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Depakine Chrono is a medicine in the form of coated tablets with prolonged release. Its active substances are sodium valproate and valproic acid. The drug is used as an anticonvulsant in the treatment of epilepsy and in manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Often used in people who do not tolerate lithium (in affective disorder).
Depakine Chrono – indications for use
Epilim Chrono is a drug that is often used in the following conditions:
- Manic episodes in bipolar disorder (patient is over-agitated, overactive, excited),
- epilepsy in generalized seizures (myoclonic, tonic-clonic, atonic seizures, absences), in partial seizures (simple or complex, secondary generalized, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome).
Depakine – contraindications to the use of the drug
The most serious contraindications to the use of Depakine include:
- hypersensitivity to valproate or other components of the drug,
- acute and chronic liver diseases,
- severe hepatitis (especially drug-induced),
- porphyria.
Particular care should be taken where there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. Women who are not planning pregnancy should use contraception during treatment with Epilim Chrono. If they plan to become pregnant, they should inform their doctor in advance because of the greater possibility of malformations in the baby during pregnancy. Epilim Chrono should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age to treat mania.
Before starting treatment and at the beginning of its course, the patient should have liver function tests. Rarely, cases of severe liver damage with a fatal outcome have occurred. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, spontaneous bruising, jaundice, thoughts of suicide – if these symptoms occur, contact your doctor immediately.
Caution should also be exercised in the case of impaired kidney function, in which case the doctor will probably prescribe a lower dose. Systemic lupus erythematosus also requires caution in the use of the drug. You should not drink alcohol while taking Depakine.
Depakine Chrono – drug interactions
The patient should inform the doctor if he or she is taking other medications, even those that do not require a prescription. Depakine may affect the action of such preparations as:
- neuroleptics (used in psychotic disorders),
- antidepressants, MAO inhibitors,
- other drugs recommended for the treatment of epilepsy (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin),
- zidovudine (used to treat HIV infections and AIDS)
- salicylany,
- erythromycin, rifampicin,
- anticoagulants,
- mefloquine (to treat malaria)
- carbapenem antibiotics,
- cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers).
Depakine Chrono 500 – possible side effects
Depakine can cause side effects. Some of them disappear with longer use of the drug, others should prompt the patient to contact a doctor quickly. During the use of the drug, the following may occur:
- stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea,
- entanglement,
- liver damage and pancreatitis (some cases have been fatal) are rare,
- transient parkinsonian symptoms (rare),
- nervous system symptoms (confusion, sedation),
- hyponatraemia (decreased sodium in the blood),
- allergic skin reactions,
- weight gain
- hair loss,
- menstrual disorders in women or infertility in men,
- blood and lymphatic system disorders (e.g. leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia).
| Name of the drug / preparation | Depakine |
| Wstęp | The drug is used as an anticonvulsant in the treatment of epilepsy and in manic episodes of bipolar disorder. |
| Manufacturer | Sanofi-Aventis / Inpharm |
| Form, dose, packaging | Coated tablets, 478 mg, 30 pcs. |
| Availability category | Prescription drug. |
| The active substance | Valproinian sodu i kwas valproinowy. |
| Indication | – manic episodes in bipolar disorder (the patient is over-agitated, overactive, excited), – epilepsy in generalized seizures (myoclonic, tonic-clonic, atonic, absence seizures), partial seizures (simple or complex, secondary generalized, Lennox syndrome, -Gastaut). |
| Dosage | |
| Contraindications to use | – hypersensitivity to valproate or other drug components, – acute and chronic liver diseases, – severe hepatitis (especially drug-induced), – porphyria, |
| Warnings | Particular caution should be exercised if there is a possibility of pregnancy. Patients should have liver function tests before and at the beginning of treatment. |
| Interactions | Depakine may interfere with the action of preparations such as: – neuroleptics (used in psychotic disorders), – antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, – other drugs recommended for the treatment of epilepsy (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin), – zidovudine (used to treat HIV infection) and AIDS), – salicylates, – erythromycin, rifampicin, – anticoagulants, – mefloquine (to treat malaria), – carbapenem antibiotics, – cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers). |
| Side effects | – stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, – confusion, – rarely liver damage and pancreatitis (some cases have been fatal), – transient parkinsonian symptoms (rarely), – nervous system symptoms (confusion, sedation), – hyponatraemia (decreased sodium concentration in the blood), – allergic skin reactions, – weight gain, – hair loss, – menstrual disorders in women or infertility in men, n- disorders of the blood and lymphatic systems, e.g. leukopenia, neutropenia , anemia) |
| Other (if any) | x |