There is a black box warning now re: Depakote use in women under age 20. My daughter, at age 11, in 1999[misdiagnosed for what it's worth--repeating--as bipolar]was placed on 1500mg. per day of Depakote and was on it until she was 17 years old. She never had a menstrual cycle, and no one connected it to Depakote use.

The black box warning [just like diabetes and Zyprexa] was not there in 1999.

A specialist at a Children's hospital confirmed, that as the result of Depakote use, she now has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Read the link.[It was given to me by the specialist, top of the line]. Increased cancer risk, most likely unable to conceive children, and life long management of inducing menstruation via hormone therapy, as a prevention for cancer.

At age 19.
~
Ovarian cysts are painful, dangerous and if larger than about 2 inches, must be removed. Been there and done that myself, and it happens without medication inducement.

The fact that Depakote plays a part in this at all is criminal.

Now who said in 1999 that Childhood Bipolar Disorder replaces OCD>ADHD? Who said Depakote was safe for an 11 year old?

Who tells my daughter she cannot have children if she wanted to? Who tells my daughter, an innocent 19 year old, why she doesn't have periods like most women?

When do we start taking this seriously?

When little 4 year olds like Rebecca Riley die? or don't "know why I can't conceive", if they live?

Yeah. those linen sheets. they sure as hell don't exist in residential care facilities./

Risperdal takes away women's periods too, although no link to PCOS that I know of, Depakote can cause infertility, and state governments want the right to force these drugs on people? How is this different than forced sterilization/eugenics except for the lack of a 100% success rate in causing infertility?

My twin sister is going to be my surrogate mother for me when I decide to have a kid!! :-)

For years I have been so terrified at the prospect of having a child with birth defects -- since I'm on so much medication -- and so, a couple months ago, I came up with this here idea which is the most brilliant thing I've ever come up with in my life! Don't you think that's a cool idea? And all the medical peeps I've been talking to like it as well. The thing is, it's always been my goal in life to have a really nice kid -- and now my dream, G-d willing, will become a reality. I love it!! :-)

What do you all think?

Seems a lot of psych drugs have weird and wacky effects on women's systems. Back when I was "schizophrenic" (in the late 80s), I was on various antipsychotics and had bizarre symptoms, including producing milk without pregnant. It was very creepy.

And, come to think of it, years after abandoning psych meds, I never got pregnant. I have no doubt I can thank Big Pharma for deciding for me that I'll never be a mother.

I think it's time for the public to view psych meds in general as a tremendous assault on the human body.

I know when I was depressed I wouldn't of thought of bringing a child into this world. It made no sense to me to try and raise a child in a place where I couldn't even care for myself. And if what the doctors say about MI runs in families is true, I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for having a child go through all the suffering life could bring.

Lamictal has done a major job on my daughter's cycle, in between, all-encompassing. And while this all started when she was on it, it is continuing while off it. Will be looking for an attorney dealing with these side e ffects because I am not sure it is ever going away. One suggestion has been to take birth control pills but that is another avenue of problems.

I don't think anyone would dispute that mental illness runs in families. That doesn't make it genetic, though. And, I agree, when I was unwell, it's better that I didn't have kids.

But I'm recovered now and I've changed my mind. I know you're not supposed to recover from a "neurobiological chronic disease" but it happens every day.

Lamictal hasn't had any adverse effects for me. Just to add another perspective re: that.

a silly story on my risperdol: ok, 19 and in the psych ward, and everyone telling me i'm crazy, and i start to lactate. i have no idea what's happening,and i don't say anything (in case it's the psychosis) finally, the psyciatrist points out i'm leaky. oh!

jenna: that is a side effect from the med, and men/do/ have the same thing. in the med-side-effect world, it's called having "man-boobs".

jenna,[and others] --to be more specific, read here about: "Reproductive Disorders, Female-Risperdal.The increase in hormones happens to both men and women.

Lactation induced via psych medications is reason to flip the doctor and the pharma company the bird on your way out the door.[just my opinion].

"Frequent: menorrhagia , orgastic dysfunction , dry vagina Infrequent: nonpuerperal lactation, amenorrhea, female breast pain, leukorrhea, mastitis, dysmenorrhea, female perineal pain, intermenstrual bleeding, vaginal hemorrhage."

Basically,it really fucks up the female hormones and this is why the % rate of women being dx and inpatient is higher than male.

Psychiatrists do not understand hormones in both men and women, which are complex, and in my opinion, the "reason" for many psychiatric over-diagnoses and over-medicated people.

