Hi all! As you all know, I have been on depakote for about three weeks now. This is a question for anyone who has been on depakote or who is on depakote now. In the last week or so I have noticed my breasts have grown!!!! I don't really need help in that direction, genetics made sure of that!
Now I haven't had any other type of swelling anywhere else, no water retention, maybe in my fingers a little but not much.
Has anyone else had this side effect??? Its a strange one I know...but it was on the list of side effects, so I thought I would ask.
Thanks everyone!

I was on depakote for about a year (6 years ago).

Yes, it made my breasts larger and I had to buy new bras.

On a normal day I did not mind, but when i got married I wore my grandmothers wedding dress and because I was a bit to big in the chest area we had to use tape to make my breasts fit on the dress. It was really uncomfortable, but it was worth it to be able to wear that dress.

Anyway, yes I did have the same side effect. When i discontinued the depakote, it took about 4-8 weeks for my breasts to go back to their normal size... but they did go back and then I had to buy new bras yet again.

thanks for the information. i asked my doctor today to go off depakote..he is letting me. I told him I was really worried about my weight...I didn't mention the other possible side effects. I am on topamax,risperdal,geodon,paxil and klonopin
bobby

Thank you! I thought I was just thinking things. That my mind was playing tricks on me.
Sigh....just another side effect to deal with I guess.

Liz, as I reread your post....you taped yourself down!!!! Ouch! That must have been satisfying that you were able to wear the dress but what discomfort you must have been in!

LOL yep it was uncomfortable.

I wore a bra that was 2 sizes to small, and then added the tape on top to smush me even more.

When we got to the reception, I took the tape off and loosened the bra - and unbuttoned half of the buttons in the back of the dress (it was buttons from neck to tailbone).

I have a ton of picutres from my wedding day of me wearing that dress - but the only pictures that show the back of the dress were taken at the church The photographers knew that once we got to the reception that the should not take any pictures that would show the back of the dress

The pics of me dancing with my hubby and my dad all show me from the front or the side, or are zoomed in on the face of hubby or dad so that the back of the dress was out of the pic.

But it was still uncomfortable to be taped for even a short amount of time, and to wear a bra all day that was 2 sizes too small.... but it was worth it

Liz and Wendy,

It was interesting reading your stories particularly as I have just been put on
Depakote so I will watch out for the particular side effect you were refering to I was thinking of implants anyway lol

I have noticed though that I have slept ever so much since being on the drug and worried also about the double vision that I am getting in the evenings as well as becoming unbalanced when walking! Is this a side effect anyone else has experienced?? I would appreciate your feedback.

Boxer,

I had a lot of fatigue while on depakote. It was so bad that I was napping several times during the day.

I never had double vision or balance issues from the depakote, but I did have them from Neurontin when I tried that for nerve pain. It was scary and annoying.

Have you talked to your doctor about the vision and balance problems? Sometimes a medication will cause initial side effects that will fade as your body adjusts to the medication. I don't know if that would apply to your side effects, but it is something you should discuss with your doctor because vision and balance problems can cause injuries.


About the implants.... have you ever worn one of those "water bras"? When the first same out they had water in them, but I think they are now made with silicone in them. I like them because the silicone is in the BRA not in my body, and I can have an instant larger chest without having surgery.

Take care,
Liz

I'm up to 1000mg a day now but haven't gained any weight. My pdoc said it's not unusual to gain 10-15 lbs. But I haven't. Actually I've lost 7 lbs but that could be I'm not eating right.

I am sleepy or dopey though most of the time and feel very unsteady on my feet. And today I brushed my hair and big gobs came out. Has anyone had their hair fall out like this? Or maybe it's stress related. I remember before I went into the "hospital" my hair was falling out like crazy.

Hi there MeBP?
Please call your doctor about your hair falling out...this could be a side effect of the meds or could be a thyroid problem....or stress related.
hoping that someone else responds...you may want to google a search for depokote and hair loss....
I wish you well!
(((HUGS)))
bizi