Valrex-500 Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants or anti-epileptics used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Additionally, Valrex-500 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.

Valrex-500 Tablet contains 'Divalproex sodium', which decreases the brain's excessive and abnormal nerve activity. Thereby helps in controlling seizures. Valrex-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. Thereby helps treat bipolar disorder. 

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

Valrex-500 Tablet belongs to a group of medicines called anticonvulsants or anti-epileptics. Valrex-500 Tablet is used to treat epilepsy/seizures/fits. Additionally, Valrex-500 Tablet is also used to treat mood disorders and to prevent migraine headaches. Valrex-500 Tablet decreases the excessive and abnormal nerve activity in the brain. Thereby helps in controlling seizures. Valrex-500 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. Valrex-500 Tablet prevents migraine headaches by limiting the transmission of nerve pain. Valrex-500 Tablet is used alone or in combination to treat simple seizures, complex partial seizures and complex absence seizures. Valrex-500 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 Valrex-500 Tablet if you are allergic to any of its contents, have/ had liver problems or urea cycle disorders. Inform your doctor before taking Valrex-500 Tablet if you have pancreatitis, blood problems or multi-organ hypersensitivity. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience suicidal tendency while taking Valrex-500 Tablet . Valrex-500 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 Valrex-500 Tablet without consulting your doctor to avoid worsening of seizures. Do not take Valrex-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 Valrex-500 Tablet . Consult your doctor before taking Valrex-500 Tablet if you are breastfeeding. Avoid driving or operating machinery as Valrex-500 Tablet causes dizziness and may affect thinking and motor skills. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Valrex-500 Tablet as it could lead to increased dizziness. Care should be taken while giving Valrex-500 Tablet to children below 2years as there is a higher risk of liver intoxication during the first 6months of treatment.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Valrex-500 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 Valrex-500 Tablet as it might cause increased dizziness and sleepiness. Alcohol intake might also provoke seizures.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Valrex-500 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 Valrex-500 Tablet as it may cause thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels).

• Valrex-500 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.

• Valrex-500 Tablet might alter thyroid function tests and urine ketone tests. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Valrex-500 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 impulses 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.