Depakote Oral

Depakote® (divalproex sodium) is a medication used for the treatment of epilepsy and mania associated with bipolar disorder. It is also licensed to prevent migraine headaches.
 
There are two different forms of the medication: oral Depakote tablets and "sprinkle capsules." The tablets are delayed-release, which means that they have a special coating that prevents the drug from dissolving too early in the digestive tract (which can be irritating). The beads inside Depakote Sprinkle capsules also have this special coating.
 
Depakote works by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a natural brain chemical that stops or slows down other brain signals. Increasing GABA helps to prevent the abnormal brain signals that lead to a seizure. It is also thought that Depakote may prevent seizures by affecting sodium channels in the brain.
 
(Click Depakote for information on when and how to take oral Depakote tablets and capsules, to learn about the specific effects of this drug, and to find out what side effects may occur with the medicine.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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