If you have bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or migraine, your doctor might suggest Depakote as a treatment option for you. It’s a prescription drug used to:

  • treat certain mood episodes (such as mania) in adults with bipolar disorder
  • treat certain kinds of seizures in adults and some children
  • prevent migraine headaches in adults

Depakote may be used as a short-term or long-term treatment. For more details about this drug’s uses, see the “What is Depakote used for?” section below.

Depakote basics

Depakote belongs to a group of medications called antiepileptic drugs. When Depakote is used to treat bipolar disorder, it’s sometimes called a mood stabilizer.

Depakote contains the active ingredient divalproex sodium. (The active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Depakote comes in three forms, all of which are swallowed:

  • Depakote delayed-release* tablets
  • Depakote delayed-release sprinkle capsules
  • Depakote ER (extended-release*) tablets

Depakote is also available as a generic drug called divalproex sodium.

Keep reading to learn more about Depakote, including its side effects, uses, dosages, and more.

* “Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body after it passes through your stomach. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released over a long period of time.

Like most drugs, Depakote may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Depakote may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take
  • the condition the drug is being used to treat

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Depakote. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Depakote can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also read the prescribing information for your form of Depakote: delayed-release tablets, delayed-release sprinkle capsules, or ER tablets.

Mild side effects of Depakote that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Depakote can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Depakote, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Depakote that have been reported include:

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Depakote?” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Depakote.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Depakote. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Depakote is used to:

Besides the uses above, doctors might prescribe Depakote off-label for treating other conditions. To learn more about off-label uses of Depakote, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Depakote comes in three forms: delayed-release* tablets, delayed-release sprinkle capsules, and extended-release* (ER) tablets. Each form is approved for specific uses, which are described below.

* “Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body after it passes through your stomach. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released over a long period of time.

Depakote for bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes changes in your mood, energy, and activity level. If you have bipolar disorder, you may experience episodes of:

Depakote can be used to treat certain mood episodes in adults with bipolar disorder, specifically episodes of mania, mania with mixed features, and depression with mixed features. It is not usually prescribed for depressive episodes.

For episodes of mania, you may be prescribed either Depakote delayed-release tablets or Depakote ER tablets.

For episodes of mania or depression with mixed features, you’ll take Depakote ER tablets.

Depakote for certain types of seizures

Depakote is used to treat certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy. For this use, Depakote can be taken by adults and by children ages 10 years and older. All three forms of Depakote are used to treat seizures.

Epilepsy is a brain condition that can cause a sudden surge of disorganized electrical activity in your brain. When this happens, it can cause a seizure.

Depakote may be used alone to treat the following types of seizures:

Depakote may be used with other medications to treat several other kinds of seizures. You can ask your doctor whether Depakote might be helpful for the type of seizures you have.

Depakote to prevent migraine

Depakote is used to help prevent migraine headaches in adults.

Migraine is a condition that causes headaches and other symptoms. The headaches tend to be intensely painful. Other symptoms that may occur with a migraine headache include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • sensitivity to light and sound
  • dizziness

Depakote does not treat migraine headaches that have already started. Instead, the drug is meant to be taken every day to help prevent headaches from occurring.

To prevent migraine headaches, you may be prescribed either Depakote delayed-release tablets or Depakote ER tablets.

How Depakote works

Depakote works by increasing the level of a chemical messenger in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA has a calming effect on your brain.

Bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and migraine are thought to be caused by excessive electrical activity in the brain. When Depakote increases GABA levels, it decreases this electrical activity.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Depakote.

Can Depakote be used for anxiety or depression?

Possibly. Doctors might prescribe Depakote off-label for treating anxiety or depression. (Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed for a condition other than those it’s approved to treat.)

To learn more about off-label uses of Depakote, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Depakote available as a liquid? Can it be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion?

Depakote doesn’t come in a liquid form. Depakote is only available as tablets and capsules.

Two similar drugs are available as liquid solutions. Valproic acid comes as a liquid solution that you swallow. And valproate sodium is available as a liquid solution that can be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein given over time).

If you have questions about Depakote’s forms or the forms of similar drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Depakote classified as an antipsychotic?

