Depakote
® (
divalproex sodium) is an
antipsychotic medication that is often prescribed for the prevention of
migraines and the treatment of epileptic
seizures and manic episodes. Several studies have evaluated the benefits of Depakote.
In one study, Depakote was compared to
lithium (
Lithobid®,
Eskalith®) to treat people who were hospitalized with an episode of mania. After three weeks, those taking Depakote had at least as much improvement in
bipolar symptoms as those taking lithium.
Another study looked at using the drug for
migraine prevention. Those not taking Depakote experienced an average of almost six
migraines in four weeks, while people taking it had only three to four migraines, on average.
In another study, Depakote was added on to other
seizure medications in people with complex partial seizures that were not adequately controlled. Those who added Depakote to their seizure medications decreased their seizure frequency. Other studies have shown that using it alone is also effective for complex partial seizures.
(Click Depakote for more details about Depakote's benefits, to find out how this drug works exactly, and to learn about the warnings and potential side effects of the medication.)