I am positive that Gianna, author of Bipolar Blast has much information regarding women, hormones, and Risperdal just for starters.

I have decided, after years of indecision and procrastination,that taking an SSRI drug will help me. My depression is mild, but I have to face the fact that it is constant and unrelenting.I have been told also by doctors that I may be prone to polysistic ovarian syndrome due to an apparent sensitivity to testosterone. Uncharacteristicaly I am skinny and find it hard to keep weight on. I also have a problom with excess hair loss, on my head where I want it! and excess hair on my body, where I dont! What cruel Irony ! I would love to be able to gain more weight especially on my hips and chest. Someimes I just feel so unfeminine and wonder if this might be the underlying cause of my depression. The mistery is that my hormone levels have been tested and they appear within the normal range although a few mildly high readings of testosterone were recorded.
I have read that SSRIs can bring down testosterone levels. I have also read that the various SSRI's vary slightly from one another. My question is ,given that I am already underweight and at risk of Poly cystic Ovaries, which of the SSRI medications will be most helpful for me, taking into consideration all my complaints not only that of my depression! ?
I am hoping that someone will know the answer to my quetion.
sincerely confused !

Confused,

I would say you need to find a doctor who is an expert in Polycystic ovary syndrome, preferably a women centered feminist doctor, and if this doctor is not an endocrinologist, also an endocrinologist who will review and discuss the questions you have about polycystic ovarian syndrome, your hormones, your weight issues and ssri's. It sounds like your depression stems from your actual physical health problems. SSRI's according to some research might briefly relieve your mild depression but have serious side effects. You might consider spending your health care dollar elsewhere (and I pray you have one to spend), as if there were a way for you to put on weight or through exercise and/or social outlets, improve your body image, you might find your depression disappating somewhat.

It sounds like you are being conscientious and informed about your health, not indecisive and procrastinating and hence you should be commended.

Here's a link to a women's health site:

http://feministwomenshealth.org/health/moon.htm

and a po site:

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm

Confused-- I wrote many of the comments above re: this topic, as it pertains to my 20 yr.old. The specialist she saw did a more comprehensive test, and the key is the high levels of testosterone, sometimes 10 times over normal range. There's a link to a Polycystic site in my comment above at the top, that site is very helpful.After 3 months of birth control pill maintenance for POS, the unwanted facial hair, arm hair was gone. I would suggest, and I'm not a doctor, but I would persue treating the POS first. It took some time, 3 months, but it was worth it for my daughter. btw the excess hair is a symptom of POS.Good luck.

Confused-- I also would recommend a thyroid blood work up, due to the hair loss. Just a thought, because thyroid being off can affect how we feel as well, per the depression. Good luck.

I was prescribed Depakote 3 years ago for Bipolar. The doctors always shrugged off my constant aggravations with the weight gain (I have gained nearly 100 pounds). When I went off birth control in July, I suddenly stopped getting my periods. I have since found out I am insulin resistant, am hypothyroid, and have PCOS. I feel totally betrayed by the health system, and worry what else I may have. As I do more and more research on Depakote, I am determined to sue someone.

Has anyone had nausea or anorexia? Ironically I haven't lost weight of course I expect that with Depakote I would gain. Been having occassional abdominal pain! Thought m problems were just mental now I hve these physical problems to worry about.

So I made a comment on April 29. I have since gone off Depakote, and surprisingly, feel much better. I lost 12 pounds in 22 days! just from weaning myself self off Depakote. And, my periods are returning. I see a psychologist, and that Dr. doesn't even think I have bipolar, just borderline personality disorder (which drugs cannot help). The psychologist tells me that bipolar and borderline are "kissing cousins", one mimics the other. Sooo....really nice to take all these drugs and spend all this money. And for what reason? Oh yeah, the Dr. prescribing probably gets a kickback.

DEPAKOTE DOES INDEED CAUSE POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME!!! WE NEED TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT!!! I am 32 years old now, when I was 11 I began having seizures. They did EEG and CAT scan, and diagnosed me with "irregular brainwave." They did not do further testing to find the cause of the irregularity.

(They also did not question why at age 10 I stood 5'6" tall, weighed 125 lbs, was fully sexually developed and menstruating.)

They put me on Tegretol and Phenobarbital which did nothing except make me crazy.

