What are common side effects of Depakene?

Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, hair loss, blurred/double vision, change in menstrual periods, ringing in the ears, shakiness (tremor), unsteadiness, weight changes may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What are the most common side effects of valproic acid?

Common side effects

stomach pain, feeling or being sick.
diarrhoea.
dry or sore mouth, or swollen gums.

shakes (tremors) in a part of your body, or unusual eye movements.
feeling tired or sleepy.
headache.

weight gain.
thinning hair, or changes to the colour or texture of your hair.

What are common side effects of Depakene?

What is the most common side effect of Depakote?

Q: What are the most common side effects experienced with Depakote? A: Common side effects experienced with Depakote include drowsiness, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, low platelet count, tremors, tiredness, and hair loss.

What is Depakene used to treat?

A drug used to treat epileptic seizures and bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches. It is also being studied in the treatment of several types of cancer.

What happens if you take too much depakine?

Symptoms of overdosage of Depakote include changes in consciousness, fainting, and slow or irregular heartbeat. Contact your doctor urgently if you experience stomach pain that spreads to your back, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, facial swelling, loss of appetite, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.

What are three 3 adverse effects associated with valproic acid?

Valproic acid may cause serious allergic reactions affecting multiple body organs (eg, liver or kidney). Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: a fever, dark urine, headache, rash, stomach pain, swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, unusual tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin.

What are the serious side effects of valproic acid?

More common

Black, tarry stools.
blood in the urine or stools.

crying.
delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness.
difficult or labored breathing.

dysphoria.
false or unusual sense of well-being.
feeling of unreality.

How can I reduce the side effects of Depakote?

How to avoid Depakote side effects

Take Depakote as prescribed. Read all drug information before starting Depakote, and follow all directions on your prescription label. …
Discuss your full medical history with your healthcare provider. …

Avoid other medications and substances that could make you drowsy.

Is Depakote a high risk medication?

Taking Depakote has been linked to some serious and even deadly side effects. Liver damage is one of the side effects that may be fatal. This is especially true in children under 2. This risk is highest in the first months of taking the medication.

Is Depakene safe?

Warnings: Rarely, this medication has caused serious (sometimes fatal) liver problems, usually within the first 6 months of starting treatment. Laboratory tests should be performed before you start treatment and periodically during treatment, especially within the first 6 months, to monitor this side effect.

How do I stop taking Depakene?

IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE, NEVER START TAKING THIS PILL. HOW TO TAPER OFF DEPAKOTE:NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE TELLS YOU, EVEN YOUR DOCTOR, A 25% REDUCTION OVER 1-2 WEEKS IS THE FASTEST YOU CAN COME OFF SAFELY. YOU WILL STILL FEEL WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS.

What are the dangers of valproic acid?

Valproic acid may cause serious allergic reactions affecting multiple body organs (eg, liver or kidney). Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: a fever, dark urine, headache, rash, stomach pain, swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin, unusual tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin.

What is the most common adverse effect?

Common side effects include upset stomach, dry mouth, and drowsiness. A side effect is considered serious if the result is: death; life-threatening; hospitalization; disability or permanent damage; or exposure prior to conception or during pregnancy caused birth defect.

Can valproic acid damage brain?

Hyperammonemia is known to cause neuronal injury, and can result from valproic acid exposure. Prompt reduction of elevated ammonia levels may prevent permanent neurological injury.

Which organs can be badly damaged by valproic acid?

Valproic acid can damage the liver. About 5% to 10% of people on long-term valproate treatment will experience increases in liver enzymes, usually without symptoms.

What to avoid when taking Depakote?

But your doctor might recommend that you avoid alcohol while taking either of these drugs. This is because drowsiness or dizziness are side effects of Depakote, Depakote ER, and alcohol. So, combining alcohol with either of these drugs may make any drowsiness or dizziness that you experience worse.

What patients should not use Depakote?

You should not use divalproex sodium if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

liver disease;
a urea cycle disorder; or.

a genetic mitochondrial (MYE-toe-KON-dree-al) disorder such as Alpers' disease or Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome, especially in a child younger than 2 years old.

Can Depakote change your personality?

Does Depakote (divalproex) change my personality? Many people worry that medications will alter their personality or change who they are. As long as you're taking the right dosage, Depakote (divalproex) will not change your personality.

Is depakene a mood stabilizer?

Valproate is a mood stabilizer medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), seizures (epilepsy), and migraine headaches.

Do side effects go away?

Some side effects go away over time as your body gets used to a new drug, so your doctor may recommend you stick with your current plan for a little longer. In other cases, you may be able to lower your dose, try a different drug, or add another one, like an anti-nausea medicine, to your routine.

How do you get rid of side effects of medication?

Ask your doctor if you can take the medicine with food.
Eat several smaller meals a day rather than two or three large meals.
Try peppermint candy or gum. Peppermint can help settle your stomach.

Eat bland foods, such as dry crackers or plain bread. Avoid fried, greasy, sweet, and spicy foods.

What to avoid while taking valproic acid?

Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain antidepressants (such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, phenelzine), certain antibiotics (carbapenems such as imipenem), irinotecan, mefloquine, orlistat, other medications for seizure (such as ethosuximide, lamotrigine, rufinamide, topiramate), rifampin, …

Is valproic acid a high risk medication?

A very small number of people who take valproic acid develop life-threatening disorders. Children younger than 2 years of age and other people who are taking more than one seizure medicine have the greatest risk. See Serious side effects.

What are the serious side effects of Depakote?

Some of the most common ones include GI side effects, headache, and drowsiness. Dizziness and tremors may also occur. More serious side effects of Depakote include liver damage, birth defects, and pancreatitis. It can also raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, bleeding problems, and high ammonia levels.

Should I stop taking medication if I have side effects?

Others occur once in a while. But some side effects may be ongoing while you're on the medication. If you have uncomfortable side effects, don't stop taking your medicine before you talk with a health care provider. Write them down so you can report them to your doctor or pharmacist accurately.