Overview
Depakote is a brand name for sodium divalproex, a compound made of sodium valproate and valproic acid. This drug is an anticonvulsant, and used to treat several conditions. It suppresses the spread of abnormal electrical discharges, relieving the symptoms of disorders such as epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches.

When taken to treat epilepsy, it may take one to two weeks for Depakote to reduce the incidence of seizures.

Why is this drug prescribed?
Depakote is used to treat the following conditions:

1. Epilepsy (absence seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures)
2. Bipolar Disorder
3. Migraine headaches
4. Mania
5. Behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia

Warnings and Precautions
Stopping this medication abruptly could cause physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. If Depakote is being used to treat epilepsy (seizures), the patient should not stop taking it suddenly — this increases the risk of seizures. Patients are advised to wear a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace while taking Depakote.

Depakote may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Patients taking Depakote should not drive, use machinery, or do anything requiring mental alertness until the effects of this drug are known.

Children up to 2 years of age, those taking more than one medicine for seizure control, and children with other medical problems are more likely to develop serious side effects. Abdominal or stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, tiredness or weakness, and

yellow eyes or skin are more likely to occur in children than in adults taking Depakote, especially those known to be sensitive to this type of medication.

Depakote can cause blood problems that slow the rate of healing and increase the patient’s risk of infection. Patients should be especially careful when brushing and flossing teeth.

For Pregnant or Nursing Mothers: Pregnant women should not take Depakote as it is reported to cause birth defects when taken during the first trimester. Depakote passes into breast milk, though its effects on infants are not known.

Contraindications
Depakote should Not be used for people who have:

1. liver disease
2. an unusual or allergic reaction to divalproex sodium, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
3. brain damage or disease
4. kidney disease
5. low blood proteins
6. blood disease

Adverse Reactions
Depakote may cause the following reactions:

1. drowsiness
2. diarrhea
3. nausea and/or vomiting
4. fatigue/weakness, tremor (at high doses)
5. headache
6. asthenia
7. indigestion
8. stomach cramps
9. slurred speech
10. insomnia, nervousness
11. respiratory infection
12. blurred vision
13. flu syndrome
14. liver irritation
15. pancreas problems
16. weight gain
17. ringing or buzzing of the ears
18. hallucinations/psychosis

Interactions with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs or substances that may interact with Depakote include:

1. MAO Inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants cause both drug toxicity.
2. Nimotop (nimodipine), Phenobarbital, Ery-Tab (erythromycin), INH (isoniazid), Aspirin, and Dilantin (phenytoin) all can cause drug toxicity.
3. Coumadin and other anticoagulants increase the patient’s risk of bleeding.
4. absorption and effects of antacids will decrease
5. Persantine (dipyridamole), Anturane (sulfinpyrazone), and aspirin may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with Depakote
6. Klonopin (clonazepam) can increase the frequency of seizures.
7. Sandimmune (cyclosporine) may cause liver toxicity in combination with Depakote.
8. Rifadin (rifampin), Tegretol/Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and Lamictal (lamotrigine) reduce the effect of Depakote.
9. Valium (diazepam), Tegretol/Carbatrol (carbamazepine), Zarontin (ethosuximide), Lamictal (lamotrigine), and Retrovir/AZT (zidovudine) increase in toxicity
10. alcohol adds to the sedative effect of Depakote
11. carbonated beverages taken with Depakote my cause irritation of the throat and/or mouth.
12. anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)

Sources

http://www.health-center.com/db/PageReq?SessionID=5322&TopicID=409&PageID=2180&
Action=view

http://www.rxlist.com/scripts/patient/piumore.pl?mononum=780&dc_category=Depression&
order=1&type=&item=

http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/showUSPLfts.asp?fname=use0508.htm&
title=Depakote&cid=HT#GXX01