Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called 'anticonvulsants' or 'anti-epileptics' primarily used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Additionally, Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is also used to treat mood disorders and migraine. Epilepsy is a sudden rush of electricity in the brain. In patients with seizures, the typical brain electrical pattern is disrupted by sudden bursts of electrical impulses that affect an individual's consciousness, movements or sensations.
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Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is a combination of two drugs, namely: Sodium valproate and Valproic acid. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet works by decreasing the excessive and abnormal nerve activity in the brain. Thereby helps in controlling seizures. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet increases the amount of a chemical substance called GABA, this helps block the nerve transmission across the brain and provides a calming effect.
 
You are advised to take Epirate Chrono 500 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 headache, sleepiness, drowsiness, impaired coordination, apathy (lack of interest), irregular periods and weight gain. Talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
 
Do not take Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are pregnant, as it could cause serious congenital disabilities. If you are of childbearing age, use effective contraception while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet. Consult your doctor before taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are breastfeeding. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet causes drowsiness and dizziness, so avoid driving unless you are alert. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet as it could lead to an increased risk of seizures. Care should be taken while giving Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet to children below 3 years as there is a higher risk of liver intoxication during the first 6 months of treatment.

Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is a combination of two drugs, namely: Sodium valproate and Valproic acid. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits, mood disorders and to prevent migraine headaches. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet decreases the excessive and abnormal nerve activity in the brain, thereby controlling seizures. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is used to treat certain forms of epilepsy, such as petit mal epilepsy (short-term unconsciousness due to a disorder in the brain), myoclonic seizures (sudden muscle contractions) and grand mal epilepsy (severe muscle contractions which lead to unconsciousness). Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet may also be used to treat epilepsy, which does not sufficiently respond to other anticonvulsant drugs, such as epilepsy, which is not associated with movements and epilepsy, with symptoms affecting perception and deliberate movements. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet is used to treat both partial seizures (affects only a part of the brain) and generalised seizures (affects the entire brain).

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Sleepiness
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Apathy (lack of interest)
• Hair loss
• Irregular periods
• Weight gain

Do not take Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are allergic to any of its contents, if you have/ had liver problems, porphyria (blood disorder) or if you are susceptible to bleeding. Inform your doctor if you have inflammation-like diseases, bone marrow damage or kidney problems. Talk to your doctor if you experience weakness, loss of appetite, lack of interest, recurrence or worsening of seizures, prolonged bleeding or abdominal pain while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal tendencies while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet. Please do not stop taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet without consulting your doctor to avoid the worsening of seizures. Do not take Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are pregnant, as it could cause serious birth defects. If you are of child-bearing age, use effective contraception while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet. Consult your doctor before taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are breastfeeding. Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet causes drowsiness and dizziness, so avoid driving unless you are alert. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet as it could lead to increased risk of seizures. Care should be taken while giving Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet to children below 3 years as there is a higher risk of liver intoxication during the first 6 months of treatment.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet may interact with pain killers (aspirin), anti-epileptics (phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, felbamate), anti-HIV (zidovudine), anti-depressant (amitriptyline, sertraline), anti-psychotic (quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone), hormone (levonorgestrel), anti-malarial (mefloquine), antacid (cimetidine), antibiotics (imipenem, meropenem, erythromycin), bile-acid sequestrant (cholestyramine), benzodiazepine (clonazepam, diazepam).

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet as it might cause increased dizziness and sleepiness. Alcohol intake might also provoke seizures.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have depression, liver disease, urea cycle disorders, suicidal tendencies, HIV disease, and thrombocytopenia (low levels of platelets).

• ASPIRIN
• PHENOBARBITAL
• PHENYTOIN
• PRIMIDONE
• CARBAMAZEPINE
• LAMOTRIGINE
• FELBAMATE
• ZIDOVUDINE
• AMITRIPTYLINE
• SERTRALINE
• QUETIAPINE
• OLANZAPINE
• RISPERIDONE
• LEVONORGESTREL
• MEFLOQUINE
• CIMETIDINE
• IMIPENEM
• MEROPENEM
• ERYTHROMYCIN
• CHOLESTYRAMINE
• CLONAZEPAM
• 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 fat and controlled carbohydrates) is recommended for adolescents and adults.

• Exercising regularly helps in maintaining weight and improving overall health. 

• Rest well, and get plenty of sleep.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

• Meditation and yoga can help lower stress, decrease pain sensitivity and improves coping skills.

• Have a seizure response plan; this helps those around you know what to do.

• Prepare your living area; small changes may help in reducing 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 is advised while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet as it may cause spontaneous bleeding or bruising.

• Inform your doctor that you are taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet if you are due to have any surgery or dental intervention.

• Consult your doctor if you experience irregular periods while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet.

• If you are of child-bearing age, use effective contraception while taking Epirate Chrono 500 Tablet.

Epilepsy/Seizures: Seizures, also known as fits or convulsions, is a single occurrence of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, whereas epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. The possible causes of epilepsy include traumatic brain injury, scarring on the brain after a brain injury, high fever, stroke, vascular diseases, lack of oxygen to the brain, brain tumours, and genetic disorders. Symptoms include mood changes, anxiousness, nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache, muscle jerking, spasms, loss of balance, teeth clenching, rapid blinking or eye movements, biting the tongue, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

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 characterised by an intense, debilitating headache. Hormonal changes, stress, lack or excess of sleep, bright lights, loud sounds, and certain foods and drinks can trigger migraine headaches. Symptoms of migraine include throbbing pain in one particular area with varying intensity, nausea, vomiting, numbness or tingling sensation, difficulty speaking, and sensitivity to sound and light.