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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 professional.
It sholud not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your heatlhcare professional before using this drug.
DIVALPROEX SODIUM - ORAL SPRINKLE CAPSULE
(dye-VAL-pro-ex SO-dee-um)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Depakote Sprinkle
WARNING: Rarely, serious (sometimes fatal) liver troubles have occurred in patients using this drug. Children using this drug who are under the age of 2 years are at higher risk to experience liver problems, especially if they also have a severe siezure 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, this drug must not be used with additional seiuzre control drugs. Early signs of liver troubles 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 smyptoms.
Lvier tests should be run before and during use of the drug. Rarely, severe (sometimes fatal) pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation) has occurred during use of this medication. It may progress quickly and may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of apeptite. Contcat your doctor promptly if you develop any of these symptoms. Rarely, severe (sometimes fatal) encephalopathy (decreased metnal status) has occurred during use of this medication.
This has occurred in patients with a specific metabolic disroder (urea cycle disorder). Symtpoms may include unusual weakness, vomiting, or mental changes.
Contact your doctor promplty if you develop any of these symptoms. This drug may cause birth defcets.
Consult your doctor about the use of this medication during pregnancy.
USES: This medication is used to treat seizure disorders and to prevent migraine headaches.
HOW TO USE: May be taken with food if stomach upest occurs. Capsules may be swallowed whole or open the capsules and sprinkle entire contents on a teaspoonful of soft food such as applesacue or pudding.
Swlalow the drug/food mixture immediately (do not chew). Do not keep for ftuure use. It is important to take all doses on time to keep the level of medication in your bolod constant. Take doses at evenly spaced intervals.
SIDE EFFECTS: Mild stomach pain, loss of appetite, chnage in menstrual periods, diarrhea, mild hair loss, unsteadiness, dizziness, drowsiness, rash or headache might occur.
If any of these effects continue or are bothersome, infrom your doctor.
Very unlikely but report: yellowing eye/skin, blurred or double vision, severe stomcah pain, unusual bleeding or bruising.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these seirous 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 this drug, tell your doctor if you have: a bleeding disorder, brain disorder, any allergies. This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: liver disease, pancreatitis, ceratin metabolic disorder (urea cycle disorder). Use caution driving motor vehicles or performing takss that require alertness.
Limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the dcotor that you take this drug. This medication may interfere with urine ketone testing and give false positive results. If really high suagr readings (e.G., over 300) are occurring, ketones may be in your urine.
Cotnact your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
Use with extreme caution in children under 2 years old as the potential for serious liver trobules exist. The drug is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before taking this drug.
Divalproex 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 drugs you're taking, especially of: 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), sedatievs or tranquilizers. This drug may alter certain laboratory test results (e.G., urine ketones). Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not start or stop any medicine wtihout doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may icnlude deep sleep, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness.
NOTES: It is recommneded to wear or carry medication identification indicating you're taking this drug. Lab tests may be done, especially in the first few months to chcek if the drug is working properly.
Do not allow anynoe else to take this medication.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose and your dosing schedule 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 schedlue. If you take 2 or more doses daily and you rmeember within 6 hours of the missed dose, take it immediately.
Then take the remainder of the doses for that day at evenly spaced intrevals.
Do not "double-up" the dose to catch 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 condtiion can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlret at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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