What is Depakote
Valproic acidThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryValproic acid, also known as valproate, is an anticonvulsant drug first synthesized in 1881. It was discovered in 1963 to have anti-seizure properties, and was approved by the FDA in 1978 under the brand name Depakene. Valproic acid is now used to treat a variety of conditions, such as neuroprotection, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and cancer. It is also being studied for its anti-proliferative effects in many clinical trials.
Depakeneis the brand name
Depakote Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Depakene
Valproic acid
1978
481
Effectiveness
How Depakote Affects PatientsValproate helps reduce the frequency of seizures, migraines, and bipolar mania symptoms. It is believed to work by increasing the amount of inhibition in the brain, as well as protecting neurons from damage. Although the exact cause is unknown, taking valproate can be toxic to the liver and harmful to unborn babies. There is also evidence that it can reactivate HIV when taken with HAART drugs, although a larger study did not show a significant effect on HIV reservoirs.
How Depakote works in the bodyValproate works in multiple ways to reduce seizures, treat migraines, and manage bipolar disorder. It increases the amount of a neurotransmitter called GABA, which reduces nerve firing. Valproate also blocks certain enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism and decreases the production of compounds that cause inflammation, which may help with migraines. Valproate also acts as an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, which helps to decrease the activity of certain genes. All of these effects work together to reduce symptoms and treat disorder.
When to interrupt dosage
The proposed dose of Depakote is contingent upon the identified condition, such as Seizures, Seizure, Absence and Complex Partial Seizures. The extent of dosage is contingent upon the delivery technique (e.g. Injection, solution - Intravenous or Capsule, delayed release) featured in the table beneath.Condition
Dosage
Administration
Behcet Syndrome
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Complex Partial Seizures
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Seizure, Absence
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Acute Coryza
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Migraine
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Mental Depression
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Seizures
500.0 mg, , 250.0 mg, 100.0 mg/mL, 125.0 mg, 250.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 50.0 mg/mL
Injection, solution - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release, Tablet, delayed release, , Tablet, extended release, Liquid, Oral, Intravenous, Capsule, liquid filled, Tablet, extended release - Oral, Syrup, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, liquid filled - Oral, Capsule - Oral, Liquid - Intravenous, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Injection - Intravenous, Injection, solution, Tablet, delayed release - Oral, Injection, Solution, Capsule, coated pellets - Oral, Tablet, film coated, extended release - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution - Oral, Capsule, Delayed Release - Oral, Tablet, delayed release particles, Tablet, film coated, extended release, Tablet, delayed release particles - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Syrup - Oral, Capsule, coated pellets, Capsule, Delayed Release, Tablet - Oral
Warnings
Depakote ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
Disease
Do Not Combine
Significant hepatic impairment
Do Not Combine
POLG-related disorder
Do Not Combine
Hepatic Disease
Do Not Combine
Enzymes
Do Not Combine
Common Depakote Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Abemaciclib
Major
The serum concentration of Abemaciclib can be increased when it is combined with Valproic acid.
Acalabrutinib
Major
The serum concentration of Acalabrutinib can be increased when it is combined with Valproic acid.
Alectinib
Major
The serum concentration of Alectinib can be increased when it is combined with Valproic acid.
Aminophylline
Major
The serum concentration of Aminophylline can be increased when it is combined with Valproic acid.
Amiodarone
Major
The serum concentration of Amiodarone can be increased when it is combined with Valproic acid.
Depakote Toxicity & Overdose RiskThe toxic dose of Valproate in mice is 1098mg/kg and in rats is 670mg/kg. Overdosing on Valproate may cause sleepiness, heart block, deep coma, and high sodium levels. There have been reports of fatalities, but some people have recovered from Valproate levels as high as 2120 mcg/mL. Dialysis can be used to remove the unbound fraction of the drug. Pregnant women taking Valproate have a higher risk of their child having neural tube defects or other serious structural abnormalities. Valproate has also been linked to an increased
Depakote Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Depakote?
