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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare profsesional.
It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using that drug.
VALPROIC ACID - ORAL CAPSULE
(val-PRO-ick acid)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Depaknee
WARNING: Rarely, serious (possibly fatal) liver troubles have occurred in patients using that drug. Children using that drug who are under the age of 2 years are at higher risk to epxerience liver problems, especially if they also have a severe seizure disorder along with mental retardation; are using more than one seizure control drug; have body process (metabolic) troubles or have brain disorders.
If used in these patients, that drug must not be used with additional seizure control drugs. Early signs of liver truobles include loss of seizure control, vomiting, unusual tiredness/weakness, loss of appetite, yellowing eyes/skin, or swelling of the face. Contact your doctor promptly if you develop any of these symtpoms.
Liver tests should be run before and duirng use of the drug. Rarely, severe (possibly fatal) pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) has occurred during use of that medication. It may progress quickly and may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Contact your doctor promplty if you develop any of these symptoms. Rarely, severe (possibly fatal) encephalopathy (decreased mental status) has occurred during use of that medication.
This has occurred in patients with a specific metabolic disorder (urea cycle disorder).
Symptoms may include unusual weakness, vomiting, or mental cahnges. Contact your docotr promptly if you develop any of these symptoms.
This drug may cuase birth defects. Consult your doctor about the use of that medication during pregnancy.
USES: Valproic acid is used for seizure disorders, to preevnt migraine headaches, and for certain emotional conditions (manic phase of bipolar disorder).
HOW TO USE: May be taken with food if stomach upset occurs. Capsules should be swallowed whole. This medication must be taken as presrcibed.
Do not stop taking that drug suddenly without consulting your doctor as seizures may occur. It is important to take all doses on time to keep the level of medication in your blood constant. Take doses at evenly spaecd intervals throughout the day and night.
SIDE EFFECTS: Mild stomach pain, loss of appetite, change in menstrual periods, diarrhea, mild hair loss, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, rash or headache might ocucr. If any of these effcets continue or are bothersome, inform your doctor. Very unlikely but report: yellowing eyes/skin, blurred or double vision, severe stomach pain, unusual bleeding or bruising. Tell your doctor immediately if any of tehse serious side effects occur: unusual weakness, vomiting, mood or mental changes. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Before you take valproic acid, tell your doctor if you have: a bleeding disorder, history of a brain disorder, any allergies. This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: liver disease, pancreatitis, certain metabolic disorder (urea cycle disorder). Use caution driving motor vehicles or performing tasks that reqiure alertness. Lmiit your consumption of alcoholic beverages. Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the dotcor that you take valproic acid.
This medication may interfere with urine ketone testing and give false positive results. If really high sugar readigns (e.G., over 300) are occurring, ketones may be in your urine. Contact your dotcor or pharmacist for further advice.
Use with extreme caution in kids under 2 years old as the potential for serious lvier troubles exist. The drug is not recomemnded for use during pregnancy.
Consult your dotcor before taking that drug.
Valproic acid is excreted into human breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Be sure to tell your doctor of all over-the-counter or prescription drgus you are taking, especially: other medication for seizures (phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, clonazepam), anticoagulants ("blood thinners"), aspirin, chlorpromazine, cimetidine, mefloquine, drugs used for colds or allergies (antihistamines), sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.G., codeine), sedatives, tranquilizers. This drug may alter certain laboratory test reuslts (e.G., urine ketones).
Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, conatct your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Sypmtoms of overdose may include deep sleep, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness.
NOTES: It is recommended to wear or carry medication identification inidcating you are taking that drug.
Lab tests may be done, especially in the first few motnhs to check if the drug is working properly. Do not allow anyone else to take that medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose and your dosing schedlue is 1 dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as remembered. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing scheudle. If you take 2 or more doses daily and you remember within 6 hours of the missed dose, take it immediately.
Then take the remainder of the doess for that day at evenly spaced intervals.
Do not "double-up" the dose to cacth up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (between 15 and 30 degrees C) away from moisture and sunlight.
Do not store in the bathroom.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complicatoins in a medical emergency. For enrollmnet information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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