Generic Name:

Valproate sodium, divalproex, valproic acid

Trade Name:

Depakon®, (Depakene®, Depakote® oral formulations only )

ACTION:

anticonvulsant

Indications:

treatment of grand mal, petit mal, myoclonic, and temporal lobe seizures, and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and prophylaxis of migraine headache.

Administration Guidelines:

Usual Dosage Range and Route:

Usual Adult Dosage Range and Route:
10-15mg/kg/day in divided doses

Oral Administration:
Enteric coated tablets: 125mg - 1000mg orally BID or TID (DO NOT CRUSH)
Valproate liquid: 125 to 500 mg orally every 6 hours

Intravenous Administration:
125 mg to 1000 mg IV every 6 hours.
Infuse each dose over 30 - 60 minutes (up to 6mg/kg/min for status epilepticus loading)
Standard Concentration: 500mg - 1g/100ml D5W or 0.9% NaCl

Suggested Adult Maximum Dose: 4g/24h in divided doses (60mg/kg/day)

EW Standard

500 mg – 1 g/100 mL D5W or 0.9% NaCl

Special Considerations:

- children <2 years old

Precautions and Side Effects:

Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to valproic acid or any of its constituents, hepatic disease, urea cycle disorders

Pregnancy and lactation Category: Pregnancy category D. Lactation: safe

Central nervous system: asthenia, tremor

Dermatologic: alopecia

Endocrine & metabolic: hepatic failure, pancreatitis

Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea

Hematopoetic: severe dose-related thrombocytopenia (greater risk associated with serum
levels >110mcg/ml in females & >135mcg/ml in males)

Ocular: diplopia, ambylopia, blurred vision, nystagmus