65 active trials are currently underway to appraise the potential of Depakote to address Migraine, Complex Partial Seizures and Acute Coryza.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Acute Coryza
1 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Migraine
55 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 4, Phase 2, Phase 3, Early Phase 1
Seizures
0 Actively Recruiting
Complex Partial Seizures
0 Actively Recruiting
Seizure, Absence
0 Actively Recruiting
Behcet Syndrome
2 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable
Mental Depression
3 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2
Depakote Reviews: What are patients saying about Depakote?
5Patient Review
5/14/2017 I've been using this treatment for 18 years with minimal side effects and it has really worked well for me.
5Patient Review
9/25/2022 This drug has been a game-changer for me. Since taking it, I wake up every day feeling excited and happy. My anxiety is practically nonexistent now.
5Patient Review
5/15/2017 Over the last couple years, I've tried a lot of different drugs and depakote is the only one that's helped me stay stable.
4.7Patient Review
1/17/2017 I've been on Depakote for over 25 years and it's really effective. However, I have to take lactulose twice a week because the medication raises my ammonia levels. This is not fun. If anyone has suggestions about how to reduce my ammonia levels, please let me know!
4.3Patient Review
11/28/2020 One of the longest working medications for me. Slight hair loss. 750mg per day with 40mg paroxetine.
3.7Patient Review
2/18/2020 I've been medicated for years now, and I'm not sure I like who it's turned me into. Especially in the winter, I feel very different than myself. Maybe it's time to try a new treatment option.
2.7Patient Review
9/30/2021 Depakote has not worked for me at all in the five years I've been taking it. I was originally on lithium, which helped me a lot, but then I lost my doctor and wasn't able to take it for six months. During that time, I had surgery to remove a mass from my neck. Afterward, I was put on Depakote in the hospital, but it hasn't helped me at all.
2Patient Review
1/26/2017 I found that this medication made me not care about anything. I would self-medicate by taking a few extra pills whenever I was going to be in a stressful or irritating environment. However, my psychiatrist switched me to Latuda and I have been reducing my dosage of this drug. I now feel 10 times more alive, awake, and aware of my emotions.
1.7Patient Review
4/18/2017 I found that this medication made it very difficult for me to wake up in the mornings. I've also gained 60 pounds since starting to take it seven years ago. Additionally, it caused a tremor and if you miss even one or two doses, the bipolar side effects will come back with a vengeance after a couple of weeks. Therefore, I would not recommend this medication for people in my circumstances.
1.7Patient Review
11/28/2016 About three weeks after starting this pill, I experienced suicidal thoughts. This was in addition to increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In my opinion, this is a horrible pill for mild depression when compared to other options that are available.
1Patient Review
5/22/2019 I'm not sure this medication did anything for me. I took it for several years and now I have tinnitus.
1Patient Review
4/15/2019 Depakote was ineffective for me and, worse yet, caused horrible palpitations. I'm glad I stopped taking it at my doctor's recommendation.
1Patient Review
5/19/2019 Do not take this medication. It caused me immense suffering in the form of involuntary ticks and body movement. I also had great difficulty speaking for nearly six months.
1Patient Review
5/23/2018 Please heed the warnings about this medication causing diabetes. I gained 50lbs while taking it, and it did not work for me at all.
1Patient Review
5/17/2020 I've been shaking so badly that I can't do anything. Since we've been on lockdown, I've lost 25 pounds. I'm also having dizzy spells which is something new for me. Whenever I go out in public, people always notice how bad my shaking is. For 66 years, I took phenobarbital because I was such a nervous person but then my doctor switched me to depakote.
Patient Q&A Section about depakote
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.Is Depakote an antipsychotic?
"Side effects of Depakote and Abilify that are similar include drowsiness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, constipation, weight changes, or vision changes/blurred vision."
Answered by AI
What is Depakote drug used for?
"Depakote was first prescribed in 19831. It is an antiepileptic drug (AED) and is used to treat complex partial seizures, simple and complex absence seizures, as well as acute manic symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder."
Answered by AI
What are side effects of Depakote?
"B: Depakote may cause drowsiness, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, low platelet count, tremors, tiredness, and hair loss. These side effects may be mild to moderate, but they could also be indicative of a more serious condition."
Answered by AI
Is Depakote an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer?
"Valproate works in the brain to stabilize mood swings associated with bipolar disorder, seizures, and migraines."
Answered by AI