What happens if you overdose on depakote

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Drink plenty of water while you are taking this medication. Your dose may need to be changed if you do not get enough fluids each day. If you cannot swallow a sprinkle capsule whole, open it and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away. Do not save it for later use. In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to let others know you use divalproex sodium.

Do not stop using divalproex sodium suddenly , even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause a serious, life-threatening type of seizure. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time. It may take several weeks of using divalproex sodium before you notice your symptoms improve.

Your dosage of divalproex sodium will depend on your medical condition, your age, the formulation you use, your response to treatment, and other factors. Health Topics. Health Tools. Serious or fatal hepatotoxicity may be preceded by non-specific symptoms such as malaise, weakness, lethargy, facial edema, anorexia, and vomiting.

In patients with epilepsy, a loss of seizure control may also occur. Patients should be monitored closely for appearance of these symptoms.

Liver function tests should be performed prior to therapy and at frequent intervals thereafter, especially during the first six months. Cases of life-threatening pancreatitis have been reported in both children and adults receiving valproate. Some of the cases have been described as hemorrhagic with a rapid progression from initial symptoms to death.

Cases have been reported shortly after initial use as well as after several years of use. If pancreatitis is diagnosed, valproate should ordinarily be discontinued. Alternative treatment for the underlying medical condition should be initiated as clinically indicated.

Depakote treats seizures and can help regulate mood in people with bipolar disorder. It can be used alone or with other medications. Depakote is also known as valproic acid or valproate. Depakote Overview Reviewed: July 8, Updated: January 27, How was your experience with?

First, a little about yourself Male Female. What tips would you provide a friend before taking? Choose one. Back Next. How well did work for you? Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug? How likely would you be to recommend to a friend? Back Submit. Depakote Cautionary Labels Back to Top. Uses of Depakote Back to Top. Manufacturer Back to Top. Generic Back to Top. Divalproex Sodium For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below.

Depakote Drug Class Back to Top. Depakote is part of the drug class: Fatty acid derivatives. Side Effects of Depakote Back to Top. Serious side effects have been reported with Depakote. Common side effects of Depakote include: upset stomach and nausea blurred vision constipation depression diarrhea dizziness drowsiness headache, increased appetite insomnia nervousness rash tremor vomiting weight gain or weight loss changes in appetite back pain changes in mood or mood swings abnormal thinking ringing in the ears hair loss This is not a complete list of Depakote side effects.

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For pregnant women: This drug may cause serious harm to your pregnancy. If you take this drug during pregnancy, your baby is at risk for serious birth defects. These include birth defects that affect the brain, spinal cord, heart, head, arms, legs, and the opening where urine comes out.

This drug may also cause decreased IQ and thinking, learning, and emotional disorders in your baby. According to published case reports, fatal liver failure has also been observed in the children of women who used this drug while pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking this drug, talk to your doctor about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry.

The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of drugs used to treat seizures during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away. Do not stop taking the medication unless directed to by your doctor. Divalproex sodium should only be used during pregnancy by women with seizures or manic episodes whose symptoms cannot be controlled by other medications. For women who are breastfeeding: This drug passes through breast milk and may cause side effects in a breastfeeding child.

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking divalproex. For seniors: Your body processes divalproex sodium more slowly. You may also experience more of a sedative effect from this medication. Extreme drowsiness may cause you to eat or drink less than you normally would. Tell your doctor if this happens. Your doctor will monitor how much you eat and drink and check you for signs of dehydration, drowsiness, dizziness, and other side effects.

For children: Children younger than 2 years old have an increased risk of liver damage while taking this drug, especially if they also take other drugs to treat seizures. All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:. Your body may process this drug more slowly and you may have more of a sedative effect. Too much of the drug in your body can cause dangerous effects. This medication did not show effectiveness in children for mania.

There is no evidence that divalproex is effective for long-term use in mania longer than three weeks. If your doctor would like you to take this drug for a longer period of time, they will check if you still need the drug regularly.

This medication did not show effectiveness in children for migraine prevention. For people with liver disease: If you have liver disease, you may not be able to process this drug as well as you should. You should avoid taking divalproex sodium if you have severe liver problems. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Divalproex sodium oral tablet is used for long-term drug treatment. For manic episodes of bipolar disorder, your doctor will decide whether this is a short-term or long-term drug treatment. You may also experience more side effects from this drug if you take it on and off. If you take too much: Taking too much of this drug can cause dangerous effects, such as:.

If your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What to do if you miss a dose: If you forget to take your dose of this drug, take it as soon as you remember. How to tell if the drug is working: For treatment of seizures: You should have fewer seizures. For treatment of manic episodes of bipolar disorder: You should see a decrease in symptoms caused by the manic phase of bipolar disorder.