Find a Drug
Advanced Search

Professional

Depakote

Overdosage & Contraindications
font size

OVERDOSE

Overdosage with valproate may result in somnolence, heart block, and deep coma. Fatalities have been reported; however patients have recovered from valproate levels as high as 2120 µg/mL.

In overdose situations, the fraction of drug not bound to protein is high and hemodialysis or tandem hemodialysis plus hemoperfusion may result in significant removal of drug. The benefit of gastric lavage or emesis will vary with the time since ingestion. General supportive measures should be applied with particular attention to the maintenance of adequate urinary output.

Naloxone has been reported to reverse the CNS depressant effects of valproate overdosage. Because naloxone could theoretically also reverse the antiepileptic effects of valproate, it should be used with caution in patients with epilepsy.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

DIVALPROEX SODIUM SHOULD NOT BE ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC DISEASE OR SIGNIFICANT HEPATIC DYSFUNCTION.

Divalproex sodium is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug.

Divalproex sodium is contraindicated in patients with known urea cycle disorders (See WARNINGS).

Brand Name: Depakote
Generic Name: Divalproex Sodium Delayed Release Tablets
Bookmark this page:


WebMD Symptom Checker - Start Here Diseases & Conditions: A comprehensive A-Z listing

Brain Surgery in EpilepticsBrain Surgery in Epileptics
A new method for treating children with epilepsy involves pinpoint mapping of the brain and removing those epileptic seizure points. See more WebMD Videos »

Epilepsy

Find tips and treatments to control seizures.