What is Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium?
Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium affects chemicals in the body that may
be involved in causing seizures.
Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium is used to treat various types of seizure
disorders. Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium is sometimes used
together with other seizure medications.
Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium may also be used for purposes other
than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the
most important information I should know about Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium?
In rare cases,
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium has caused life-threatening
liver failure, especially in children younger than 2 years old.
Children of this age may be at even greater risk for liver problems
if they use more than one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic
disorder, or if they have a brain disease causing mental impairment
(such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease, multiple
sclerosis, or a brain injury or infection). Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium has also caused rare cases of life-threatening
pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can
come on suddenly and symptoms may start even after you have been
taking Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium for several years.
Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking this medicine
has 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.
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium can cause birth defects.
Do not use this medication without your doctor's consent if you
are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell
your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not stop
taking the medication even if you feel better. It is important
to take Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium regularly to prevent
seizures from recurring. Call your doctor promptly if this medicine
does not seem to be working as well in preventing your seizures.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release or extended-release
tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made
to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the
pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that
you are taking Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium, in case of
emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider
who treats you should know that you are taking Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium.
Avoid using
other drugs that make you sleepy (such as other seizure medicines,
alcohol, cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and
medicine for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness
caused by Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium.
What should
I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium?
In rare cases,
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium has caused life-threatening
liver failure, especially in children younger than 2 years old.
Children of this age may be at even greater risk for liver problems
if they use more than one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic
disorder, or if they have a brain disease causing mental impairment
(such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease, multiple
sclerosis, or a brain injury or infection). Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium has also caused rare cases of life-threatening
pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can
come on suddenly and symptoms may start even after you have been
taking Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium for several years.
Do not take Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium if you have liver
disease or a urea cycle disorder.
Before taking
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium, tell your doctor if you
have:
-
a bleeding
or blood clotting disorder;
-
a history
of head injury, brain disorder, or coma;
-
a family
history of a urea cycle disorder;
-
a family
history of infant deaths with unknown cause; or
-
HIV or
CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection.
If you have
any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium, or you may need a dosage adjustment
or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy
category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby.
Do not use Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium without your doctor's
consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant
during treatment. Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium can cause
birth defects. Use an effective form of birth control while you
are using this medication. Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium
passes into breast milk and could harm a nursing infant. Do not
take Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium without telling your
doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium should not be given to a child younger than 2
years of age without a doctor's consent. Older adults may be more
sensitive to sleepiness caused by this medicine.
How should
I take Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium?
Take this
medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the
medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended
by your doctor.
Take each
dose with a full glass of water. Drink plenty of water while you
are taking this medication. Your dose may need to be changed if
you do not get enough fluids each day.
To be sure
this medication is not causing harmful effects, your liver function
will need to be tested. It is important that you not miss any
scheduled visits to your doctor.
Do not stop
taking the medication even if you feel better. It is important
to take Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium regularly to prevent
seizures from recurring. Get your prescription refilled before
you run out of medicine completely. Call your doctor promptly
if this medicine does not seem to be working as well in preventing
your seizures. Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release
or extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole.
It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking
or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released
at one time.
You may open
the Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium sprinkle capsule and
sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce
to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without
chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty
capsule.
Carry an ID
card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium, in case of emergency. Any
doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats
you should know that you are taking Divalproex - Generic Depakote
sodium. Store Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium at room temperature
away from moisture and heat.
What happens
if I miss a dose?
Take the missed
dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next
dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly
scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed
dose.
What happens
if I overdose?
Seek emergency
medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
Symptoms of
a Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium overdose may include sleepiness
or drowsiness, shallow breathing, weak pulse, or loss of consciousness.
What should
I avoid while taking Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium?
Avoid drinking
alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium.
Avoid using
other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain
medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression
or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Divalproex -
Generic Depakote sodium.
Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium can cause side effects that may impair
your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything
that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid exposure to sunlight
or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Divalproex -
Generic Depakote sodium can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight
and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear
protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium side effects
Seek emergency
medical attention if the person taking this medicine has 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. Get emergency
medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue,
or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
-
unexplained
weakness with vomiting and confusion or fainting;
-
easy bruising
or bleeding, unusual weakness;
-
fever,
skin rash, swollen glands;
-
fever,
chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
-
urinating
less than usual;
-
blood
in your urine;
-
hallucinations
(seeing things that aren't there);
-
weakness,
lack of coordination;
-
a red,
blistering, peeling skin rash;
-
extreme
drowsiness;
-
unusual
bleeding or bruising; or
-
double
vision or back-and-forth movements of the eyes.
Continue using
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium and talk with your doctor
if you have any of these less serious side effects:
-
drowsiness
or weakness;
-
diarrhea,
constipation, upset stomach;
-
depression,
anxiety, or other emotional changes;
-
changes
in your menstrual periods;
-
enlarged
breasts;
-
tremor
(shaking);
-
hair loss;
-
weight
changes;
-
a red,
blistering, peeling skin rash;
-
vision
changes; or
-
unusual
or unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Side effects
other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor
about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome.
What other
drugs will affect Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium?
Before taking
Divalproex - Generic Depakote sodium, tell your doctor if you
are using any of the following drugs:
-
topiramate
(Topamax);
-
tolbutamide
(Orinase);
-
a blood
thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
aspirin
or acetaminophen (Tylenol);
-
zidovudine
(Retrovir);
-
clozapine
(Clozaril, Fazaclo);
-
diazepam
(Valium);
-
meropenem
(Merrem);
-
rifampin
(Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
-
ethosuximide
(Zarontin); or
-
another
seizure medicine such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine
(Tegretol, Carbatrol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton),
felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), or clonazepam
(Klonopin).
If you are
using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Divalproex
- Generic Depakote sodium, or you may need dosage adjustments
or special tests during treatment.
There may
be other drugs not listed that can affect Divalproex - Generic
Depakote sodium. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and
over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins,
minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors.
Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What is the
shelf life of the pills?
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