What are the side effects of stopping sodium valproate?

If you are taking sodium valproate If you suddenly stop taking your AEDs, it could cause your seizures to increase, or to become more severe. Seizures could cause more harm for you and your unborn baby than any risks associated with the drugs themselves.

What should you monitor when taking sodium valproate?

measure the person’s weight or BMI and carry out liver function tests and a full blood count again after 6 months of treatment with valproate and repeat annually. monitor sedation, tremor and gait disturbance carefully in older people.

Is sodium valproate safe long-term?

Many people can take sodium valproate safely for many months or years. However, there are potential side effects that can happen over a long time. Long-term treatment with sodium valproate can cause osteoporosis and osteopenia (increasing your risk of breaking a bone).

What are the long-term effects of valproic acid?

There is no evidence that long-term use of valproic acid will cause gradual damage to the liver. Another rare reaction to valproic acid is a disorder of the pancreas. Occasionally it is so severe that bleeding and death can occur.

Is sodium valproate bad for you?

Common adverse effects of valproate include nausea, upper abdominal cramps, abnormal liver function, weight gain and diarrhoea. Neurological adverse effects such as tremor, fatigue, sedation, confusion and dizziness are often observed.

Does sodium valproate cause hairloss?

Sodium valproate is a well-established treatment in epilepsy and mood disorders. Its utility is compromised by its adverse effects such as tremor, weight gain, hair loss, and liver dysfunction. Hair loss may occur when drug is used in higher dose.

What are the long term effects of valproic acid?

When should you not use valproate?

You should not use valproic acid if you are allergic to it, or if you have: liver disease; a urea cycle disorder; or. a genetic mitochondrial (MYE-toe-KON-dree-al) disorder such as Alpers’ disease or Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome, especially in a child younger than 2 years old.

Does valproate cause liver damage?

More importantly and not uncommonly, valproate can cause several forms of clinically apparent hepatotoxicity. Indeed, more than 100 fatal cases of acute or chronic liver injury due to valproate have been reported in the literature.

Can sodium valproate cause kidney problems?

In recent years, it has been reported that sodium valproate occasionally can cause renal tubular impairment.

Can valproate sodium cause drowsiness?

Valproate sodium injection may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

What are the signs of a Depakote& overdose?

Some commonly reported symptoms of an overdose with Depakote include: Drowsiness Heart block (a problem with the electrical system of the heart) Coma Loss of life.

What are the benefits of Depakote?

Benefits of Depakote. Depakote® (divalproex sodium) is an antipsychotic medication that is often prescribed for the prevention of migraines and the treatment of epileptic seizures and manic episodes.

Is Depakote a depressant?

Depakote is an Anti-convulsant, primarily used for seizures, not an Anti-depressant, therefore it is considered for depression as an adjunct treatment rather than a first, second or even third line agent. Depakote will only ever be used for depression if other first line agents,…