No. Depakote belongs to a group of medications called antiepileptics drugs. Your doctor may also refer to this drug as a mood stabilizer.

In some cases, antipsychotics may be used with Depakote to treat bipolar disorder. Examples of antipsychotic drugs include olanzapine (Zyprexa) and quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR).

How do side effects of Depakote in adults compare with those seen in children?

Depakote is used to treat certain kinds of seizures in children ages 10 years and older.

In studies of the drug, the side effects seen in children in this age group were similar to those seen in adults.

Depakote is not approved for use in children younger than 10 years old. The risk of side effects in this age group is higher compared with adults. In children under age 2, Depakote may cause serious and life threatening liver problems. To learn more about this, see “Boxed warnings” in the “What should be considered before taking Depakote?” section below.

If you have any questions about Depakote’s side effects in children, talk with a pharmacist or your child’s doctor.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Depakote that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Forms and strengths

Depakote comes in the following forms and strengths:

  • Depakote delayed-release* tablets. These Depakote tablets come in three strengths: 125 milligrams (mg), 250 mg, and 500 mg.
  • Depakote delayed-release sprinkle capsules. You can either swallow the capsules whole or open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on soft food before swallowing. Depakote sprinkle capsules come in one strength of 125 mg.
  • Depakote ER (extended-release*) tablets. These tablets come in two strengths: 250 mg and 500 mg.

* “Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body after it passes through your stomach. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released over a long period of time.

Recommended dosing schedule

Depakote delayed-release tablets and Depakote delayed-release sprinkle capsules are usually taken two or three times per day. Depakote ER tablets are taken once per day.

Your doctor will explain how much of this medication to take and how often. To learn more about Depakote’s dosage, see this article.

Questions about Depakote’s dosing

Below are some common questions about Depakote’s dosing.

  • What if I miss a dose of Depakote? If you miss a dose of Depakote, take it as soon as possible, unless it’s almost time for your next dose. In that case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its regular time. You should not take two doses of Depakote at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
  • Will I need to use Depakote long term? It depends. For treating manic episodes or episodes with mixed features, Depakote is usually taken for up to a few weeks. For treating epilepsy or preventing migraine headaches, Depakote is typically taken long term. Your doctor will explain how long you should expect to take this medication.
  • How long does Depakote take to work? On average, it usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for Depakote to start working. If you have questions about what to expect from your Depakote treatment, talk with your doctor.

Your doctor will explain how you should take Depakote. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Taking Depakote

Exactly how you’ll take Depakote depends on which form you take. The drug comes in three forms:

  • Depakote delayed-release* tablets. Swallow Depakote tablets whole. You should not crush or chew them.
  • Depakote delayed-release sprinkle capsules. When taking Depakote sprinkle capsules, you can either:
    • Swallow the capsule whole, or
    • Open the capsule and sprinkle the contents on a small amount of soft food. Then swallow the mixture right away. For example, you can sprinkle the contents on a teaspoonful of applesauce or pudding. But you shouldn’t chew the capsule contents. And the mixture shouldn’t be prepared and stored in advance.
  • Depakote ER (extended-release*) tablets. Swallow Depakote ER tablets whole. You should not crush or chew them.

* “Delayed release” means the drug is released into your body after it passes through your stomach. “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released over a long period of time.

Accessible medication containers and labels

If it’s hard for you to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text into audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Also, if you’re having trouble opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to put Depakote in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also recommend tools to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

Questions about taking Depakote

Below are some common questions about taking Depakote.

  • Can Depakote be chewed, crushed, or split? Depakote tablets should not be chewed, crushed, or split. Depakote sprinkle capsules may be opened to sprinkle the contents onto a small amount of soft food. Then you can swallow the mixture. But you still shouldn’t chew or crush the contents. For suggestions on how to make swallowing pills easier, see this article.
  • Should I take Depakote with food? You can take Depakote with or without food. But taking Depakote with food may help prevent or lessen digestive side effects, such as belly pain.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Depakote? Your dosing schedule for Depakote will depend on several factors. These include the condition you’re taking it for and the form you take. Your doctor will explain how much of this medication to take and when to take it.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Depakote, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Depakote.

