| What is Depakote?
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Depakote is used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions. |
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| Are there any side effects associated with Depakote?
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Depakote side effects may include abdominal pain, abnormal thinking, breathing difficulty, bronchitis, bruising, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, emotional changeability, fever, flu symptoms, hair loss, headache, incoordination, indigestion, infection, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, sore throat, tremor, vision problems, vomiting, weakness,
and weight loss or gain.
If the side effects continue or are bothersome, check with
your doctor. Less common or rare Depakote side effects may include
abnormal dreams, abnormal milk secretion, abnormal walk, aggression, anemia, anxiety, back pain, behavior problems, belching, bleeding,
blood disorders, bone pain, breast enlargement, chest pain, chills, coma, confusion, coughing up blood, dental abscess, drowsiness, dry skin, ear inflammation, excessive urination (mainly children) or other urination problems, eye problems, feeling of illness, gas, growth failure in children, hallucinations, hearing problems, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, hostility, increased appetite, increased cough, involuntary rapid movement of eyeball, irregular or painful menstruation, itching, jerky movements, joint pain, lack of muscular coordination, leg cramps, liver problems, loss of bladder or bowel control, muscle or joint pain, muscle weakness, muscle pain, neck pain, nosebleed,
overactivity, pneumonia, rapid heartbeat, rickets (mainly children), sedation, seeing "spots before your eyes", sensitivity to light, sinus inflammation, skin eruptions or peeling, skin rash, speech difficulties, stomach and intestinal disorders, swelling of arms and legs due to fluid retention, swollen glands, taste changes, tingling or pins and needles, twitching, urinary problems, vertigo,
and vision problems. |
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| How is Depakote taken?
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Follow the directions for taking Depakote provided by your doctor. Take the tablet with water and swallow it whole (don't chew it or crush it). It has a special coating to avoid upsetting your stomach. If you are taking the sprinkle capsule, you can swallow it whole or open it and sprinkle the contents on a teaspoon of soft food such as applesauce or pudding. Swallow it immediately, without chewing. The sprinkle capsules are large enough to be opened easily. Depakote can be taken with meals or snacks to avoid stomach upset. Take it exactly as prescribed.
If you miss a dose and you take Depakote once a day, take your dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
Do not take
two doses at once. If you take more than one dose a day, take your dose right away if it's within 6 hours of the
scheduled time, and take the rest of the day's doses at equal intervals during the day.
Do not take
two doses at once. |
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| Are there any effects of taking Depakote with other medications?
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Some medicines may interact with Depakote. Inform your doctor of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.
It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Depakote with
amitriptyline, aspirin, barbiturates, blood thinners, cyclosporine,
notriptyline, oral contraceptives, other seizure medications, rifampin,
sleep aids, tolbutamide, tranquilizers, or zidovudine. |
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| How should I store Depakote?
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Store Depakote at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from heat and light. |
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Return to health network. |
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