Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Depakote.
Chemical Name: DIVALPROEX (dye-VAL-pro-ex)
Depakote 250mg is an anticonvulsant used to control certain types of seizures. It is also used to prevent migraine headaches and to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorders (manic-depressive illness). It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: LIFE-THREATENING LIVER FAILURE has occurred in patients taking Depakote 250mg. Children younger than 2 years old are at increased risk of developing life-threatening liver damage, especially those on more than 1 medicine to treat seizures and those with metabolic disorders, severe seizure disorders accompanied by retardation, or organic brain disease. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences a general feeling of discomfort, sluggishness, weakness, severe drowsiness, swelling of the face, loss of appetite, vomiting, or loss of seizure control. Liver function tests may be performed before and during therapy with Depakote 250mg. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. DEPAKOTE 250mg CAN ALSO CAUSE severe birth defects if it is used during pregnancy. Contact your doctor if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant while taking Depakote 250mg. Depakote 250mg comes with an additional patient leaflet, "Important Information for Women Who Could Become Pregnant." Read it carefully. CASES OF LIFE-THREATENING INFLAMMATION OF THE PANCREAS have occurred with the use of Depakote 250mg. Report any stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or appetite loss to your doctor at once. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Depakote 250mg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), acyclovir, barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), cancer medicines, carbamazepine, carbapenem antibiotics (eg, meropenem, ertapenem, imipenem), cholestyramine, clonazepam, erythromycin, ethosuximide, felbamate, fluoxetine, guanfacine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), isoniazid, ketoconazole, lamotrigine, mefloquine, methylphenidate, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), oral contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), primidone, rifampin, risperidone, salicylates (eg, aspirin), tolbutamide, topiramate, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline), zidovudine, or other medicine for seizures. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including a history of liver problems, metabolic disease, blood disease, HIV infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, high blood levels of ammonia or glutamine, low body temperature, low levels of albumin, brain problems (eg, organic brain disease), mental retardation, inflammation of the pancreas, kidney problems, low levels of white blood cells, allergies, pregnancy or if you are of child-bearing age, or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you are scheduled for surgery or if you have a family history of urea cycle disorders or unexplained infant deaths. Tell you doctor if you have a history of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, unexplained coma, alcohol abuse, mental or mood problems (eg, depression), or suicidal thoughts or actions. USE OF DEPAKOTE 250mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have liver problems or a urea cycle disorder. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Depakote 250mg.
Follow the directions for using Depakote 250mg provided by your doctor. An additional patient information leaflet is available with Depakote 250mg. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Depakote 250mg. SWALLOW WHOLE. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY BE TAKEN WITH FOOD if it upsets your stomach. STORE DEPAKOTE 250mg at room temperature, away from heat and light. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF DEPAKOTE 250mg and it is within 6 hours of the missed dose, take it as soon as possible. Take the remaining doses of the day at evenly spaced intervals. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF DEPAKOTE 250mg and you are taking 1 dose daily, take the missed dose if you remember the same day. Skip the missed dose if you do not remember until the next day. DO NOT take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE DEPAKOTE 250mg if you are allergic to any ingredient in Depakote 250mg. Lab tests may be performed while you use Depakote 250mg to monitor your condition or check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LAB APPOINTMENTS. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY INTERFERE WITH CERTAIN LAB TESTS. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Depakote 250mg. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking Depakote 250mg. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS, DIZZINESS, OR BLURRED VISION. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Depakote 250mg. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Depakote 250mg; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness. PATIENTS WHO TAKE DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY BE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS. The risk may be greater in patients who have had suicidal thoughts or actions in the past. Patients who have bipolar illness may also have an increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch patients who take Depakote 250mg closely. Contact the doctor right away if new, worsened, or sudden symptoms (eg, depressed mood; anxious, restless, or irritable behavior; panic attacks; any unusual change in mood or behavior) occur or if any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions occur. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BLOOD CELLS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR CLOTTING. Avoid activities that may cause bruising or injury. INFLAMMATION OF THE PANCREAS is a potentially life-threatening illness associated with Depakote 250mg. Contact your doctor at once if you have stomach pain, vomiting, or appetite loss. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY INCREASE THE AMMONIA LEVELS IN YOUR BLOOD. Contact your doctor right away if you experience unexplained sluggishness and vomiting or mental changes. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINES, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. USE DEPAKOTE 250mg WITH CAUTION IN THE ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects. DEPAKOTE 250mg SHOULD BE USED WITH EXTREME CAUTION IN CHILDREN, especially children younger than 2 years old. Children younger than 2 years old may be at increased risk of serious liver problems. FOR WOMEN: DEPAKOTE 250mg HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM TO THE FETUS. Use an effective form of birth control while you take Depakote 250mg. IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE PREGNANT OR IF YOU WISH TO BECOME PREGNANT, contact your doctor to discuss the benefits and risks of using Depakote 250mg while you are pregnant. DEPAKOTE 250mg IS FOUND in breast milk. DO NOT breast-feed while you are taking Depakote 250mg. DIABETES PATIENTS: Depakote 250mg may cause the results of some tests for urine ketones to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Depakote 250mg include change in appetite, constipation, diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach cramps or pain, drowsiness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, weight change, weakness, or hair loss. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. DEPAKOTE 250mg MAY CAUSE AN UNUSUAL DROP IN BODY TEMPERATURE. Contact your doctor right away if you have confusion, lack of energy, loss of coordination, shivering, slow heartbeat, slow or shallow breathing, slurred speech, or unusual drowsiness. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience abnormal thinking; change in menstrual period; changes in behavior; chest pain; dark, tarry, or bloody stools; dark urine; difficulty speaking; difficulty urinating or other urination problems; extreme tiredness; fast or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; hearing loss; involuntary movements of the arms and legs; involuntary movements or chewing movements of the face, jaw, mouth, or tongue; joint pain; loss of appetite; loss of seizure control; memory loss; new or worsening mental or mood changes (eg, aggressiveness, agitation, anxiety, depression, exaggerated feeling of well-being, hostility, impulsiveness, inability to sit still, irritability, panic attacks, restlessness); nosebleed; pounding in the chest; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the arms or legs; symptoms of infection (eg, fever, chills, sore throat); tremor; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual weakness; vision changes or blurred vision; yellowing of the skin or eyes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Depakote 250mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Depakote
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include deep sleep, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness.
DO NOT SHARE DEPAKOTE 250mg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE DEPAKOTE 250mg for other health conditions. IF YOU WILL BE USING DEPAKOTE 250mg FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, be sure to obtain necessary refills before your supply runs out. CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST about how to dispose of unused medicine.
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