What is valproate Depakote used for?
Valproate is a mood stabilizer medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), seizures (epilepsy), and migraine headaches. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and/or mania.
What is the difference between valproate and divalproex?
What’s the Difference Between Valproic Acid and Divalproex? Valproic acid (VPA) is an organic weak acid, while its conjugate base is called valproate. The sodium salt of the acid is called sodium valproate and a coordination complex of the two is known as divalproex sodium (DVP).
What is another name for 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. Divalproex sodium is available under the following different brand names: Depakote, Depakote ER, and Depakote Sprinkles.
How long does it take for Depakote to kick in?
Tablets take 4 hours to reach a peak, Depakote sprinkles take just over three. Food can delay the absorption of Depakote (food has a more significant effect on the tablets compared with the sprinkles). It may take several weeks of regular dosing before an effect on mood or seizure frequency is reported.
What are the signs of a Depakote& overdose?
Some commonly reported symptoms of an overdose with Depakote include: Drowsiness Heart block (a problem with the electrical system of the heart) Coma Loss of life.
Is it safe to take Depakote?
In these studies Depakote was found to be safe in treating a sample of 360 patients for more than three months. However, since Depakote is new on the market for the treatment of mania in bipolar disorder, studies are limited and safety and effectiveness in longer trials have not yet been established.
What is the normal range for Depakote level?
Depakote blood levels are important. Laboratories typically define therapeutic Depakote levels as between 50 and 100 ng/dl, and will flag a level above 100 as potentially toxic. That said, those of us who treat a lot of bipolar patients sometimes find that we need blood levels in the 100 to 120 ng/dl range.
What conditions does Depakote treat?
Depakote is a medication that affects the brain and is prescribed to manage many neurological diseases and conditions, including mania episodes of bipolar disorder, seizures and epilepsy and the prevention of migraine headaches. It may be prescribed off-label to treat other mental health illnesses, such as schizophrenia.