Manufacturer
SANOFI SPA
Contents
Sodium Valproate
Indication
The treatment of epileptic patients who would normally be maintained on oral sodium valproate, and for whom oral therapy is temporarily not possible.
Instruction
Epilim Intravenous may be given by direct slow intravenous injection or by infusion using a separate intravenous line in normal saline, dextrose 5%, or dextrose saline.
Drug interaction
Some medicines and Epilim may interfere with each other. These include: Aspirin (and other salicylates);
Medicines used to prevent clots (anticoagulants) e.g. warfarin; Other medicines used to treat epilepsy e.g. phenobarbitone, methylphenobarbitone, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, clonazepam, felbamate, lamotrigine, topiramate, diazepam, lorazepam, oxcarbamazepine, rifunamide and ethosuximide; Medicines used to treat depression e.g. monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants; Benzodiazepines (medicines used as sedatives or to treat anxiety); Oral contraceptives. Epilim should have little effect on the oral contraceptive pill, however, you should let your doctor know that you are taking it;Zidovudine or any other anti viral medications; Neuroleptic agents including clozapine (a medicine used to treat schizophrenia); Quetiapine or olanzapine (medicines used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia);
Mefloquine (a medicine used to treat malaria); Propofol (a medicine used before and during general anaesthesia); Nimodipine (a medicine used to help blood flow to the brain); Cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers); Erythromycin, rifampicin and carbapenem antibiotics such as Invanz and Merrem;
Cholestyramine (Questran Lite); Acetazolamide (Diamox). These medicines and others may be affected by Epilim or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.