Is Depakote contraindicated in pregnancy?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising health care professionals and women that the anti-seizure medication valproate sodium and related products, valproic acid and divalproex sodium, are contraindicated and should not be taken by pregnant women for the prevention of migraine headaches.
What happens if you get pregnant while on Depakote?
If you take Depakote during pregnancy for any medical condition, your baby is at risk for serious birth defects. The most common birth defects with Depakote affect the brain and spinal cord and are called spina bifida or neural tube defects.
Is valproic acid safe if pregnant?
FDA previously warned pregnant women and women of childbearing age about valproate use during pregnancy due to the known risk of birth defects (teratogenic effects) of these products. A teratogen is anything known to cause birth defects during development of an embryo or fetus.
Which epileptic drug is safe in pregnancy?
Of the new anti-seizure medications, lamotrigine and levetiracetam are the most widely used due to their known safety during pregnancy. Clearance of lamotrigine and levetiracetam doubles during pregnancy compared to before pregnancy.
Can Depakote make you infertile?
Women taking Depakote should be particularly cautious, as they can develop polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes cysts in the ovaries which can cause women to become infertile. Additionally, it is recommended that pregnant women do not take Depakote due to the significantly increased risk of birth defects.
What birth defects are caused by Depakote?
What Birth Defects Can Depakote Cause?
- Spina bifida.
- Lower IQ.
- Congenital heart defect (Atrial Septal Defect or ASD, otherwise known as “a hole in the heart”)
- Cleft palate or cleft lip.
- Anencephaly (absence of a major part of the brain, skull, and scalp)
What birth defects can Depakote cause?
What happens if you take Depakote during pregnancy?
Taking Depakote during pregnancy for any medical condition puts your baby at risk for serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord and are called spina bifida or neural tube defects. Other birth defects can affect the structures of the heart, head, arms, legs, and penis and can lower IQ.
How is Depakote used to treat bipolar disorder?
Depakote is an anti-epileptic drug indicated for: •Treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder (1.1) •Monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures; adjunctive therapy in patients with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures (1.2)
When to use Depakote sprinkle capsules in adults?
Depakote® Sprinkle Capsules (divalproex sodium delayed release capsules), for oral use, is a prescription medicine used alone or with other medicines to treat: complex partial seizures in adults and children 10 years of age and older simple and complex absence seizures, with or without other seizure types
What’s the maximum dose of Depakote you can take?
Depakote should be swallowed whole and should not be crushed or chewed. (2.1, 2.2) •Mania: Initial dose is 750 mg daily increasing as rapidly as possible to achieve therapeutic response or desired plasma level (2.1). The maximum recommended dosage is 60 mg/kg/day.