Depakote and Weight Gain

There are many potential side effects of Depakote, and weight gain appears to be one of them. During previous clinical studies, weight gain was most common in those using the drug for migraine prevention or the treatment of complex partial seizures. If you are taking Depakote and weight gain occurs, you can try limiting your alcohol intake, exercising regularly, and eating a heart-healthy diet.

 

An Overview of Depakote and Weight Gain

There are a number of possible side effects with Depakote® (divalproex sodium). Weight gain does appear to be one of them. This data comes from clinical trials that extensively studied Depakote and documented its side effects.
 

Understanding Clinical Trials

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and are then compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, side effects are always documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. Side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people.
 
Up to 9 percent of people taking Depakote reported weight gain. Weight gain was most common in people taking Depakote for migraine prevention (8 percent) or for complex partial seizures (9 percent).
 

Suggestions for Depakote and Weight Gain

If you are noticing unexplained weight gain while taking Depakote, there are some things that you can do. Some suggestions include:
 
  • Eating a heart-healthy diet. This diet should include:

 

    • Lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
    • Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
    • Limited amounts of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.

 

  • Participating in regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
     
  • Limiting your intake of alcohol.
     
If you are taking Depakote and weight gain occurs, you should also talk with your healthcare provider. He or she can give you other suggestions for dealing with any weight gain. He or she may also look for other causes of weight gain, such as certain types of medical conditions. If the weight gain continues, he or she may also recommend other lifestyle changes or possibly switching to a different migraine, bipolar disorder, or epilepsy medicine.
 
(Click BMI Calculator to see if your weight is within a healthy range.)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;