Seroquel vs. Depakote

• Are Seroquel and Depakote the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Seroquel?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Depakote?
• What Is Seroquel?
• What Is Depakote?
• What Drugs Interact with Seroquel?
• What Drugs Interact with Depakote?
• How Should Seroquel Be Taken?
• How Should Depakote Be Taken?

Seroquel (quetiapine) and Depakote (divalproex sodium) are used to treat bipolar disorder.

Seroquel is also used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old, and to treat major depression.

Depakote is also used to treat epilepsy and migraine headaches.

Common side effects of Seroquel include:

• mood or behavior changes,
• constipation,
• stomach pain,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• tiredness,
• headache,
• trouble sleeping,
• dry mouth,
• sore throat,
• breast swelling or discharge,
• missed menstrual periods,
• increased appetite, or
• weight gain.

Older adults with dementia may have a slightly increased risk of death when taking Seroquel.

Common side effects of Depakote include:

• drowsiness,
• weakness,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach upset,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• mood swings,
• changes in menstrual periods,
• enlarged breasts,
• weight changes,
• agitation,
• tremor (shaking),
• vision changes,
• unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth, and
• hair loss.

Seroquel (quetiapine) is a psychotropic medication used to treat schizophrenia in adults and children who are at least 13 years old. Seroquel is also used in the treatment of major depression and bipolar disorder.

Depakote (divalproex sodium) is a stable coordination compound comprised of sodium valproate and valproic acid used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and migraine headaches.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including Depakote, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients taking these drugs for any indication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.

Seroquel may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), medications to treat Parkinson's disease, steroids, antibiotics, antifungal medications, anti-malaria medications, heart rhythm medicines, medications to treat HIV or AIDS, or migraine headache medicines.

The recommended initial dose of Depakote to treat mania is 750 mg daily in divided doses. The dose of Depakote to treat epilepsy as monotherapy should be initiated at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day. The recommended starting dose of Depakote to treat migraines is 250 mg twice daily.

Dosing preparations are 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg tablets.

Depakote (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Depakote (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Depakote Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Depakote is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.