Depakote: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
Depakote® (
divalproex sodium) if you have:
- Liver disease, such as liver failure or cirrhosis
- A urea cycle disorder
- Mental retardation
- A blood disorder
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Depakote Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Depakote include:
- There have been cases of liver failure caused by Depakote. Children less than two years of age are at particularly high risk. This is especially true for children with mental retardation, brain damage or disease, or certain other health problems. Depakote is not approved for children less than 10 years of age; and the drug should rarely be used in young children, due to the risk of liver damage.
- You should not take Depakote if you have liver disease. Also, you should not take Depakote if you have a urea cycle disorder (a problem with the enzymes that clear ammonia from the body, leading to high ammonia levels in the blood), as the drug may worsen this condition. You should be evaluated for a urea cycle disorder if you have a history of:
- A brain disease or a problem associated with pregnancy
- Unexplained brain disease or problems
- Unexplained mental retardation
- High ammonia levels in your blood
- Vomiting and lethargy that come and go regularly.
- Depakote can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which may be very dangerous. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you have any signs of pancreatitis, including:
- Severe abdominal pain (or stomach pain)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite.
- Depakote can cause hypothermia (a body temperature below 95 degrees F), which can be dangerous. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop hypothermia.
- Elderly people may be more sensitive to Depakote side effects, such as drowsiness. If you are elderly and take Depakote, your healthcare provider should monitor you more closely.
- Depakote can cause low platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any unusual bruises or bleeding.
- As with all seizure medications, Depakote should not be stopped suddenly (see Depakote Withdrawal).
- Let your healthcare provider know right away if you have a rash along with a fever or any other symptoms, as this may be a sign of a dangerous allergic reaction.
- Depakote can potentially interact with certain other medications (see Depakote Drug Interactions).
- Depakote is considered a pregnancy Category D medication. This means that it is probably not safe for pregnant women. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking the drug during pregnancy (see Depakote and Pregnancy).
- Depakote passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Depakote and Breastfeeding).
