Depakote 500 er and 1000 er

[Will]

I was prescribed Depakote 1000 er and it appears that the prescription was filled with Depakote 500 er. I've looked on the web but can't readily find images of the 2 pills. The 500 er is gray and has the Abbott symbol and has the letters HC on it.

What does the 1000 er look like?

[ruger]

The instructions on your bottle label should read " take 2 pills daily" ... or nightly. That's assuming they are 500mg tablets. If in doubt, phone your pharmacist.

[muriel]

As far as I know, Depakote ER doesn't come in 1000mg tablets, but only 250mg and 500mg tablets. You'd want to take 2 of them. Ask your doctor if you'd take them at the same time or split them up. This is from the PI sheet found here: http://www.rxabbott.com/pdf/dep3.pdf

Here are photos of Depakote ER tablets: http://www.drugs.com...ame=Depakote+ER

Call your pharmacist of you are unsure or if the label is confusing.

[Will]

Thanks to both of you for replies. The label says 500 xr. I think you're right Muriel . . .there probably is no 1000mg xr. The pdoc (a resident) is probably confused, but he said he prescribed 1000mg xr, and I got a little anxious that I was taking 2000mg a day ( 2*1000) and that the pharmacist made a mistake in labeling. Don't like to ask at the pharmacy because I have acted out there during mania, but I will.

[tryp]

Will, when a doctor writes a prescription, unless there are some special instructions, they generally just write the total dose you are supposed to take, and the pharmacy sorts out how to dole out the pills. Look on the bottle and it will probably say to take two tablets, so you take two tablets, your total dose is as written on the script, and we're all good.

[Will]

I hear you tryp, and thanks for your advice, but in this case the resident clearly thought there was a Depakote 1000mg xr. He said as much and was concerned I was taking 2000mg daily at my recemt appointment. My pharmacy has made mistakes before, and I just wanted to get it straightened out. I have since been to the pharmacy and all is cool. Except, the resident wrote the current script for 1000mg to be taken am AND pm, which was another mistake or lapse or whatever you may.

[Anna]

2000 m.g. a day of dep er should not harm you, though yes, you should take it at your correct dose. For most people, unless they have liver disease or some other issues, 2000 m.g. a day of dep is nowhere near overdose and still within therapeutic dosages.

Anna

[gizmo]

Like the others, I am pretty sure depakote is only in 500 mg tablets, having to take a dosage of 1000 mg a day for awhile.

I'm on 1500 now, and my serum depakote level is *well* within normal limits. So 2000 a day wouldn't be unheard of. Just ask for a blood test in a week or so to measure the amount in your blood and your liver panels.

[Will]

Thanks. I'm satisfied now that there is no 1000mg xr, and that I was never taking more than 1000 per day which is what the resident pdoc is prescribing. And moreover that 2000mg for a couple of days would have been no crisis in any event. This "issue" came in the midst of some days of sleep dysregulation which made things more difficult for me to deal with. Better now.

Edit: And I should have just asked the pharmacy about this in the first place, but I have a history of acking wacko with them when manic. But thanks again.