Depakote (valproate semisodium)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Increased appetite and weight gain
- Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)
- Temporary hair loss - regrowth may be curly
- Increased alertness
- Aggression
- Hyperactivity
- Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia)
- Tremor
- Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Liver disorders
- Irregular or stopping of menstrual periods
- Skin rashes
- Anaemia
- Decreased numbers of white blood cells in the blood (leucopenia)
- Acne
- Increased hair growth (hirsutism)
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Valproate semisodium may increase the blood levels of the following medicines. As this could increase the risk of their side effects, your doctor may need to reduce the dose of these medicines if you taken them in combination with valproate:

- benzodiazepines such as lorazepam
- bupropion
- lamotrigine (valproate may also increase the risk of skin reactions associated with lamotrigine)
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin (phenytoin blood levels should be monitored if taken with valproate)
- primidone
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline
- zidovudine.

There may be an increased chance of side effects such as dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision and vomiting if valproate is taken with carbamazepine.

There may be increased drowsiness and sedation if valproate is taken with benzodiazepines, eg diazepam.

The following medicines may increase the blood level of valproate:

- felbamate
- large repeated doses of aspirin.

The following medicines may decrease the blood level of valproate semisodium:

- carbamazepine
- chloroquine
- mefloquine
- phenytoin
- phenobarbital
- primidone.

Colestyramine may reduce the absorption of valproate from the gut. This can be minimised by separating doses of these medicines by at least three hours.

There may be an increased risk of a drop in white blood cell count if olanzapine is taken with valproate. If you are taking olanzapine in combination with this medicine it is important to tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms: sore throat, mouth ulcers, high temperature (fever), or general illness or infection. Your doctor may want to take a blood test to check your blood cells.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain valproate semisodium as the active ingredient.

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