At 13, they took me off these drugs and placed me on Depakote. This stopped the seizures. I stayed on it because it was working and I wanted to live a relatively normal life. Between age 21 and 24 I blew up from a lithe 130 lbs to a 220 lb blob despite the fact that I was active and didn't over eat. Then, lo and behold, I start losing my hair!! Add injury to insult, I start sprouting fuzz in other places!! Then my periods stopped FOR 2 YEARS!!! I consulted several doctors who all denied it was linked to Depakote and refused to assist me in changing or getting off the medication.

(Bear in mind I was living in a small southern hick town, so good doctors or alternative medicine practitioners are non-existent there.)

After relocating to a major city, I had more doctors to choose from, and naturopaths as well. I found a young, sharp FEMALE neurologist who upon looking at my chart for the first time said "Oh my god, you're taking Depakote? How's your hair? Do you have or plan to have kids?" She immediately changed my drugs. She took me off the Depakote, put me on Lamictal, which worked and supposedly has less toxic side effects.

Since then, I have been able to start a natural detoxification regime and have changed my lifestyle in hopes of becoming seizure free, drug free, healthy and fertile. The docs never gave me a valid cause for my epilepsy, because they didn't know and didn't want to waste more time and money on me with further testing.

I have now weaned myself from 300mg of Lamictal daily, to 25mg of Lamictal daily. This is the lowest available dose and I'm not even sure it's therapeutic, but thank god and knock on wood- I've not spazzed out yet!! I have also dropped to 170 lbs, my hair is slowly but surely coming back, and my periods are now regular (though I DO use herbs to ensure their regularity.) My fiancee and I are waiting to get married before we try to conceive, so I will find out in a few months whether or not my fertility has been permanently damaged by DEPAKOTE (A.K.A VALPROIC ACID, VALPROATE)

The lifestyle changes I've made are rather extensive to list here, but if any one would like information you can drop me a line at tracysnow76@gmail.com, I'll be glad to share anything that may help you. Good luck to you all!

IMA 15 YR OLD IM NOT PLANNINN ON HAVING KIDS BUT IN THE FUTURE I AM N I TAKE ALOT OF MEDICINES IM NOT CRAZY OR NE THANG REALLY IF U SEE ME U WOULD NEVER GUESS AND RITE NOW I TAKE,DEPAKOTE 700MG,TENEX,SERAQUEL 100MG,LEXAPRO 100MG,AND A MEDICINE 4 MY ACID REFLUX ALSO CALLED PREVACID AND IM SCARRED IN THE LONG RUN THAT ITS GONE CAUSE ME TO HAVE INFERTILITY AND I REALLY DONT WANT THAT 2 HAPPEN BECAUSE IVE ALWAYS PICTURED MY FUTURE 2 HAVE A FAMILY THAT I DIDNT HAVE IN THE PAST SO I JUST HAVE ALOTT OF QUESTION ABOUT MY MEDICATION N I WANT 2 GO GET TESTED 2 SEE IF IM INFERTILE

To all who have complaints against Depakote, please contact me @ mezhona37@aol.com. I am trying to get a class action suit started against them. I also was on Depakote from about 04/2004, or the beginning of 2005. And it literally ate my white blood cells leaving me open to illness. It got to the point I could have died of a common cold. They just recently took me off the medication and I am now better in the immune system area. But I am having other problems that possibly could be because of me being on that medication. Please help me stop this. I would like to do something for us all. And I would like to get on the government about it... Please also put in a complaint with the FDA ( Food & Drug Administraion ), the website address is http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm, Call them at: 1-800FDA-1088 (Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178, or send mail MedWatch, HF-410, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

Hi! My name is Sabrina and I have been doing some research on whether there is a class action lawsuit against the makers of Depakote. Well...Im interested as well because this drug obviously should not be on the market and available for people to use.

My Story:

About a year and a half ago I found out that I have PCOS. I went to the gyno for an exam and once again complained about my non-stop weight gain...it seemed to come out of no where and I hadn't really changed my eating habits that much. I went from 170 pounds, 5'7, to now 275 pounds. OMG, I know. Now 170 may sound like a lot for a woman, but I was skinny at that weight, I had abs of steel and I loveeed my body. My doctor told me that I could maybe lose 10 pounds, but it wasnt a big deal because I was proportional. I have the body frame of my father and I hold weight well. AND THANK GOD FOR THAT! But when you get up in the digits that I'm in...it doesnt matter anymore! anywho....

So here I am doing some more research and I am reading in several reports that Depakote is causing many, many things...such as PCOS....freaking wonderful...I was taking that drug when I was probably 14-15 years old for seizures....long story short...I've experienced many of the effects from Depakote such as:

*Extreme Mood Swings- (during the time I took it...being the main reason I stopped taking it I believe)

*PCOS- suffered the extreme weight gain, extreme insulin resistance, and very heavy periods.

