Depakote Side Effects
Depakote has numerous side effects that you should discuss with your doctor prior to beginning treatment with depakote. The FDA has given Depakote a Black Box Warning for the possibility of life threatening pancreatitis.Other Depakote side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- hair loss
- Vision Impairments
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Loss of sex drive
- heart palpitations
- edema
- nystagmus (rapid eye movement)
- liver problems
Be sure to tell your doctor about allergies to Depakote or any ingredients (including the capsule) used in the making of the drug as well as any history of bleeding, dementia, kidney disease, dehydration, or nutrition issues.
Warnings & Recalls for Depakote
Depakote Side Effects: Depakote Birth Defects
This medication is not indicated for use in pregnant women. Do not stop taking Depakote if you find that you are pregnant, unless you have spoken to your doctor about the risks of stopping the drug.If you are planning to get pregnant, or may get pregnant, speak to your doctor about all possible Depakoke side effects and Depakote birth defects that may come as a result of treatment.Other Depakote Birth Defects include (as per the
FDA’s Medwatch Alert, December 2009):Increased risk of neural tube defects (defects of the brain and spinal cord)
- Cranio facial defects (defects of the face and skull)
- Cardiovascular malformation
If you are experiencing any Depakote side effects, or you have any questions whatsoever about this medication, please speak to your doctor immediately. Failure to do so may incur additional Depakote side effects that may become life threatening. And as always, tell us your experiences on our report a bad drug form.
Depakote Treatment and Use
Depakote | dilvalproex sodium is an anticonvulsant medication developed by Abbott Laboratories in the early 1980’s. Depakote is indicated for use in the treatment of various types of seizure disorders, as well as Bipolar Mania and migraines.
The active ingredient in Depakote is valproic acid. It is believed that Depakote works by increasing the concentration of the neurotransmitter gama-aminobutric acid (GABA) in the brain. This should not be confused with other neurotransmitters like serotonin, or neuroprenephrine (increased by SSRI’s and NRI’s, respectively)
Off-label, Depakote is used for:
Depakote Dosage
The dosage of Depakote that is right for you depends on a myriad of factors. Your age, weight, previous health conditions, mental health, and other items are taken into account by your doctor to make the final dosage determination.
Generally, the adult Depakote dose for Bipolar Depression is 750mg taken twice daily.
For seizure disorder, it’s 250mg taken twice daily.
Other Names for Depakote
Brand Name:
Generic:
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Depakote
