New Orleans, LAThere are a number of Depakote side effects but one that may fly under the radar on occasion is that the mood stablizer can cause weight gain.
A number of different medications can cause weight gain or at least make it more difficult to lose weight, according to the Times-Picayune.
Pharmacist Sal Scaccia, who owns the Total Life Care Pharmacy in Harvey, Louisiana, told the news provider that anti-seizure medications and mood stabilizers can cause weight gain or inhibit weight loss.
According to Scaccia, this class of drugs not only includes Depakote but also Tegretol, Neurontin, Lyrica and Lithium.
Scaccia said that such medications can cause weight gain in a variety of ways.
"They can decrease energy expenditure and inhibit the breakdown of fat, plus they can increase carbohydrate cravings and increase the conversion of carbohydrate and protein to body fat," the pharmacist told the news provider.
Scaccia noted that about 30 to 65 percent of patients who take anti-seizure medications and mood stabilizers can gain up to 33 pounds over a two-year period.
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