This medication is an anti convulsant.

Depakote can be taken with meals or snacks to avoid stomach upset. Take it exactly as prescribed.

More common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal thinking, breathing difficulty, bronchitis, bruising, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, emotional changeability, fever, flu symptoms, hair loss, headache, incoordination, indigestion, infection, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, nasal inflammation, nausea, nervousness, ringing in the ears, sleepiness, sore throat, tremor, vision problems, vomiting, weakness, weight loss or gain

check with your doctor before combining Depakote with the following:

Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Aspirin
Barbiturates such as phenobarbital and Seconal
Blood thinners such as Coumadin
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Merrem IV (meropenem for injection)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Other seizure medications, including carbamazepine (Tegretol), clonazepam (Klonopin), ethosuximide (Zarontin), felbamate (Felbatol), lamotrigine (Lamictal), phenytoin (Dilantin), and Primidone (Mysoline)
Rifampin (Rifater, Rimactane)
Sleep aids such as Halcion
Tolbutamide (Orinase)
Tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax
Zidovudine (Retrovir)

An overdose of Depakote can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Symptoms of Depakote overdose may include:
Coma, extreme sleepiness, heart problems

If you take Depakote once a day, take your dose as soon as you remember. If you don't remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

If you take more than one dose a day, take your dose right away if it's within 6 hours of the scheduled time, and take the rest of the day's doses at equal intervals during the day. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

Depakote is used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions.
It is also also used to control the manic episodes that occur in bipolar disorder (manic depression).

Store at room temperature.

Depakote can cause serious or even fatal liver damage, especially during the first 6 months of treatment. Children under 2 years of age are the most vulnerable, especially if they are also taking other anticonvulsant medicines and have certain other disorders such as mental retardation. The risk of liver damage decreases with age; but you should always be alert for the following symptoms: loss of seizure control, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, a general feeling of ill health, facial swelling, loss of appetite, vomiting, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. If you suspect a liver problem, call your doctor immediately.

Depakote has also been known to cause life-threatening damage to the pancreas. This problem can surface at any time, even after years of treatment. Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following warning signs: abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting.