Q:  Decline in Mom's Motor Coordination-Meds?

My elderly mother has bipolar disorder and dementia (middle stage).  She is on 500 mg. of depakote twice daily and 7.5 mg. of Zyprexa at night and 2.5 mg. at noon.  She has been on these amounts for approx. 2 months.  I have seen a steady decline in her motor coordination and now she cannot walk without help, nor can she stand by herself, etc. She is sleeping most of the day and night.  She is in otherwise excellent health.  Does depakote cause muscle/movement problems?  Judith

Dear Ms. P'
I would agree that worrying as to whether the medications were slowing her down so much is definitely relevant, and thinking through possible alternatives so that if they were gradually lowered, but symptoms sufficient to endanger her current living circumstance emerged, you know what you're going to try instead, is also relevant.  Does Depakote cause this kind of thing? Not usually but these are pretty big doses for an elderly person.  Have her thyroid checked, if that's not been done recently; there may be a potential treatment there with less side effects, at least worth considering.  

Dr. Phelps