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Depakene |
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What is Depakene and why is it prescribed? Depakene is an epilepsy medicine used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions. It may be prescribed alone or with other anticonvulsant medications. Depakene can cause serious, even fatal, liver damage, especially during the first 6 months of treatment. Children under 2 years of age are the most vulnerable, especially if they are also taking other anticonvulsant medicines and have certain other disorders such as mental retardation. The risk of liver damage decreases with age; but you should always be alert for the following symptoms: loss of seizure control, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, a general feeling of ill health, facial swelling, loss of appetite, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you suspect a liver problem, call your doctor immediately. Depakene has been known to cause rare cases of life-threatening damage to the pancreas. This problem can develop at any time, even after years of treatment. Call your doctor immediately if any of the following warning signs appear: abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. How should you take Depakene? Follow your doctors directions for taking Depakene. If Depakene irritates your digestive system, take it with food. To avoid irritating your mouth and throat, swallow Depakene capsules whole. Do not chew them. If you miss a dose and you take 1 dose a day, take the dose you missed as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the dose you missed and go back to your regular schedule. If you take more than 1 dose a day and you remember the missed dose within 6 hours of the scheduled time, take it immediately. Take the rest of the doses for that day at equally spaced intervals. Never take two doses at once. Store Depakene at room temperature. Are there any Depakene side effects? Depakene side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Side effects are more likely if you are taking more than one epilepsy medication, and when you are taking higher doses of Depakene. Indigestion, nausea, and vomiting are the most common side effects when you first start taking Depakene. More common Depakene side effects may include abdominal cramps, amnesia, breathing difficulty, depression, diarrhea, dimmed or blurred vision, drowsiness, hair loss, indigestion, infection, involuntary eye movements, loss or increase in appetite, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleeplessness, swelling of the arms and legs due to fluid retention, throat inflammation, tremors, and vomiting. Less common or rare Depakene side effects may include abnormal dreams, abnormal gait, abnormal taste, aggression, anemia, anxiety, back pain, belching, bleeding, blood disorders, bone pain, breast enlargement, breast milk not associated with pregnancy or nursing, bruising, changes in behavior, chest pain, coma, confusion, constipation, cough, deafness, difficulty in speaking, dizziness, double vision, dry skin, dulled senses, ear pain and inflammation, emotional upset, excessive urination (mainly children), feeling of unwellness, fever, gas, growth failure in children, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, involuntary jerking, irregular heartbeat, irregular menstrual periods, itching, joint pain, lack of coordination, leg cramps, liver disease, loss of bladder control, loss of coordination, menstrual abnormalities, muscle pain, muscle weakness, nosebleed, overactivity, personality disorder, pneumonia, prickling or tingling sensation, rash, rickets (mainly children), sedation, sensitivity to light, sinus inflammation, skin eruptions or peeling, spots before the eyes, swollen glands, twitching, urinary tract infection, vaginal infection, vertigo, vomiting blood, weakness, and weight loss or gain. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Depakene? If Depakene is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Depakene with Amitriptyline (Elavil), Aspirin, Barbiturates (such as phenobarbital and Seconal), Blood-thinning drugs (such as Coumadin and Dicumarol), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Diazepam (Valium), Ethosuximide, Felbamate (Felbatol), Lamotrigine (Lamictal), Nortriptyline (Pamelor), Phenytoin (Dilantin), Primidone (Mysoline), Rifampin (Rifater), Tolbutamide (Orinase), or Zidovudine (Retrovir). Extreme drowsiness and other serious effects may occur if Depakene is taken with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants such as Halcion, Restoril, or Xanax. Are there any special warnings about Depakene? Remember that liver failure is possible when taking Depakene. Your doctor should test your liver function at regular intervals. Also keep in mind the threat of damage to the pancreas. This problem can develop rapidly, so contact your doctor immediately if you experience any symptoms. In people with a rare set of genetic abnormalities called urea cycle disorders, Depakene may adversely effect the brain. Signs of a developing problem include lack of energy, repeated attacks of vomiting, and mental changes. If you suspect a problem, see your doctor immediately. Depakene has also been known to cause a very rare but potentially fatal skin condition. Contact your doctor if you notice any changes in your skin. Some side effects are more likely if you have manic episodes or suffer from migraines. Your doctor will monitor your care closely if you have one of these conditions. Because of the potential for side effects involving blood disorders, your doctor will probably test your blood before prescribing Depakene and at regular intervals while you are taking it. Bruising, hemorrhaging, or clotting disorders usually mean the dosage should be reduced or the drug should be stopped altogether. Depakene may cause drowsiness, especially in older adults. Do not abruptly stop taking Depakene without first consulting your doctor. A gradual reduction in dosage is usually required to prevent major seizures. Depakene can also increase the effect of painkillers and anesthetics. Before any surgery or dental procedure, make sure the doctor knows you are taking Depakene. |
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Information on this website is provided for educational purposes and should not replace discussions with your doctor. |
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