Depakote ER Uses (Cont.)

Depakote ER and Migraines

Migraine headaches are different from other headaches in many ways. Some of the most common migraine symptoms include:
 
  • Headache pain on one side of the head
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Throbbing headache pain
  • Upset stomach (nausea) and vomiting
  • Unusual vision changes.
     
Some people may have an aura before their migraines occur. An aura can be any unusual sign that a migraine is about to happen, including vision changes, numbness, tingling, or speech changes. The most common type of aura is visual (seeing spots, tunnel vision, or other vision changes). Some people have migraine triggers, which are certain foods, drinks, or situations that seem to lead to a migraine (see Migraine Diet for more information).
 
Due to the way it works, Depakote ER will not help for migraine treatment. Instead, Depakote ER is taken on a daily basis for migraine prevention, to reduce the frequency or severity of migraine headaches.
 

How Does Depakote ER Work?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that occurs when there are recurring, brief changes in how the brain's electrical system works. These changes in brain activity can lead to a seizure (see Epilepsy Symptoms).
 
Depakote ER works by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a natural brain chemical that stops or slows down other brain signals. Increasing GABA helps prevent the abnormal brain signals that lead to a seizure. It is also thought that Depakote ER may also prevent seizures by affecting sodium channels in the brain.
 
(Depakote ER Uses Continued: Page 4)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;