New addition to the cocktail: Depakote

Hi all-

After talking to my psychiatrist about my sudden increase in mania, she decided to put me on 750 mg of depakote (one in the morning, two at night). Though it's only been a couple of days, I've already noticed some changes: I feel very lethargic and tend to nap frequently throughout the day, I also feel very drugged (inability to think quickly, low reaction time, etc.); fortunately, I have not noticed any weight gain or hair loss, if anything I have lost about a half of pound. This idea of weight gain/hair loss scares me--I've read on forums people's experience with weight gain/hair loss, and I have to say that my odds don't look good. It seems as though the majority of people gain up to twenty pounds within a month of taking this drug. When I first started taking lexapro alone about 3 years ago I experienced what I felt was an extreme weight gain of 15 pounds--even though everyone who knew still thought that I looked good, even great at times, I couldn't handle the fact that I'd gained 15 pounds within a couple of months. I am starting to have doubts about this drug...

Any thoughts on how to control weight gain?

Sher

watch your carbs, and have healthy snacks around you, like celery sticks and carrots. i myself am watching my weight as i am on zyprexa. i have already gained about 8 lbs but i needed it anyway.