Your doctor may increase your dose as needed
Depakote is available in the following forms: delayed-release (DR) tablets DR sprinkle capsules Depakote initial dose: 750 mg/day PO in divided doses
Simple and Complex Absence Seizures
Depakote is available in three oral formulations: delayed-release tablets, extended-release tablets ( Depakote ER ), and delayed-release sprinkle capsules (
For oral dosage form (delayed-release capsules): For mania: Adults—At first, 750 milligrams (mg) once a day, usually divided in smaller doses
• Absence Seizures: Start at 15 mg/kg/day, increasing at 1 week intervals by 5 to 10 mg/kg/day until seizure control or
125 milligram (mg)
Depakote ER: Limited data available: Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral: 500 mg once daily for 15 days, may increase to 1,000 mg once daily; adjust dose
This medicine tablets are sometimes used
Consideration may be given at the clinician's discretion to increase the patient's total daily doses of Depakote to the next higher dosage before Depakote ER: 500 mg PO qDay for 7 days; based on patient response, may increase and adjust dose to 500-1000 mg/day Although available studies have methodological limitations, Your dose may need to be gradually
Depakote should be swallowed whole and should not be crushed or chewed (2
Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor
For oral dosage form (delayed-release capsules): However, the dose is usually not more than 60 mg per kg of body weight per day
1, 2
Pharmacology, adverse reactions, warnings and side effects
A Medication Guide describing the risks of valproate is available for patients [see Patient Counseling Information (17)]
Depakote DR tablets and Depakote ER tablets are approved to treat manic or mixed episodes related to bipolar disorder in adults
If the total dose a day is greater than 250 mg, it is usually divided into smaller doses and taken 2 or more times during the day
Depakote has a few boxed warnings
DEPAKOTE® (divalproex sodium) delayed-release tablets, DEPAKOTE® ER (divalproex sodium) extended
Depakote ER (divalproex sodium) extended-release tablets are administered orally, and must be swallowed whole
Mania: Initial dose is 750 mg Available prenatal diagnostic testing to detect neural tube and other defects should be offered to pregnant women using valproate
Keppra (levetiracetam) is available in pills in the following dosages and colors: 250 mg (blue), 500 mg (yellow), 750 mg (orange), and 1,000 mg (white)
• Pregnancy: Depakote can cause congenital malformations including neural tube defects
4) • Geriatric: reduce starting dose; increase dosage more slowly; monitor Divalproex sodium oral tablet (Depakote, Depakote ER) is used to treat seizures, treat bipolar disorder, and prevent migraine
However, the dose is usually not more than 60 mg per kg of body weight per day