Valproic Acid and Derivatives

U.S. Brand Names

Depacon®; Depakene®; Depakote® ; Depakote® ER; Depakote® Sprinkle

Canadian Brand Names

Alti-Divalproex; Apo-Divalproex®; Apo-Valproic®; Depakene®; Dom-Divalproex; Epival® I.V.; Gen-Divalproex; Novo-Divalproex; Nu-Divalproex; PHL-Divalproex; PHL-Valproic Acid; PHL-Valproic Acid E.C.; PMS-Valproic Acid; PMS-Valproic Acid E.C.; ratio-Valproic; ratio-Valproic ECC; Rhoxal-valproic; Sandoz-Valproic

Mexican Brand Names

Epival; Vematina

Dosage Forms

• This medicine is available as a capsule, a sprinkle capsule, an injection, a liquid, and a long-acting tablet.

Pharmacologic Category

Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous

What key warnings should I know about before giving this medicine to my child?

This medicine may cause liver damage. Call healthcare provider if your child has any of these symptoms: Dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. This medicine may irritate the pancreas (pancreatitis). This could occur in children at any time during treatment. Signs of pancreatitis include belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite. Contact healthcare provider right away if your child has any of these symptoms.

Is it safe for my child to take this medicine?

• Not if your child has an allergy to valproic acid or any other part of this medicine.

• Be sure to let healthcare provider know if your child has any allergies or reactions to medicine, food preservatives, or dyes. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected your child. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

• Not if your child has liver disease.

Why does my child need this medicine?

• This medicine is used to prevent or treat seizures.

• This medicine is used to treat behavior problems.

• This medicine is used to treat manic depression.

How does this medicine work?

• Valproic acid and derivatives help clear thinking.

• It increases the amount of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric in the brain. This chemical decreases excitability of the brain.

• It is a mood stabilizer.

How is this medicine given?

• Give this medicine with food.

• Have your child swallow long-acting products whole. Encourage your child not to chew, break, or crush.

• You may sprinkle contents of capsule on applesauce, pudding, or mashed potatoes. Encourage your child to swallow without chewing.

• A liquid (syrup) is available if your child cannot swallow pills.

• Children who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.

• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use measuring device that comes with the medicine. If none is available, get an oral syringe, a medicine dropper, a medicine spoon, or a medicine cup (only for older children) from your pharmacist.

• Encourage your child to drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid every day unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.

Injection (I.V.):

• This medicine is given as a shot into a vein.

How long does this medicine take to work?

• It may take several days to see the full effect.

What do I do if my child misses a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Give a missed dose as soon as possible.

• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your child's regular schedule.

• Do not give a double dose or extra doses.

• Do not change dose or stop your child's medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What safety measures should I take while my child is using this medicine?

• Have your child wear a disease medical alert identification.

• Children younger than 2 years of age are at risk of liver disease.

• If your child has been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.

• Check your child's medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid giving your child other medicines and natural products that slow actions and reactions.

• This medicine may cause your child to be less alert. Have your child avoid tasks or activities that require alertness. These include playing (for example, riding a bicycle, rollerblading, contact sports) or using items that require concentration or coordination (for example, scissors, lawnmower, electric scooters, or toy cars). Your child's activities should be closely monitored until you see how this medicine affects him/her. School work may be more difficult for your child to focus on and complete.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Feeling dizzy. Rising slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position is recommended. Children should be extra careful climbing stairs.

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Have your child avoid tasks or activities that require alertness or clear vision until you see how this medicine affects him/her.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals and frequent mouth care may help. Older children may suck hard, sugar-free candy.

• Diarrhea.

• Belly pain.

• Muscle weakness.

• Inability to sleep.

What should I monitor?

• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?

• For the occurrence of side effects.

• Check blood work (liver function). Talk with healthcare provider.

• Follow up with healthcare provider.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

• If any of this information causes you to be concerned, any of the common side effects occur, or if your child's symptoms do not improve after taking this medicine.

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• If your child shows signs of a life-threatening reaction, call healthcare provider immediately. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or if your child exhibits any other unusual behavior.

• If your child shows signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• If your child has significant change in balance.

• If your child's seizures are worse or different after starting this medicine.

• If your child is feeling extremely tired or weak.

• If your child has severe nausea or vomiting.

• If your child has severe belly pain.

• If your child is not hungry.

• If your child has unusual bruising or bleeding.

• If your child has dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• If your child develops a rash.

• No improvement in condition or if you believe your child's condition is worse.

How should I store and/or dispose of this medicine?

• Store at room temperature.

• Protect capsules and tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

• The injection will be given to your child in a healthcare setting. You will not store it at home.

General statements

• If your child has a life-threatening allergy, he/she should wear an allergy identification bracelet at all times.

• This medicine is available by prescription only. If there are refills, contact your pharmacy. If no refills remain, you may need to contact your child's healthcare provider.

• This medicine should be thrown out when your child no longer needs it or if the medicine becomes outdated.

• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.

• Many medications interact with other medications. Keep a list of all your child's medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to your child's healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).

• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Talk with your child's healthcare provider before giving him/her any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

• Medicine can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Follow directions given by healthcare provider.

Created: 2006-10-16 13:10:24.0

Modified: 2008-04-30 11:13:31.0

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