DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET

DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants or anti-epileptics used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Additionally, DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET is also used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine. Epilepsy is a sudden rush of electricity in the brain. In epilepsy the brain's electrical rhythms become imbalanced, resulting in recurrent seizures.

DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET contains 'Divalproex sodium', which decreases the brain's excessive and abnormal nerve activity. Thereby helps in controlling seizures. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET increases the amount of a chemical substance called GABA, this helps block the nerve transmission across the brain and provides a calming effect. Thereby helps treat bipolar disorder. 

Take DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET with or without food. You are advised to take DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side-effects such as abdominal pain, back pain, constipation, diarrhoea, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, and vomiting. Most of these side-effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side-effects persistently.

Please do not stop taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET without consulting your doctor to avoid worsening of seizures. Do not take DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you are pregnant as it could cause serious birth defects. If you are of child-bearing age, use effective contraception while taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET. Consult your doctor before taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you are breastfeeding. Avoid driving or operating machinery as DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET causes dizziness, and may affect thinking and motor skills. Avoid consuming alcohol along with DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET as it could lead to increased dizziness. Care should be taken while giving DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET to children below 2years as there is a higher risk of liver intoxication during the first 6months of treatment. Keep your doctor informed about your health condition and medicines to rule out any side-effects.

DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants or anti-epileptics. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET is used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Additionally, DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET is also used to treat mood disorder and to prevent migraine headaches. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET decreases the excessive and abnormal nerve activity in the brain. Thereby helps in controlling seizures. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET treats mood disorder by increasing the amount of a chemical substance called GABA, this helps block the nerve transmission across the brain and provides a calming effect. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET prevents migraine headache by limiting the transmission of nerve pain. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET is used alone or in combination to treat simple seizures, complex partial seizures and complex absence seizures. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET is used in combination to treat multiple seizures such as absence seizures.

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Increased appetite
• Vomiting
• Vision problems
• Weight changes
• Problems with walking or coordination

Do not take DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you are allergic to any of its contents, have/ had liver problems or urea cycle disorders. Inform your doctor before taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you have pancreatitis, blood problems or multi-organ hypersensitivity. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal tendency while taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET. DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET may cause thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets), hyperammonemia (high levels of ammonia in the blood), hypothermia (low body temperature) and liver problems. Please do not stop taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET without consulting your doctor to avoid worsening of seizures. Do not take DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you are pregnant as it could cause serious birth defects. If you are of child-bearing age, use effective contraception while taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET. Consult your doctor before taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET if you are breastfeeding. Avoid driving or operating machinery as DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET causes dizziness and may affect thinking and motor skills. Avoid consuming alcohol along with DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET as it could lead to increased dizziness. Care should be taken while giving DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET to children below 2years as there is a higher risk of liver intoxication during the first 6months of treatment.

Drug-Drug Interactions: DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET may have interaction with pain killers (aspirin), anti-epileptics (pregabalin, topiramate, phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, felbamate, ethosuximide), anti-HIV (zidovudine), anti-depressant (duloxetine, escitalopram, amitriptyline, nortriptyline), anti-psychotic (aripiprazole, lurasidone, quetiapine), anti-anxiety (alprazolam), anti-TB (rifampicin), anti-coagulant (warfarin), antibiotics (imipenem, meropenem), and benzodiazepine (diazepam).

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET as it might cause increased dizziness and sleepiness. Alcohol intake might also provoke seizures.

Drug-Disease Interactions: DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET may interact with disease conditions such as depression, liver disease, urea cycle disorders, suicidal tendency, HIV disease and thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets).

• ASPIRIN
• PREGABALIN
• TOPIRAMATE
• PHENOBARBITAL
• PRIMIDONE
• PHENYTOIN
• CARBAMAZEPINE
• LAMOTRIGINE
• FELBAMATE
• ETHOSUXIMIDE
• ZIDOVUDINE
• DULOXETINE
• ESCITALOPRAM
• AMITRIPTYLINE
• NORTRIPTYLINE
• ARIPIPRAZOLE
• LURASIDONE
• QUETIAPINE
• ALPRAZOLAM
• RIFAMPICIN
• WARFARIN
• IMIPENEM
• MEROPENEM
• DIAZEPAM

• A ketogenic diet (low in carbohydrates and high in fats) is recommended for children with epilepsy. This diet helps in utilising fat instead of glucose for the generation of energy.
• Atkins diet (high fay and controlled carbohydrates) is recommended for adolescents and adults.
• Exercising regularly helps in maintaining weight and improving overall health. 
• Rest well, get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Meditation and yoga can help lower the stress, decrease pain sensitivity and improves coping skills.
• Have a seizure response plan, help those around you know what to do.
• Prepare your living area, small changes may reduce the risk of physical injury during a seizure.
• Understand what triggers seizures and try reducing or avoiding them.
• Please pay attention to overall health as it can help in reducing seizure activity.
• Install an alarm or emergency device to get assistance during a seizure attack.

• Regular monitoring of blood count and coagulation tests are advised while taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET as it may cause thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels).
• DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET may cause liver toxicity, usually during the first 6months of treatment. Children below two years are at a higher risk. Regular monitoring of liver function tests before treatment and at frequent intervals is advised.
• DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET might alter thyroid function tests and urine ketone tests. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking DIVALID ER 500MG TABLET.

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a sudden rush of electricity in the brain. It is a disorder of the nervous system which occurs due to disturbed nerve cell activity in the brain. In epilepsy the brain's electrical rhythms become imbalanced, resulting in recurrent seizures. In patients with seizures, the typical brain electrical pattern is disrupted by sudden bursts of electrical impulse that affect an individual's consciousness, movements or sensations. Seizures are of two types: generalised and partial seizures. Generalised seizures affect the entire brain, whereas partial seizures affect only a part of the brain. Seizures can cause uncontrollable muscle twitches and spasms. Stronger seizures may cause people to become confused or unconscious. Possible causes include high fever, trauma, genetic disorder, brain injury or stroke.

Mood disorder: It is a mental health disorder which mainly affects a person's emotional state. A mood disorder is associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows.

Migraine: Migraine is a neurological condition which is characterized by intense headaches. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.