Posted by galkeepinon on August 30, 2003, at 14:54:44
In reply to Re: What are the down sides of Lithium? » galkeepinon, posted by katia on August 30, 2003, at 13:58:31
Hi, I can't give you an explanation as to why you didn't hear it from your pdoc~sorry, but there has been controversy surrounding this issue. It is quite common, I have very mild PCOS.
Some (but not all) studies have found that PCOS is more common in those who have been taking Depakote than in those taking some other seizure/bipolar medicines.
A possible explanation for the effect of Depakote is that it is one of the few seizure/bipolar medicines that are not *enzyme-inducing*. Enzyme-inducing medications promote the liver's production of substances that lower blood levels of the male hormones involved in PCOS. In effect, enzyme-inducing seizure/bipolar medicines like Tegretol/Carbatrol treat PCOS but Depakote does not. Lamictal has been found to reverse the features of PCOS.
Here's a pretty good link with some great info: http://www.psycheducation.com/hormones/Insulin/polycystic.htm
Depakote also promotes weight gain, which is associated with higher levels of insulin and of active male hormones, both factors linked to PCOS.
Hope this helped:-)
> Hi,
> you mentioned about PCOS and Depakote? Why have I not heard this before, specifically from my own Pdoc???? How common is this?
> Katia
poster:galkeepinon
thread:254628
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255682.html