*Anxiety, Anxiety, Anxiety- I had to drop out of college, quit my job, and basically quarantine myself from the public, family and friends because I would get sooo worried that I would throw up from the nerves and CONSTANTLY dry heave.

*Depression- from the above.

* Infertility- from the PCOS. This is really frustrating because I have been married now for almost two years and we want to start a family but the doctor has told me that I'm pretty much unable to have a child without fertility help.

...the list goes on and on and on! If indeed this drug is as bad as everyone is saying...we gotta do something.

I never could figure out why so many women I met in psych hospitals have ovarian cysts. I have one friend with PCO, other than that I've never met anyone outside that setting who had them. But every time I've been in the hospital at least one or two women have discovered they have an ovarian cyst. They seem rather painful, too.

What a drag it is to be a cash cow.

what happened to my daughter is an outrage, being she was misdianosed bipolar at age 11 on depakote for 6 years. then find out she has a permanent body damage; increased cancer risk (cervical)and less chance of conceiving. all by age 18. it would be nice to see abbott pay for something, wouldn't it? it's worse than cysts.

there is now a black box warning for use in women under age 20.

We have terrible experience with this drug. I am weaning my 17 years old off this drug. Depakote also can cause extreme aggression, moodiness, irritability, defiance beyond reason, depression, lack of concentration and regression in behavior, learning and social skills. My daughter used this med as a mood stabilizer-doesn’t work. This drug is poisoning her mind and from all your posts-her body.

mani, my daughter gained weight on depakote, and noticed increased agitation and just about your entire list of side effects you listed; she went off of it w the aide of a new psych after she fired the one that put her on the drug. it was 6 months later a specialist confirmed (actually 2 in a prominent hospital)and told us depakote IS the reason for her body damage.

the more i read this thread the more i think i'm going to take a look at a class action suit, or at least into if abbott new about the polycystic ovary syndrome before they placed the warning on the box.

To make a long story short ... I believe that Valproic Acid aka Depakote was the sole initiator of my alopecia aka complete hair loss. I was 20 years old and took it for Bipolar Mania, I began to loss my beautifully thick hair at an amazing pace ... no one believed that it could cause my hair loss. I did though and asked to be taken off of it but it was too late. I am now 25 and still bald. I believe it caused irreversible hair loss and now a family friend is having the same thing happen to her. Aren't these drugs suppose to help!? Has anyone had this same or similar problem ... I want to stop this from happening to anyone else (my family friend ... it might be too late, =( ) ... please let me know! Thanks!

My daughter (I've written about in previous comments) is now 20 yrs old and her hair is as thick and beautiful as it was before Depakote; hers fell out by the handful on it too. She was on it for 6 years. I am not a doctor, just a mom--but choline and inositol vitamin B complex helps hair growth. Just know, it will be ok.

Ok. Ive been diagnosed with major depression disorder/borderline agoraphobia. My doctor just put me on DEPAKOTE yesterday. I havent taken it yet because im having second thoughts about it. Ive read all these things about this drug and while there have been good posts about it.. There have been much more posts thats bad. I dont know if i should start taking it or go to another doctor for a second opinion. Ive started psych counseling once a week and they agree that i do need to be on something but never stated what they thought it was. Someone please help! Should i get a second opinion??

Christy, I'm not a doctor, but I'd get a second opinion. Depakote is an anticonvulsant used as a mood stabilizer for Bipolar Disorder. I would see no reason at all for use for what you've been dx'd with; and my bet a new doctor(psychiatrist) will give you another dx (that seems to happen a lot).

Christy,

Depakote for major depression? I'm stunned that an anti-convulsant would even be suggested.

Did your physician give you a rationale for using this class of drug?

You should be given a very clear explanation as to why a specific drug is being prescribed:
--what it's intended affect?
--how long will you be taking it?
--what you should expect in terms of efficacy?
--what are the side effects to watch for?
--does your physician have a withdrawal plan should you decide to discontinue this treatment?

The last one is super important. You need to insist on physician providing this information before considering taking any psychotropic, imo. I'd get it in writing so there are no misunderstandings later.

Paul

Christy, my shrink also prescribed Depakote for major depression. I said no. I'm not bipolar or psychotic & never have been. Unfortunately, the trend in psychiatry is to put people with major depression on all sorts of anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, etc. I felt that gaining a lot of weight was going to do nothing for my depression except make it worse. The risks of these drugs may be worth it to some people, but they weren't (and still aren't) worth it to me.

