Depakote

I have used this medication, and it made me gain about 60 lbs. I would suggest taking him off it right away. Overgrown children can suffer much from the ugliness of other children. (You know how they can be.)

Hope this helps.

C.

I have been on Topamax for about 3-4 years and it has worked great. I used it for migraines. Side effects really depend on your dosage and a lot of people are on the wrong dose or don't take it as recommended. I had some memory issues for about a month and now every so often I will completely blank out on a word or something, but I'm in Graduate school and on the Dean's List, so I don't think it has effected me too bad! I can't drink soda though, because carbonation tastes like cigarettes to me now- yuck. But that's a good diet tool! lol Hope this helps, I would also check out their website.

Hi R.,

You didn't say why your son is on the depakote. Is it for bi-polar disorder, seizures or migraines? Both medications have dangers and cannot be changed without slow withdrawal. See http://www.christianbody.com/CB_Migraines_Topamax.aspx?gc...

I realize this page is an ad for a natural relief but at the top right hand corner is a link to the 46 page document from the FDA on Topiramate. (If you've ever tried to find these kinds of documents on a government website, it's almost impossible.)

Hope this helps....

M.

My daughter was using this medication because she has seizures and she gained a little weight but It should make them gain a little weight because it increases their appetite! If he gains an accesive amount of weight then have the doctor change it but usually they are supposed to gain a little with the medication! Good luck

Hi- I understand and applaud your concern. First off, I checked and I believe Topiramato is Spanish for Topamax. If not, ignore my comments below! I am going on a bit here because I've had a bad time with Topamax. My family has four years' experience trying to find effective treatment without difficult side effects. People react differently and various trials are often the only way to find out what works for you. I just want to reassure that the negative experience of the people I know may not at all be the case with your son. I believe it's a good idea to try your doctor's suggestion, but also:
-Read the package insert or look it up online so you know what to watch for
-Carefully watch for side effects and routinely ask your child questions designed to reveal if he is experiencing any of the listed side effects for the medication. Keep a diary or timeline of symptoms.
-Make sure your doctor is aware of problems promptly. Sometimes it is best to wait as they may go away, but still watch, keep track, and follow up.

RE Topamax: An adult friend who has had epilepsy since childhood calls it Dopamax because of the mental effects. Another called it Stupamax, same reason. My daughter took it briefly and had severe problems with her schoolwork, suddenly unable to do Math that she had known before.

I did not have the mental effects to that extreme, but it does have some serious, permanent-damage type side effects. It can create a potassium deficiency, which cannot always be made up by food or supplements. I took vast amounts of bananas and potassium supplements and still had the tingling effect, which was for me an allover buzzing. When a reaction is strong like that, I have learned that other, less detectable reactions may be occurring. I quit when I began to have difficulty breathing when I took my dose, but found I already had permanent vision loss and arrhythmia. Doctors want their medicine to work and may discount side effects, but sometimes a patient must be firm.
Good luck - N. G.

My 9 year old son is also on Depakote sprinkles. He has been for the last 4 years. He has not had any weight gain. He is also on Lamictal. He is a skinny boy to begin with so I have the opposite and trying to keep weight on him.

Have you taken a look at your son's diet and ruled out preservatives or chemical additives like Nutrasweet and Aspartame that could be causing seizures? Try putting your son on a whole foods diet and eliminate all processed/prepackaged foods for a month. A great book to educate yourself on nutrition is Dr. Joel Fuhrman's "Disease Proof Your Child". You can buy on his website http://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/books.aspx or Amazon.

What about chemical cleaners in your home? Get rid of them. We use nothing but Vinegar, Borax, Baking Soda, and essential oils to clean our home because if you read labels on cleaning products there is no way you will want that stuff in contact with your child's skin or in the air they breathe.

Healthy Wishes,
G. G.
Certified Health Educator

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myclonic Epilepsy when I was 15. I was put on Depakote and gained about 20 lbs. My dr told me this is very normal for Depakote. Now I am on Lamictil (and have been for 4 years) and no problems at all with weight gain. Haven't tried Topiramato. You just have to make sure to wean from the one drug to the next very slowly and of course pay very close attention to how he reacts. I am not sure if he is on it for seizures or not, but either way, it's probably a good idea to wait until there is a break from school, so in case anything does happen, or there is a reaction, it happens at home. Good luck!