Valproic acid

CAUTION:
Valproic acid can cause serious damage to the liver. Liver damage is more common in children under two years old; talk to your doctor about your child's risk from taking valproic acid. Valproic acid can also cause life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. If you have any of the following symptoms, call your doctor without delay: recurring seizures after they have been controlled by medication, stomach pain, upset stomach, recurring seizures, loss of appetite (anorexia), vomiting, dark urine, weakness, tiredness, lack of energy, facial swelling, and yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to valproic acid.Before taking valproic acid, Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking valproic acid, call your doctor. Valproic acid can cause birth defects in the fetus. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking valproic acid during pregnancy.

General Information and Indications:

Valproic acid is used, alone or with other drugs, to treat certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. It is also used to prevent migraine headaches and to treat various psychiatric illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and aggression.

Information For Users:

Valproic acid comes as a capsule, extended-release (long-acting) tablet, capsules containing sprinkle medication, and liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken two or more times daily. Follow the directions on your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take valproic acid exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.

Do not chew the regular capsules or extended-release tablets; swallow them whole. Valproic acid has an unpleasant taste and can irritate your mouth and throat. Take with a full glass of water.

The sprinkle capsule may be swallowed whole, or the contents of the capsule may be sprinkled on a teaspoonful of food, such as applesauce or pudding, and swallowed. Do not chew the food containing the particles. Do not store unused food containing sprinkle medication; throw it away and sprinkle a fresh dose when it is time for the next dose.

Continue taking valproic acid even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking valproic acid without informing your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Abruptly stopping the drug can cause seizures. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually.
Other uses for this medicine

Valproic acid may be used to treat other types of seizures in adults and children, incontinence after certain surgical procedures, and certain anxiety disorders. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication.

Special precautions:

o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergy to valproic acid or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially other seizure medications, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin), cimetidine (Tagamet), diazepam (Valium), erythromycin, medications for colds or allergies such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), medications for depression such as amitriptyline (Elavil), medications for pain such as meperidine (Demerol), muscle relaxants, rifampin (Rifadin), salicylates such as aspirin, sedatives such as phenobarbital, tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), vitamins, and zidovudine (Retrovir). Valproic acid affects the action of other medications, and many medications can affect the action of valproic acid. Inform your doctor and pharmacist everything you are taking.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding liver disease or a blood disorder.
o Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking valproic acid.
o you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
o remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Possible Adverse Effects:

Though adverse effects of valproic acid are not common, they could occur. Inform your doctor if this symptom is severe or does not go away:

o drowsiness
o headache
o indigestion

If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the CAUTION section, call your doctor without delay:

o skin rash
o easy bruising
o tiny purple-colored skin spots
o bloody nose
o unusual bleeding
o dark urine
o fever
o sore throat

Brand Name(s):

o Depacon®
o Depakene®
o Depakene® Syrup
o Depakote®
o Depakote® ER
o Depakote® Sprinkle

Other Name(s):

o Divalproex Sodium