Is there a class action suit against the drug depakote? My daughter was prescribed it at age 14 and took ot for only 4 months , lost half her hair and gained 50 lbs and did not have a period for over a year after taking it. Her periods remained very irregular for the next 4 years. later was dx with polycycstic ovary disease. prior to taking depakote, periods were regular.
This is a horrible drug for young girls.I would appreciate any information on a lawsuit.
Thank you, Valerie

There would be good reason for a lawsuit if the drug was rx'd to the young woman under age 20 during the years that it showed a black box warning for use--or if the doctor didn't do informed consent and tell of the black box warning.

It's permanent body damage, increases chance for cancer and low fertility rates (the polycystic ovary)so what price do we place on that?

Jane: "I know when I was depressed I wouldn't of thought of bringing a child into this world. It made no sense to me to try and raise a child in a place where I couldn't even care for myself. And if what the doctors say about MI runs in families is true, I wouldn't have wanted to be responsible for having a child go through all the suffering life could bring."

that is what I call taking personal responsibility for your problems.

I only wish my mother had the wit and intelligence to understand that before she churned out four children and ruined their development and subjected them to her mercurial moods, neglect and cruelty until they too were just as depressed as she was.

For the same reasons I never had my own children. It's not fair to take that gamble with the unsuspecting innocent. It's selfishness actually, born from depressive loneliness and a need to fill that void. I could not bear the idea of having a daughter who went on to kill herself in her teens. I would have never forgiven myself for bringing her into this world so defenseless unless I knew how to fix it.

I know I've said things like bipolar isn't real or isn't genetic but there is always the possibility I am wrong and within that margin of error I didn't want to risk that potentially fatal possibility with another soul.

I took Depakote and valporic acid in the 1990s. It curled my hair. I never had to have a perm. My hair is now almost straight a little wavy. I always knew it was the Depakote. I did not know that Depakote caused weight gain.

I am also through menopause. I was done with my periods very early in life. I cried when my GP said "Yes, he thought I was done." I still remember the icky feeling I had. I didn't tell anyone in my family that day...but I walked around in shock.

I don't know why, because sometimes having period can be a hassle, but it is tied up with a woman's feeling of herself.

I quit sharing this with anyone...because I was so young friends found it curious that I would be through at such a young age.

It bugged me to be viewed like a freak. And of course, I don't share my psych history with most people....stigma is too great so I couldn't explain it to them

I gained almost 150 pounds while on Depakote when I was 17 and still can't lose it. It screwed up my menstral cycle. I am now 32 with no children.

Ihad an accident last year and received a severe traumatic brain injury. From that I started low sezures.I am on Depakote and franklyyou are all freaking me out!!!! I am sitting here worried to hell I pregnant cuz my period is not here and I use birth control, and the symptoms are here. My hair fell out by the hands full to the point that i stopped combing it I would wash it and scrunch it cuz guess what! My hair is so curly I don't get it. How does someone with straight blonde hair go to curly and I mean curly hair.If I am pregnant I don't know what to do.If I instead have pollops I have had the most difficult year of my life. A severe Traumatic Brain Injury is no briken arm. You loose your life, I've lost everything but my family. These side effects for the most part make me smile because I've already lived through the hard part. I should have died so all this is a gift. God I'm alive everyday is a gift!!!!

I posted comments in April 2008. Good news thus far. Weight Watchers has helped me lose over 65 pounds this year, which should/has helped with the PCOS. My endocrinologist plans to do screening for PCOS early next year. I'm terrified that my weight loss will not reverse PCOS, as I'm looking to start a family in the next year or two. I'm constantly afraid that even though I no longer take this poison, that if I have kids, they will have developmental problems. I keep googling class actions with depakote, so far I haven't found one yet. If anyone hears of a lawsuit, please contact me at carriethe1st@hotmail.com. Best of luck to the rest of you ladies!

I am currently 20 years old and have been taking Depakote sence I was about 15. I also take birth control pills, but I often miss a few here and there or are late taking them. My boyfriend and I were talking one day and were wondering why I havnt 'accidently' gotten pregnant. After reading all this information you all have posted Im really begining to worry if I could be infertile and unable to have kids someday. I'm not ready for that now, but I WANT kids in the future and would be heartbreaking to discover that I cant.
is there any way to test and see if I actually could have kids someday without actually getting pregnant?
This just makes me so mad! docters dont realize that they can totally screw up a persons entire life if they dont know what they are doing.