I spoke to my psychiatrist about me wanting to get off of Depakote-again.
I told her that I gained 40 pounds in 4 months and her eyes widened!
I told her about my enlarged heart, atherosclerosis and other weight related issues.
She agreed to get me off of the Depakote for good!
She said for me to taper down on the Depakote as I increase the Lamictal, another mood stabilizer I’m on.
Depakote is an effective drug for me but it was slowly killing me.
Good bye Devil Drug.
Good luck @Wave sometimes I think the docs don’t hear enough feedback on just how unbearable and even potentially life threatening some of these meds can be
She also said that I may be able to try out the new AP Lybalvi but she won’t prescribe it to me right away.
She said that it’s brand new and doesn’t want to experiment on me!
She may consider it for me down the road.
Yay! That’s great that your pdoc is on your side, and that they want you to taper down. 
Good luck with everything.
Didn’t you came of Depakote few months ago?
You felt very bad?
Hope that works out for you! All the best!
I was in the same boat with Olanzapine, that is my Devil drug.
@anon22846033 last time when I came off Depakote I wasn’t on Lamictal.
Now I’m on Lamictal
Hopefully I’ll be ok
Whats the target of Lamictal for you?
I take 200 mg and feel it does nothing…
No,its ok about that… I just got it for seasonal changes, as ad form of…
So maybe that’s why you don’t feel anything on it?
Well, sometimes I came of it quickly and didn’t notice anything…
But recently if i go hours after usual i feel crises…
Lamictal helps with my depression and at higher doses it’s supposed to help with mania.
I’m a little nervous trying it as my sole mood stabilizer.
Praying that it works.
Once in hospital 2014,pdoc dropped 200 completely, to start me again on lower dose until I reach 200 again. Weirdest thing I we expirienced from pdoc.
@anon22846033 i can never ever go back to Depakote.
This drug is killing me.
I gained 40 pounds in about 4 months!
This is completely unacceptable and downright deadly!
I suffer from various weight related medical conditions including an enlarged heart and atherosclerosis.
I also suffer with diabetes, high blood pressure and high triglycerides.
If I continue on this path with Depakote I will die.
If Lamictal doesn’t work then I’ll go on to another drug, but I cannot go back to Depakote.
I am through with this drug.
I understand… Is there anything else you can take along Lamictal?
Hopefully Lamictal will be enough but I may have to increase the Risperdal if it doesn’t control my highs.
I’ll see what she says
Whats your target dose?