For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Other warnings” section below.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Depakote can interact with several types of drugs. These drugs include:

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Depakote. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of Depakote.

Boxed warnings

Depakote has boxed warnings about the risk of liver damage, pancreatitis, and fetal harm. These are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Boxed warnings for Depakote include:

Risk of liver damage. Depakote may cause liver damage that can be severe and, in rare cases, life threatening. This risk is highest in people with mitochondrial disease and in children younger than 2 years old. It’s important to note that Depakote is not approved for use in children younger than 10 years old.

Liver damage is most likely to occur within 6 months of starting treatment with Depakote. Because of this risk, your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver health before and during your Depakote treatment. You’ll likely have these tests more often during the first 6 months of treatment.

Risk of pancreatitis. Depakote can cause severe pancreatitis that, in some cases, can be life threatening. Pancreatitis can develop at any time during treatment. Symptoms of pancreatitis may include belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.

It’s important to tell your doctor right away if you develop these symptoms. If they confirm you have pancreatitis, they’ll likely have you stop taking Depakote.

Risk of fetal harm. It is not safe to take Depakote if you’re pregnant or could become pregnant. Taking Depakote during pregnancy can cause harm to the fetus. For more information, see the “Depakote and pregnancy” section below.

Other warnings

Depakote can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Depakote is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Depakote. Factors to consider include those described below.

Liver problems. Depakote may cause liver damage. (To learn more, see the “Boxed warnings” section above.) If you already have a liver problem, Depakote could make it worse. Because of this risk, your doctor will likely suggest a different treatment option for you.

Mitochondrial disease, such as Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome. Mitochondrial diseases affect how your cells make energy. If you have mitochondrial disease, you have a higher risk of Depakote damaging your liver. Your doctor will likely suggest a different treatment option instead of Depakote.

Urea cycle disorder. Depakote may cause high levels of ammonia in the blood. If you have urea cycle disorder, you have an increased risk of developing high ammonia levels. (With urea cycle disorder, your body has trouble getting rid of a chemical called urea, which is made from ammonia.)

Due to this risk, doctors usually won’t prescribe Depakote to people with urea cycle disorder.

Depression or suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Depakote may cause depression or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you’re already experiencing depression, it’s possible that taking Depakote could make your condition worse. And if you already have suicidal thoughts or behaviors, Depakote treatment might make them more severe.

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before starting Depakote. They may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Depakote or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Depakote. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Depakote and alcohol

You should not drink alcohol while taking Depakote. Combining Depakote and alcohol can increase the risk of drowsiness and dizziness.

If you have questions about alcohol use while taking Depakote, talk with your doctor.

Depakote and pregnancy

It is not safe to take Depakote if you’re pregnant or could become pregnant. Depakote has a boxed warning about this risk. (This is a serious warning from the FDA about drug effects that may be dangerous.)

A child who was exposed to Depakote in the womb may be born with fetal development problems (commonly known as birth defects). The defects can occur early in the pregnancy, before you know you are pregnant. Examples of birth defects seen after exposure to Depakote include:

Children exposed to Depakote while in the womb also have a risk of lower IQ test scores and of developing autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you’re taking Depakote and can become pregnant, it’s important to prevent pregnancy. Talk with your doctor about which birth control methods are most effective during Depakote treatment.

If you become pregnant while taking Depakote, your doctor may suggest enrolling in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry.

This registry helps gather information about how Depakote may affect pregnancy. To learn more, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the registry website or call 888-233-2334.

Depakote and breastfeeding

It isn’t known whether it’s safe to take Depakote while breastfeeding. The drug can pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a breastfed child exposed to the drug.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking Depakote.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your health insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.

Depakote is available as the generic drug divalproex sodium. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know about taking divalproex sodium.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A savings card for Depakote may also be available.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Do not take more Depakote than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

Effects of overdose

An overdose of Depakote can cause:

What to do in case you take too much Depakote

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Depakote. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you’re considering treatment with Depakote, talking with your doctor can help you understand the drug’s risks and benefits. If you have questions about taking Depakote, ask your doctor. Some example questions include:

To learn more about Depakote, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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