Re: Depakote and Female Hormones

I can't find the source of the following explanation but nonetheless it may
help you:
"Bilo and colleagues [6] found that untreated women with epilepsy have a
higher
LH pulse frequency than do normal control subjects. Increased LH pulse
frequency promotes the development of PCOS.
Finally, PCOS may occur
significantly more frequently with left- than with right-sided unilateral
temporal lobe epileptogenic discharges, which also suggests that the
epilepsy
itself may be a factor [8].
Most commonly used antiseizure medications,
including barbiturates, phenytoin, and carbamazepine, induce cytochrome P450
and accelerate hepatic biotransformation, while valproate does not [4].
Antiseizure medications that induce hepatic enzymes reduce biologically
active
testosterone levels in the serum by increasing the binding and metabolism of
testosterone [4].
Antiseizure medications other than valproate, therefore,
may treat hyperandrogenism and thus PCOS, while valproate therapy may not.
Thereby, this mechanism could also contribute to a higher occurrence of PCOS
in valproate-treated women with epilepsy. In this situation, valproate is
not
the primary cause of PCOS, yet its selection as treatment may be an
important
factor..."

Obesity  is a negative factor relating to PCOS.

As to your 'hair thinning': Yes.

Try: Selenium at 200 micrograms per day along with about 50-100 mg per
day zinc  and multivitamin tabs

Good luck

Dr.
--
"Lynn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Does anyone know how Depakote affects female hormones?  I read that it may
have
> caused polycystic ovarian syndrome in some women.  I already have PCOS,
and I'm
> quite overweight.  Will Depakote make my symptoms worse?  Can this be
related
> to my recent hair thinning?
>
> Lynn