Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you, as sometimes the dose required is based on your weight.
Do not chew the sprinkle capsule or contents. Valproate syrup: Measure with a dosing spoon or oral syringe that you can get from your pharmacy. Use a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or a friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of valproate, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose.
Discuss this with your health care provider. Do not double your dose or take more than what is prescribed. Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking valproate. They may decrease the benefits e. If an overdose occurs call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at Studies have found that individuals who take antiepileptic medications including valproate have suicidal thoughts or behaviors up to twice as often than individuals who take placebo inactive medication.
These thoughts or behaviors occurred in approximately 1 in patients taking the antiepileptic class of medications. If you experience any thoughts or impulses to hurt yourself, you should contact your doctor immediately. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of valproate. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. It is important to note that some of the side effects listed above particularly changes in platelets, liver or pancreas problems, and suicidal thoughts may continue to occur or worsen if you continue taking the medication.
It is important to follow up with your doctor for blood work and to contact your doctor immediately if you notice abdominal pain, sudden nausea or vomiting, or changes in mood or behavior. If this happens, you may get confused, disoriented, or have difficulty thinking. It is very important to tell your doctor how you feel things are going during the first few weeks after you start taking valproate. It will probably take several weeks to see big enough changes in your symptoms to decide if valproate is the right medication for you.
Mood stabilizer treatment is generally needed lifelong for persons with bipolar disorder. Your doctor can best discuss the duration of treatment you need based on your symptoms and illness. Serious and fatal liver damage has been associated with valproate, particularly during the first six months of treatment. Patients with mitochondrial disease caused by a certain DNA mutation are at an increased risk of acute liver failure and resultant death.
Life threatening pancreatitis has been reported in children and adults who take valproate. Signs of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and inability to keep food down. Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication.
You can prevent these withdrawal seizures by reducing your dose of valproic acid gradually. If you use recreational drugs alongside valproic acid, you may be more likely to have side effects like panic attacks, anxiety and memory loss.
Drinking alcohol while taking valproic acid may make you feel sleepy or tired. It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days, until you see how the medicine affects you. Valproic acid can reduce fertility in both men and women. Once you stop taking this medicine, your fertility will return.
In men valproic acid has been reported to cause infertility. However, this is rare. In women it can change your menstrual cycle, causing delayed or missed periods. Valproic acid has also been reported to cause polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS , though this happens rarely. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned about how valproic acid may affect your fertility.
Valproic acid is not recommended if there's a chance you could become pregnant. If you're taking valproic acid and want to start a family, it's important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. This is because taking valproic acid while pregnant can harm your baby. Valproic acid does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking sodium valproate you must use contraception.
Your doctor will put you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. Speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you have any questions about this programme.
You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking valproic acid. This may also happen if your dose has increased. If you're affected, do not drive or ride a bike until you feel more alert. If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you've had no seizures for 1 year or only have seizures while you're asleep.
If you change your epilepsy medicine, your doctor will tell you whether you need to stop driving and for how long. Driving rules if you change or withdraw your medicine, Epilepsy Action.
Epilepsy and driving information, GOV. Page last reviewed: 3 September Next review due: 3 September Valproic acid - Brand names: Belvo, Depakote, Dyzantil, Convulex, Syonell On this page About valproic acid Key facts Who can and cannot take valproic acid How and when to take valproic acid Side effects How to cope with side effects of valproic acid Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about valproic acid.
About valproic acid Valproic acid is used to treat bipolar disorder. Valproate pregnancy prevention programme The valproate pregnancy prevention programme is very important and is still running during the coronavirus COVID pandemic. Updated: 3 September Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? You'll usually take valproic acid 2 or 3 times a day.
You can take it with or without food. You'll usually start on a low dose. Your dose will gradually increase over a few days or weeks. Sodium valproate and semisodium valproate are similar to valproic acid and work in the same way. However, these medicines are used to treat different conditions and doses will vary.
