Valproate sodium (By injection)

Depacon, PremierPro Rx Valproate Sodium, Valproate Sodium Novaplus

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Some medicines can affect how valproate sodium works. Tell your doctor if you also use the following:
  • Amitriptyline, aspirin, clonazepam, diazepam, nortriptyline, rifampin, ritonavir, propofol, rufinamide, tolbutamide, or zidovudine
  • Birth control pill
  • Blood thinner (including warfarin)
  • Carbapenem antibiotic (including ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem)
  • Other seizure medicine (including carbamazepine, ethosuximide, felbamate, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate)
• Alcohol, narcotic pain relievers, or sleeping pills may cause you to feel more lightheaded, dizzy, or faint when used with this medicine.

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.
• A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Valproate Sodium (VAL-proe-ate SOE-dee-um)

Treats seizures.

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Confusion, problems with memory, unusual drowsiness, clumsiness
• Dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fever, rash, swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
• Sudden and severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Diarrhea, stomach upset
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed
• Tiredness, sleepiness
• Trouble sleeping, tremor
• Vision changes, dizziness, headache

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, a blood disease, or pancreas problems.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Liver problems
  • Pancreatitis
  • Thrombocytopenia (decrease in blood cells that affect clotting)
  • Hyperammonemic encephalopathy (high levels of ammonia in the blood)
  • Hypothermia (low body temperature)
  • Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which may damage organs such as the liver, kidney, or heart
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.