicine?

I also just developed osteosporosis. Does depakote ever interact with this problem also?
Thank You, XXXXXXX

On all drug info print-outs I receive on depakote it clearly states to please inform doctor immediatly for these side effects: involuntary leg movements, mouth movements...etc. These two side effects are troublesome...especially the legs moving so much so that I ache in the evening from it around the upper part of the leg (around the pelvic, front of leg, and hip.). So, I am not sure why the doctor who answered this brushed it off by saying these aren't side effects of the prescription. The print-outs for the medicines are from the drug companies and pharmasutical experts I've been told. So, I don't feel the question was researched well. I have friends who say to check this symtom on the web because they found info on this leg movement problem. I went to your site 1st in hopes of some better research and understanding this. Not satisfied. Could it be possible for another expert to check this out for me? Please understand these movements in the legs are so obvious and so troublesome for me.

Other nuerological causes I am not aware of. To be tested would cost me. I've taken meds for so long with so many side effects....wouldn't you, yourself, tend to question the medicine...especially if the pharmacutical printout states to let your doctor know immediately of that particular side effect? Am I getting a runaround...if it's rare, then it's also possible. I don't overlook anything rare..especially for the fact I had two siblings die from a rare disease. I was tested and clear of having it. So, where does this leave me with my fast moving legs? Who should I see? Would my pyschiatrist do testing? Or do I have to go to a nuerologist on my own and pay a large amount for testing? What if the pyschiatrist does not agree that I need anything further to get this to stop? What is a patient to do?