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| Pronunciation |
|
 (val
PROE ik AS id & dah RIV ah
tives) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Depacon™; Depakene®;
Depakote® Delayed Release; Depakote®
ER |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Atemperator-S® (Mexico); Cryoval (Mexico);
Epival® (Mexico); Leptilan® (Mexico); Valprosid®
(Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- This medicine may cause liver problems. Some of these problems may
lead to serious side effects, including death. Liver problems may be more common
in children less than 2 years old, especially if they are taking other seizure
medicines and have serious health problems. Signs of liver failure include dark
urine, feeling tired, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the
skin or eyes. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of
these symptoms. This medicine may cause birth defects to your unborn child if
taken during pregnancy. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may be
pregnant. This medication may cause pancreatitis. This may occur in children or
adults at anytime during treatment. Some cases of pancreatitis may develop
rapidly and lead to death. Signs of pancreatitis include abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, or decreased appetite. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if
you have any of these symptoms.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to valproic acid or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have liver
disease.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used as a treatment to prevent seizures and
migraines.
- It is also a mood stabilizer. The mood stabilizing effect may take 1-3
weeks to see.
- Another use includes behavior disorders in patients with Alzheimer's
disease.
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| How does it work? |
|
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- Valproic acid and derivatives increase the brain's concentration of a
chemical (gamma-aminobutyric acid) produced by our bodies. This chemical slows
activity or decrease excitability in the
brain.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Swallow tablet or capsule whole with water. Do not chew, break, or
crush.
- You may sprinkle contents of certain capsules
(Depakote® Sprinkle®) on food (1
teaspoonful of applesauce for example). Do not chew. Eat right away.
- A liquid (syrup) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those who
have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and
after medicine is given.
- Do not take liquid (syrup) in carbonated beverages. It may cause mouth
and throat pain or an unpleasant taste.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly
decreased.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider. Can cause seizures if stopped
quickly.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Children less than 2 years of age are at risk of liver problems. Talk
with healthcare provider.
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines, especially with other seizure medicine.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Use caution if you have liver disease or if you are on many seizure
medicines. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Do not use in pregnancy and do not get pregnant. Use birth control
that you can trust while taking this medicine.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Belly pain and cramps.
- Feeling sleepy or unable to think clearly. Avoid driving, doing other
tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine
affects you. Shaking may also occur (more often seen with higher doses).
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Weakness.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood tests (liver function test). Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Feeling sick, weak, facial swelling, loss of appetite, yellowing of
skin or eyes, vomiting.
- Shakiness of hands (tremor).
- Unusual bleeding or bruising (black and blue marks).
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, belly pain, and/or loss of appetite.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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