There are also brands such as Epilim Chrono, Epilim Chronosphere and Dyzantil which contain mostly sodium valproate, with some valproic acid. If you're pregnant, or there's a chance you could become pregnant, valproic acid is not recommended for treating migraine.
For epilepsy and bipolar disorder, your doctor will only prescribe valproic acid for you if there are no other suitable treatments. To make sure valproic acid is safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to valproic acid or any other medicine have liver problems have a rare metabolic or genetic condition such as porphyria, urea cycle disorder or mitochondrial disorder.
Dosage The usual dose for treating bipolar disorder for: adults — mg to 2,mg a day, split into 2 or 3 doses children — the doctor will work out the right dose for your child The usual dose for preventing migraine for: adults — mg to 1,mg a day, split into 2 or 3 doses The usual dose for treating epilepsy for: adults and older children aged 12 years and over — mg to 2,mg a day, split into 2 to 4 doses younger children weighing more than 20kg — the doctor will use your child's weight to work out the right dose for them If you need to take your medicine more than once a day, you'll take equal doses that add up to your daily total.
How and when take it Valproic acid comes as gastro resistant tablets and capsules. Will my dose go up or down? What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? Taking too much valproic acid can lead to symptoms such as: feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting headaches, or feeling dizzy muscle weakness breathing problems feeling confused, or changes to your normal behaviour passing out.
Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Common side effects These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: stomach pain, feeling or being sick diarrhoea dry or sore mouth, or swollen gums shakes tremors in a part of your body, or unusual eye movements feeling tired or sleepy headache weight gain thinning hair, or changes to the colour or texture of your hair irregular or delayed periods Serious side effects It's unusual to have serious side effects after taking valproic acid.
Tell a doctor straight away if you have: thoughts of harming or killing yourself — a small number of people taking valproic acid have had suicidal thoughts yellowing of the whites of your eyes or your skin, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin, and dark pee — these may be signs of liver problems long-lasting and severe nausea, vomiting or stomach pain — these may be signs of acute pancreatitis an inflamed pancreas unusual bruises or bleeding — these may be signs of a blood disorder Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, valproic acid may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: stomach pain, feeling or being sick — take valproic acid with or after a meal or snack.
It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food. Take small, frequent sips of water if you're being sick to avoid dehydration. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
If this does not help, or you have mouth ulcers , talk to your pharmacist or doctor. If you're bothered by swollen gums or this symptom does not go away, talk to your doctor or dentist.
These symptoms can be a sign that your dose is too high. Talk to your doctor as they may want to change your dose or suggest you take it at a different time. If these symptoms do not get better within a week or two, your doctor may either reduce your dose or increase it more slowly.
If that does not work, talk to your doctor as they may want to switch you to a different medicine. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if your headaches last longer than a week or are severe. Regular exercise will also help you keep your weight stable. Your doctor will usually monitor your weight while you're taking this medicine. Speak to them if you have any concerns. Your hair may regrow after either reducing your dose or switching to a different medicine.
As well as being a side effect of valproic acid, a late period is a sign that you could be pregnant, and valproic acid can be harmful for an unborn baby. Changes to your periods can also be a symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS , a rare side effect of valproic acid. Your doctor will be able to do some tests to check whether you have PCOS. Valproid acid and pregnancy Valproic acid is not recommended in pregnancy, as it can cause birth defects and problems with your baby's learning and behaviour.
Information: You must have a review of your treatment every year. If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit Abbvie. If you have any questions about AbbVie's Depakote.
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This rebate form is not available to individuals who are paying cash for their prescription or who are receiving prescription reimbursement under a state or federally funded insurance program. Important Safety Information Prescribing Information. Home Bipolar Symptoms.
Bipolar disorder symptoms. Feeling sad, worried, or empty for long periods of time Losing interest in things that used to be fun Feeling more tired than normal Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions Being irritable or restless A change in sleeping or eating patterns Recurring thoughts about suicide.
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The risk of getting this serious liver damage is more likely to happen within the first 6 months of treatment.
In some cases, liver damage may continue despite stopping the drug.
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