If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy you can take valproic acid while breastfeeding. Valproic acid passes into breast milk in small amounts but it's unlikely to harm your baby so you can continue breastfeeding if your doctor says you need to take it. Your doctor may still recommend valproic acid if it is the only medicine that works for you.
Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first as your symptoms may get worse. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. Talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if:.
There are some medicines that may affect how valproic acid works. Valproic acid can also affect the way other medicines work. It's not possible to say whether complementary medicines and herbal supplements are safe to take with valproic acid.
They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
It's not fully understood how this medicine works for treating bipolar disorder. However valproic acid is thought to reduce or prevent manic episodes by increasing the amount of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA in the brain. GABA blocks transmission across nerves in the brain and has a calming effect. It's not clear how valproic acid prevents migraine.
It may limit how your nerves transmit pain signals in the brain. For treating epilepsy, valproic acid prevents epileptic seizures by reducing excessive electrical activity in your brain. It takes a few weeks for valproic acid to work properly.
You may still have symptoms during this time. Once your condition is under control, you'll usually need to keep taking valproic acid for many years. However there are potential side effects that can happen over a long time. Long-term treatment with valproic acid can cause osteoporosis and osteopenia increasing your risk of breaking a bone. Your doctor can arrange for tests to check the strength of your bones.
Regular exercise and a good diet can also help to keep your bones strong. If you have epilepsy, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines not just your epilepsy ones. To claim your free prescriptions you'll need a medical exemption certificate. The application form for the medical exemption certificate is called FP92A. You can get this from your doctor's surgery. You will need to fill in the form, then your doctor will sign it and send it off.
Sodium valproate and semisodium valproate are very similar to valproic acid. They work in the same way but these medicines are sometimes given at different doses for different conditions. If you decide to try sodium valproate or semisodium valproate instead, your doctor will explain how to come off valproic acid safely.
If you have bipolar disorder, there are several types of medicine to prevent mood swings and treat mania. It's not possible to say that one works better than another and it varies from person to person. Lithium is commonly used for bipolar disorder, as well as anti-epileptic medicines like valproic acid and antipsychotic medicines like olanzapine.
You can take valproic acid instead of lithium, or together with lithium, depending on what your doctor recommends. Your doctor or specialist will find the medicines that work best for you. It depends on your mood swings, how often they happen, how severe they are and how well you cope with a medicine. For many people topiramate , propranolol and amitriptyline work better than valproic acid at preventing migraines.
These medicines are likely to cause fewer side effects, so your doctor or specialist will usually prescribe one of these first. Valproic acid is not used as often for preventing migraine.
However your doctor may recommend it if these other medicines are causing side effects or are not working for you. Your doctor may also prescribe valproic acid if you have a health problem that means you cannot take other migraine medicines. There are many different medicines for treating epilepsy. It's not possible to say that one works better than the others. It varies from person to person and depends on the type of seizures and how often you have them. Before prescribing a medicine, your doctor will also take into account your age and sex, the medicines you're already taking and any other health problems you have.
It's usual to try to treat epilepsy using a single medicine. If this medicine is not working well, or you're getting side effects, your doctor will try you on a different one.
If a single medicine is not preventing your seizures, then your doctor may recommend taking 2 or more anti-epileptic medicines at the same time.
If valproic acid is giving you side effects, or you're worried it's not suitable for you, ask your doctor or specialist to recommend a different medicine. Do not stop taking valproic acid suddenly, unless your doctor tells you to. You're unlikely to get any extra symptoms when you stop taking this medicine. However if you're taking it for bipolar disorder or to prevent migraine, your condition could get worse for a short time after you stop taking the medicine. If you're taking valproic acid for epilepsy, it's possible that you'll get seizures again once you stop taking it.
You can prevent these withdrawal seizures by reducing your dose of valproic acid gradually. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient. You are leaving the AbbVie website and connecting to a site that is not under the control of AbbVie. AbbVie is not responsible for the contents of any such site or any further links from such site. AbbVie is providing these links to you only as a convenience and the inclusion of any link does not imply the endorsement of the linked site by AbbVie.
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Important Safety Information Prescribing Information. Home About Depakote. About Depakote. Tablets and capsule shown are not actual size. Donate Now. Note: Throughout this fact sheet, the medication will be referred to as valproate. Even though valproate is available in different names, strengths, and formulations, all provide the same active medicine.
All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication. 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. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options.
Bipolar disorder requires long-term treatment. Do not stop taking valproate, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Missing doses of valproate may increase your risk for a relapse in your mood symptoms. Do not stop taking valproate or change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider first.
In order for valproate to work properly, it should be taken every day as ordered by your health care provider. Periodically, your healthcare provider may ask you to provide a blood sample to make sure the appropriate level of medication is in your body and to assess for side effects, such as changes in blood cell counts.
People living with bipolar disorder who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. Valproate has been associated with an increased risk of spinal cord defects spina bifida.
Bleeding, liver problems, decreased IQ scores, developmental delays, and other birth defects have also been reported. There may be precautions to decrease the risk of these effects. Discontinuing mood stabilizer medications during pregnancy has been associated with a significant increase in symptom relapse. Regarding breastfeeding, caution is advised since valproate does pass into breast milk in small amounts.
Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks. The dose usually ranges from mg to mg or more. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you, as sometimes the dose required is based on your weight. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Drink plenty of water while you are taking this medication. Your dose may need to be changed if you do not get enough fluids each day. If you cannot swallow a sprinkle capsule whole, open it and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away. Do not save it for later use. In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to let others know you use divalproex sodium. Do not stop using divalproex sodium suddenly , even if you feel fine.
Stopping suddenly may cause a serious, life-threatening type of seizure. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time. It may take several weeks of using divalproex sodium before you notice your symptoms improve. Your dosage of divalproex sodium will depend on your medical condition, your age, the formulation you use, your response to treatment, and other factors.
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