Depakote is what type of drug

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This rebate form is not available to individuals who are paying cash for their prescription or who are receiving prescription reimbursement under a state or federally funded insurance program.

Important Safety Information Prescribing Information. They may decrease the benefits e. If an overdose occurs call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Studies have found that individuals who take antiepileptic medications including valproate have suicidal thoughts or behaviors up to twice as often than individuals who take placebo inactive medication.

These thoughts or behaviors occurred in approximately 1 in patients taking the antiepileptic class of medications. If you experience any thoughts or impulses to hurt yourself, you should contact your doctor immediately. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of valproate. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.

It is important to note that some of the side effects listed above particularly changes in platelets, liver or pancreas problems, and suicidal thoughts may continue to occur or worsen if you continue taking the medication. It is important to follow up with your doctor for blood work and to contact your doctor immediately if you notice abdominal pain, sudden nausea or vomiting, or changes in mood or behavior.

If this happens, you may get confused, disoriented, or have difficulty thinking. It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking valproate. It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if valproate is the right medication for you.

Mood stabilizer treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with bipolar disorder. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness. Serious and fatal liver damage has been associated with valproate, particularly during the first six months of treatment. Patients with mitochondrial disease caused by a certain DNA mutation are at an increased risk of acute liver failure and resultant death.

Life threatening pancreatitis has been reported in children and adults who take valproate. Signs of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and inability to keep food down. Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.

This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions. Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein.

The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein. Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. About Mental Illness Treatments. About Mental Illness Research. Your Journey Individuals with Mental Illness. Your Journey Family Members and Caregivers. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of drugs used to treat seizures during pregnancy.

If you become pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away. Do not stop taking the medication unless directed to by your doctor. Divalproex sodium should only be used during pregnancy by women with seizures or manic episodes whose symptoms cannot be controlled by other medications. For women who are breastfeeding: This drug passes through breast milk and may cause side effects in a breastfeeding child.

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking divalproex. For seniors: Your body processes divalproex sodium more slowly. You may also experience more of a sedative effect from this medication.

Extreme drowsiness may cause you to eat or drink less than you normally would. Tell your doctor if this happens.

Your doctor will monitor how much you eat and drink and check you for signs of dehydration, drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects. For children: Children younger than 2 years old have an increased risk of liver damage while taking this drug, especially if they also take other drugs to treat seizures.

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:. Your body may process this drug more slowly and you may have more of a sedative effect. Too much of the drug in your body can cause dangerous effects. This medication did not show effectiveness in children for mania. There is no evidence that divalproex is effective for long-term use in mania longer than three weeks. If your doctor would like you to take this drug for a longer period of time, they will check if you still need the drug regularly.

This medication did not show effectiveness in children for migraine prevention. For people with liver disease: If you have liver disease, you may not be able to process this drug as well as you should.

You should avoid taking divalproex sodium if you have severe liver problems. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Divalproex sodium oral tablet is used for long-term drug treatment. For manic episodes of bipolar disorder, your doctor will decide whether this is a short-term or long-term drug treatment. You may also experience more side effects from this drug if you take it on and off. If you take too much: Taking too much of this drug can cause dangerous effects, such as:. If your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose of this drug, take it as soon as you remember.

How to tell if the drug is working: For treatment of seizures: You should have fewer seizures. For treatment of manic episodes of bipolar disorder: You should see a decrease in symptoms caused by the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

Your mood should be well-controlled. A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled.

Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. There are other drugs available to treat your condition.

Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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