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Epival - Side Effects of Epival

Generic Name: Carbamazepine

Brand Name: Carbatrol, Tegerol, Atretol, Epitol, Depitol

What is Epival and for what Epival is used ?

Epival medicine contains the active ingredient sodium valproate, which is a medicine that is used mainly to treat epilepsy.. It also relieves facial nerve pain. Epival in both delayed-release tablet and capsule form is used to treat certain types of seizures and convulsions. It may be prescribed alone or with other epilepsy medications.

Epival medicine contains the active ingredient sodium valproate may also stabilise the electrical nerve activity by preventing sodium from entering the nerve cells when they begin to fire rapid and repetitive electrical signals. A build up of sodium in the nerve cells is necessary for an electrical signal to build up and be passed on, so sodium valproate may also prevent fits in this way.

Sodium valproate is used off-licence by specialists as a mood stabiliser for treating people with the psychiatric illness, bipolar affective disorder. This use is not licensed, but the medicine has been shown to be effective for controlling episodes of mania in this condition, and for helping prevent future episodes of ill health.

How to Take Epival

Epival is taken two to four times a day. To treat nerve pain, it is taken once a day. Epival may cause an upset stomach. Take Epival with food or milk. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking Epival. Take Epival exactly as directed.

What are the Side Effects of Epival

These effects are normally mild to moderate and often disappear after a short time. Some common side effects reported with Epival include.

• Skin rashes
• Acne
• Temporary hair loss - regrowth may be curly
• Irregular menstrual periods.
• Aggression.
• Liver disorders
• Drowsiness.

Warnings and precautions for Epival

• You should not suddenly stop taking Epival medicine unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• People with diabetes should be aware that Epilim syrup contains sucrose, and that sodium valproate may cause false positive results in urine tests for ketones.
• Epival medicine may cause drowsiness, especially if it is taken with other antiepileptic medicines, or with benzodiazepines such as lorazepam. This may affect your ability to drive or operate machinary.
• Epival medicine can cause some people to put on weight. Talk to your doctor about this before you start treatment so that you can discuss strategies, such as diet and exercise, for minimising any weight gain.

Epival is it used for

• Epilepsy.
• Maintenance treatment as a mood stabiliser in bipolar disorder to help prevent episodes of ill health.
• Treatment of acute manic episodes in bipolar affective disorder.

What drugs may interact with Epival

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking Epival. it is especially important that your health care professional knows if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants
• Barbiturates
• Dantrolene (e.g., Dantrium)
• Daunorubicin (e.g., Cerubidine)
• Disulfiram
• Ethosuximide
• Primidone
• Zidovudine

Sodium valproate also increases the blood levels of phenobarbitone, which can result in excessive sedation if these two medicines are taken together. The dose of phenobarbitone may need to be reduced by your doctor.

What to do if you take Overdose of Epival?

If you take overdose of Epival the seek medical attention immediately. For non emergencies, contact your local or regional poison control center.

What to do if you take Missed Dose of Epival?

If you miss a dose of Epival, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

How to Store Epival:

• Keep Epival medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children.
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Keep the syrup form of Epival medicine from freezing.
• Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

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