Depakote is indicated in the treatment of various types of seizure disorders. Divalproex sodium is an epilepsy medicine used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions. It is sometimes used together with other seizure medications.

How It Works
Divalproex sodium affects chemicals in the body that may be involved in causing seizures.

 

Dosage
Tablets (25 mg, 250 mg, 300 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg, 1000 mg )

The recommended initial dose is 750 mg daily in divided doses. (3 times per day) The dose should be increased as rapidly as possible to achieve the lowest therapeutic dose which produces the desired clinical effect or the desired range of plasma concentrations.

Precautions
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Divalproex or any of the other ingredients in it. Divalproex sodium can cause serious, even fatal liver damage, especially during the first 6 months of treatment. Children under 2 years of age are the most vulnerable, especially if they are also taking other anticonvulsant medicines and have certain other disorders such as mental retardation. The risk of liver damage decreases with age, but you should keep an eye out for the following symptoms: loss of seizure control, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, a general feeling of ill health, facial swelling, loss of appetite, vomiting and yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you suspect a liver problem, call your doctor immediately.

 

Also note that Depakote has been known to cause rare cases of life threatening damage to the pancreas. This problem can develop at any time, even after years of treatment. Call your doctor immediately if any of the following warning signs appear: Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

 

Tell your doctor your whole medical history before taking this drug, especially history of: Liver disease or if your liver is not functioning properly.

If you’re having surgery during your treatment with Divalproex, tell the surgeon ahead of time. This medication can increase the effects of pain killers and anesthetic. Do not stop using the medication before surgery unless your surgeon tells you to.

 

This medication can harm an unborn baby. Before taking Divalproex, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Divalproex does pass into breast milk and may cause harm to a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before using this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Drug Interactions
Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription and nonprescription medications, including herbal products you may use, especially: certain antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Phenelzine), certain Benzodiazepines (e.g., Clonazepam, Diazepam), certain antibiotics (Carbapenems such as Doripenem, Imipenem), Mefloquine, other medications for seizure (e.g., Carbamazepine, Ethosuximide, Felbamate, Lamotrigine, Phenobarbital,Phenytoin, Rufinamide, Topiramate), Rifampin, Warfarin, Vorinostat, Zidovudine.

 

Low-dose aspirin, as prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention, should be continued.

 

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are using aspirin for any reason.

 

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take any drugs that cause drowsiness, such as: antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., Diphenhydramine), medicine for sleep (e.g., sedatives), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., Codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., Phenothiazines such as Chlorpromazine), tranquilizers.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using this product safely.

Adverse/Side Effects
If any side effects develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Depakene.

Seek emergency medical attention if experiencing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage. Some of these symptoms may also be early signs of pancreatitis.

Common side effects include: Abdominal cramps, amnesia, breathing difficulty, depression, diarrhea, dimmed or blurred vision, drowsiness, hair loss, indigestion, infection, involuntary eye movements, loss or increase in appetite, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleeplessness, swelling of the arms and legs due to fluid retention, throat inflammation, tremors, or vomiting.

Less common or rare side effects include: Abnormal dreams, abnormal gait, abnormal taste, aggression, anemia, anxiety, back pain, belching, bleeding, blood disorders, bone pain, breast enlargement, breast milk not associated with pregnancy or nursing, bruising, changes in behavior, chest pain, coma, confusion, constipation, cough, deafness, difficulty in speaking, dizziness, double vision, dry skin, dulled senses, ear pain and inflammation, emotional upset, excessive urination (mainly children), feeling unwell, fever, gas, growth failure in children, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, involuntary jerking, irregular heartbeat, irregular menstrual periods, itching, joint pain, lack of coordination, leg cramps, liver disease, loss of bladder control, loss of coordination, menstrual abnormalities, muscle pain, muscle weakness, nosebleed, hyperactivity, personality disorder, pneumonia, prickling or tingling sensation, rash, rickets (mainly children), sedation, sensitivity to light, sinus inflammation, skin eruptions or peeling, spots before the eyes, swollen glands, twitching, urinary tract infection, vaginal infection, vertigo, vomiting blood, weakness, weight loss or gain.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

Overdose
An overdose of Depakote can be fatal, symptoms of overdose include: excessive drowsiness, coma, irregular/slowed/skipped heart beats (heart block). If you suspect overdose, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Storage Instructions
Store at room temperature, away from moisture and light, and out of reach of children and pets.