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February 10, 2012
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Medications and Drugs

Brand Names: Depakene, Stavzor

Generic Name: valproic acid (Pronunciation: val PRO ik A sid)

What is valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor)?

Valproic acid affects chemicals in the body that may be involved in causing seizures.

Valproic acid is used to treat various types of seizure disorders. Valproic acid is sometimes used together with other seizure medications.

Valproic acid may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Valproic Acid 250 mg-SID

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What are the possible side effects of valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor)?

Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking this medicine has nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage. Some of these symptoms may also be early signs of pancreatitis.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • unexplained weakness with vomiting and confusion or fainting;
  • easy bruising or bleeding;
  • fever, chills, skin rash, swollen glands, flu symptoms;
  • urinating less than usual;
  • blood in your urine;
  • weakness, lack of coordination;
  • a red, blistering, peeling skin rash;
  • extreme drowsiness; or
  • double vision or back-and-forth movements of the eyes.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • mild drowsiness;
  • diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
  • changes in your menstrual periods;
  • enlarged breasts;
  • tremor (shaking);
  • hair loss;
  • weight changes;
  • vision changes; or
  • unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor)?

In rare cases, valproic acid has caused life-threatening liver failure, especially in children younger than 2 years old. Children of this age may be at even greater risk for liver problems if they use more than one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic disorder, or if they have a brain disease causing mental impairment (such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, or a brain injury or infection).

Valproic acid has also caused rare cases of life-threatening pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can come on suddenly and symptoms may start even after you have been taking valproic acid for several years.

Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking this medicine has nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage. Some of these symptoms may also be early signs of pancreatitis.

Valproic acid can cause birth defects. Do not use this medication without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.


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Epilepsy

Find tips and treatments to control seizures.



Brand Names:
Depakene, Stavzor
[+]

Generic Name:
valproic acid
[+]

Epilepsy »

Epilepsy Overview

Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has recurrent seizures. A seizure is defined as an abnormal, disorderly discharging of the brain's nerve cells, resulting in a temporary disturbance of motor, sensory, or mental function.

There are many types of seizures, depending primarily on what part of the brain is involved. The term epilepsy says nothing about the type of seizure or cause of the seizure, only that the seizures happen again and again. A stricter definition of the term requires that the seizures have no known underlying cause. This may also be called primary or idiopathic epilepsy.

  • Episodes of abnormal electrical activity within the brain result in seizures.

  • The specific area of the brain affected by the abnormal electrical activity may result in a particular type of seizure.

  • If all areas of the brain are affected by the abnormal electrical activity, a generalized seizure may r...

Read the Epilepsy article »


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