Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets

Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets are used for:

User Reviews & Ratings As a treatment for... Avg User Ratings [?] Bipolar Disorder 2 reviews Rate it! 9.0 Mania 2 reviews Rate it! 8.3 Epilepsy 11 reviews Rate it! 7.5 Showing 3 of 4 conditions - Show All... Compare with other drugs.

Controlling certain types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. It is also used to treat bipolar disorder and prevent migraine headaches. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets are an anticonvulsant. Exactly how it works is unknown.

Do NOT use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets
• you have a history of liver problems or a urea cycle disorder

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets:

Some medical conditions may interact with Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of metabolic disease, blood disease, HIV, high blood levels of ammonia or glutamine, low levels of albumin, brain problems (eg, organic brain disease), mental retardation, inflammation of the pancreas, kidney problems, or low levels of white blood cells, or if you are scheduled for surgery
• if you have a history of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency or unexplained coma
• if you have a family history of urea cycle disorders or unexplained infant deaths
• if you have a history of mental or mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or actions

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), carbamazepine, erythromycin, felbamate, fluoxetine, guanfacine, isoniazid, ketoconazole, risperidone, or salicylates (eg, aspirin) because the risk of serious side effects of Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets, including changes in vision or other vision problems, clumsiness or unsteadiness, drowsiness, nausea, or vomiting, may be increased
• Acyclovir, cancer medicines, cholestyramine, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), mefloquine, meropenem, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), or rifampin because they may decrease Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets's effectiveness
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), ethosuximide, lamotrigine, methylphenidate, primidone, tolbutamide, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets
• Clonazepam because the risk of seizures may be increased
• Topiramate because the risk of high ammonium levels and brain problems may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets:

Use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An extra patient leaflet is available with Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• Take Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Swallow Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• Taking Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets at the same time each day will help you remember to take it.
• Do not stop taking Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets suddenly, especially if you are taking Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets to prevent seizures. Suddenly stopping Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets may cause life-threatening seizures.
• Continue to use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets works best when there is a constant level of it in your body.
• If you miss a dose of Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets.

Important safety information:

• Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Do not drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
• Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
• Diabetes patients - Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets may cause the results of some tests for urine ketones to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Lab tests, including blood cell counts and liver function tests, may be performed while you use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially sleepiness.
• Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 10 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. CHILDREN younger than 2 years of age may be at increased risk of serious liver problems.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets while you are pregnant. Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets are found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets.

Possible side effects of Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Change in appetite; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; hair loss; headache; indigestion; nausea; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weight changes.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abdominal cramps; abnormal thinking; change in menstrual period; changes in behavior; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; difficulty speaking; difficulty urinating or other urination problems; extreme tiredness; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; general body discomfort; hallucinations; hearing loss; involuntary movements of the arms and legs; involuntary movements or chewing movements of face, jaw, mouth, or tongue; joint pain; lack of energy; loss of appetite; loss of coordination; loss of seizure control; memory loss; mental or mood changes; nosebleed; pounding in the chest; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; sore throat; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling of the arms or legs; tremor; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual weakness; vision changes; yellowing of skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include deep sleep; drowsiness; irregular heartbeat; loss of consciousness.

Store Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Depakote ER Extended-Release Tablets. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page

Add to List