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Depakote
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Depakote is a major advance in the treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It is an effective and well-tolerated treatment that offers new hope for patients. There are a number of anti-depressant medications available for treating the depressive episodes of manic depression, but there are only two approved by the FDA for treating mania: lithium and Depakote. The newest of these is Depakote, which has a promising future in the treatment of manic depression.
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Depakote is the brand name used in the United States for divalproex sodium, a compound of sodium valproate and valproic acid. The same product is known as Epival in Canada. Divalproex sodium dissociates to the valproate ion in the gastrointestinal tract, so its effects are virtually identical to those of other forms of valproate. These include oral sodium valproate (Epilim in the UK and Australia) and valproic acid (Depakene in the U.S. and Canada, Convulex in the UK), as well as an injectable solution of valproate sodium (Depacon).
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Unfortunately, Depakote can cause a number of serious and potentially deadly side effects. Depakote is known to be fatal to people with liver problems or disease, and has been know to cause hemorrhagic pancreatitis in both adults and children. These effects are known to occur within the first six months of initial treatment, and can cause immediately dangerous and potentially life-threatening medical emergencies. Conditions can develop suddenly once symptoms set in, which complicate proper diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, Depakote is allegedly linked to severe birth defects in some pregnancies.
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When prescribed and administered to the right people and in the appropriate doses, Depakote is effective. Since Depakote can cause significant and sometimes, fatal liver damage within the first six months, it should never be given to individuals with liver disease or a less than normal functioning liver. The group of individuals at greatest risk includes those under the age of two and individuals on anticonvulsant medication. As the person ages, the risk of liver damage dramatically decreases. Other symptoms associated with Depakote, although not common, include weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of seizure control, low appetite, jaundice, vomiting, swelling of the face, and an overall feeling of being sick. Since some of these side effects could be a sign of a more serious reaction, it is important people notify their doctor immediately.
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In clinical trials, Depakote was generally well tolerated. Most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity. Common adverse events were nausea, tremor, somnolence, vomiting, asthenia, abdominal pain, and anorexia. Other important safety considerations include the possibility of hepatic failure, which has resulted in fatalities in subjects receiving valproic acid and its derivatives, usually occurring during the first six months of treatment. Valproic acid may produce teratogenic effects in the offspring of women receiving the drug during pregnancy, Thrombocytopenia, an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood, has ... been associated with Depakote use. The incidence of thrombocytopenia appears to be dose related.
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Depakote has been marketed in the United States since 1983. Until it was approved for use in treating manic depression on June 1, 1995, it was used exclusively in the treatment of epilepsy. This new use of Depakote for the manic episodes of bipolar disorder is a breakthrough in medicine because it is the first medication approved for the symptoms of mania in 25 years.
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Depakote