Key facts about Depakote DR
What is Depakote DR?
Depakote DR is the brand name of divalproex sodium and is available as a delayed-release oral tablet.
What dosages is Depakote DR available in?
Depakote DR is available as a 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg delayed-release oral tablet.
What is Depakote DR used for?
Depakote DR is an antiepileptic and is used to treat bipolar disorder,
seizures (focal impaired awareness seizure, absence seizure), and migraine prevention.
How does Depakote DR work?
Depakote DR is an antiepileptic. It’s not exactly clear how this medication works to prevent migraines or treat mania episodes in bipolar. But in order to control seizures, Depakote DR signals your brain to make more of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA helps to reduce the bursts of activity in your brain, which prevents seizures.
How do I take Depakote DR?
Depakote DR is typically taken by mouth in divided doses up to a maximum dose of 1000 mg per day.
Is it safe for me to take Depakote DR?
Depakote DR is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not take this medication if you have hepatic disease or significant hepatic dysfunction, known mitochondrial disorders caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA
polymerase γ (POLG), suspected POLG-related disorder in children under two years of age, a known hypersensitivity to the drug, urea cycle disorder, or are using it for the prophylaxis of migraine headaches and are pregnant or could become pregnant and not using effective contraception.
Depakote DR Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Depakote DR include:
- Nausea
- Excess sleepiness
- Accidental injury
- Low energy
- Headache
- Feeling weak
- Vomiting
- Tremor
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
Depakote DR Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Depakote DR. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- Severe allergic reactions: fever, rash, extreme tiredness, body aches, mouth sores, blisters, trouble breathing
- Serious liver problems: nausea, vomiting, not feeling hungry, pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, dark-colored urine, light-colored stool
- Extremely high blood ammonia levels: fatigue, poor mental alertness, vomiting
- Inflamed pancreas: upper stomach pain, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Serious bleeds: bleeding that’s difficult to stop, vomiting blood, blood in the urine or stool, “coffee-ground” stool
- Extreme drop in body temperature: shivering, feeling tired, feeling confused, slurred speech, coma
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Depakote DR
The following medications may interact with Depakote DR: Hepatic enzyme-inducing drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine,
- phenobarbital, primidone, rifampin) can increase Depakote DR clearance
- while enzyme inhibitors (e.g., felbamate) can decrease Depakote DR
- clearance
Aspirin, carbapenem antibiotics: Monitoring of Depakote DR concentrations
- is recommended
- Co-administration of Depakote DR can affect the pharmacokinetics of other
- drugs (e.g. diazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, phenytoin) by
- inhibiting their metabolism or protein binding displacement
- Dosage adjustment of amitryptyline/nortryptyline, warfarin, and
- zidovudine may be necessary if used concomitantly with Depakote DR
Topiramate: Hyperammonemia and encephalopathy.
Who makes Depakote DR?
AbbVie Inc.
Is Depakote DR safe in pregnancy?
Depakote DR can cause congenital malformations including neural tube defects and decreased IQ. Only use Depakote DR to treat pregnant women with epilepsy if other medications are unacceptable.
