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also were you taking any supplements while on Depakote. No one has ever suggested vitamin d or calcium to him and he has never had a bone density test. He is now 22?
Trish
Replies to "also were you taking any supplements while on Depakote. No one has ever suggested vitamin d..."
@tlb101175
Hi Trish,
I just saw this...It was never recommended that I take any supplements or have a bone scan. The only thing it seems I had to do was have regular bloodwork to check liver enzymes. That was then...check with his neurologist; it may be different now.
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PS Trish,
I know low Vitamin D can have multiple effects on our systems....that sure wouldn't hurt. As for me...too long ago, can't recall. my best....he is so brave and so are you...
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Hi Trish,
My son is 25 and has been on Depakote since he was about 9 years old. We have tried to wean him a couple of times and he would have a seizure, so we had him continue on the med. In 2023 he had a 14 cm Adenoma in his liver which was removed along with half his liver. The surgeon said his liver was extremely fatty too. There was also a tiny portion of cancer in this tumor. My son is also on other medications as well, but the surgeon said he had another autistic person with this same type of tumor as well. I’m assuming this tumor developed from my son being on medications since he was a child, one of them being Depakote. We are seeing a new neurologist in October and we are asking about weaning him from Depakote.
Kathy
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Hello @shivb
I have been on Depakote for about fifty years. It started when I was about 12 and I am now 62. It has increased over this period and numerous medications, Mysoline, Tegretol, Gabapentin, Sabril to name a few, and many others have been added because of my iatrogenic seizures. Since Depakote has been a good drug and because of my seizures, of course, I have been on increased doses of Depakote.
I was on a regimen of 300mg of Lamictal and 1,500mg of Depakote. The side effects of Depakote were so great that the neurologist decreased the Depakote to 500mg DR in the morning and 500mg ER at night. There was no change in seizure frequency when I stopped the 500mg DR. I now take 500 mg ER at night only in addition to 150 mg Lamictal bid and 400mg Zonisamide at night. It is the addition of Zonisamide that has brought me to a point where my seizures are well controlled. One has not occurred in over a year.
I am not totally weaned off of it but this is an experience of how I have been partially weaned off of Depakote.
@lsittl