i was wondering what does the prescription depakote treat and what are the side afftects

it can be used for quite a bit of things, i was on it when i was younger for epilepsy. however, i was taken off of it because it sent me into a very very deep depression. chemically it just did not mix, especially with my other medication for topomax. be advised if you start to experience extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, and/or depression

Valproate semisodium (INN) or divalproex sodium (USAN) consists of a compound of sodium valproate & valproic acid in a 1:1 molar relationship in an enteric coated form. It is used in the UK & U.S. for the treatment of the manic episodes of bipolar disorder, & increasingly taken long-term for prevention of both manic & depressive phases of bipolar disorder, especially the rapid-cycling variant. It is also used in the US for the treatment of epilepsy, chronic pain associated with neuropathy, & migraine headaches. Its chemical name is sodium hydrogen bis(2-propylpentanoate). The extended release formulation allows for a single daily dose.

In the UK semisodium valproate has been sold for a few years as the proprietary drug Depakote & marketed for psychiatric conditions only. It is about five times the price of sodium valproate, which has been marketed for around 30 years as Epilim by the same company for epilepsy & is also available from other manufacturers as a generic product.

Side effects
The most severe side effects r ten times higher-than-average incidence rates of serious, irreversible birth defects (teratogenic) such as births of brainless babies (anencephaly). People who take this drug can experience a variety of side effects, some of which may require immediate medical attention. Especially dangerous side effects include vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, or dark urine. These suggest a possibility of liver damage. People taking this drug should also call their doctor if they experience other serious side effects. Some serious side effects r unusual bleeding (especially in the urine), hallucinations, & complete drowsiness. Some people also experience constipation or diarrhea from use of this drug. 1% to 10% of people report weight gain & increased appetite. The same percentage also reports abnormal dreams. [1] Major risk of birth defects such as spina bifida has been demonstrated among populations of female patients who took the medicine in childbearing age.
Branded formulations
Brazil—Depakote by Abbott Laboratories
Canada—Epival by Abbott Laboratories.
United Kingdom—Depakote by Sanofi-Aventis
United States—Depakote & Depakote ER (Extended Release) by Abbott Laboratories
India-— Encorate Chrono by Sun Pharma & Divalpro 250 by Zydus
Other- Brand names for this medication Depacon®, Depakene®, Depakote®, Depakote® ER, Zalkote™. [1]

In the US, generic versions of brand-name Depakote became available on July 29, 2008.[2].

depakote can be used to treat many conditions - bipolar, seizures, epilepsy, and possibly depression

side effects: upset stomach, nausea/vomiting, drowsiness, weight gain, birth defects, rare: liver damage, bleeding probs,