Depakote (Divalproex sodium) for Epilepsy

Overview
Depakote is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control various types of seizures, including complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures. Depakote is also referred to by its drug name, divalproex sodium.

Depakote is an anticonvulsant, or in other words, a drug used to prevent and control seizures. It is believed to work in cases of epilepsy by inhibiting nerve signals in the brain.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Depakote is taken orally as a tablet one or more times daily.

Your doctor may conduct regular blood tests while you are taking Depakote to monitor blood levels of the medication. Your doctor will likely start you on a very low dose of Depakote and increase the dosage gradually to avoid side effects.

Do not stop taking Depakote suddenly. If you decide to stop taking Depakote, consult your physician for a plan to reduce your dose gradually.

Depakote should be taken exactly as prescribed by a physician.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Depakote lists common side effects including abdominal pain, hair loss, blurred vision, forgetfulness, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, back pain, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, indigestion, mood swings, easy bruising, and flu-like symptoms.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Depakote include liver damage, potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas, suicidal thoughts, fetal harm, and low blood cell counts.

Notify your doctor if side effects worsen, if partial tablets appear in stools, or if you experience abdominal pain, vomiting, or lack of appetite, which can indicate inflammation of the pancreas.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Depakote — AbbVie
https://www.depakote.com

Depakote — RxList
https://www.rxlist.com/depakote-drug.htm