Valproate

Valproate (VPA) is a drug. It has different forms, such as valproic acid, sodium valproate and valproate semisodium. It is mostly used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also used to stop migraines.^[1] It is useful to stop some types of seizures. It can be given intravenously or by mouth.

Common side effects of this medication are sleepiness, dry mouth, weakness, vomiting and nausea. Serious side effects can include liver problems, pancreatitis and an increased suicide risk. Overdose and poisoning can happen (see 'overdose and poisoning')

Valproate is known to cause birth defects and miscarriages in pregnant women who use the medicine, so it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or able to become pregnant to take Valproate.^{[verification needed]}

Overdose and poisoning

Too much valproic acid can result in wanting to sleep, shaking, near unconsciousness, trouble breathing (dyspnoea), coma, metabolic acidosis, and death. Normal amounts of valproic acid levels in blood plasma are from 20–100 milligrams per liter. 150–1500 milligrams of valproic acid per liter of blood plasma is very dangerous.^[2]

Brand names

Branded products include:

Absenor (Orion Corporation Finland)
Convulex (G.L. Pharma GmbH Austria)
Depakene (Abbott Laboratories in US and Canada)
Depakine (Sanofi Aventis France)
Depakine (Sanofi Synthelabo Romania)
Depalept (Sanofi Aventis Israel)
Deprakine (Sanofi Aventis Finland)
Encorate (Sun Pharmaceuticals India)
Epival (Abbott Laboratories US and Canada)
Epilim (Sanofi Synthelabo Australia and South Africa)
Stavzor (Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
Valcote (Abbott Laboratories Argentina)
Valpakine (Sanofi Aventis Brazil)

Brand names of sodium valproate

Portugal

Tablets – Diplexil-R by Bial.

United States

Intravenous injection – Depacon by Abbott Laboratories.
Syrup – Depakene by Abbott Laboratories. (Note Depakene capsules are valproic acid).
Depakote tablets are a mixture of sodium valproate and valproic acid.
Tablets – Eliaxim by Bial.

Australia

Epilim Crushable Tablets Sanofi
Epilim Sugar Free Liquid Sanofi
Epilim Syrup Sanofi
Epilim Tablets Sanofi
Sodium Valproate Sandoz Tablets Sanofi
Valpro Tablets Alphapharm
Valproate Winthrop Tablets Sanofi
Valprease tablets Sigma

New Zealand

Epilim by Sanofi-Aventis

All the above formulations are Pharmac-subsidised.^[3]

UK

Depakote Tablets (as in USA)
Tablets – Orlept by Wockhardt and Epilim by Sanofi
Oral solution – Orlept Sugar Free by Wockhardt and Epilim by Sanofi
Syrup – Epilim by Sanofi-Aventis
Intravenous injection – Epilim Intravenous by Sanofi
Extended release tablets – Epilim Chrono by Sanofi is a combination of sodium valproate and valproic acid in a 2.3:1 ratio.
Enteric-coated tablets – Epilim EC200 by Sanofi is a 200-mg sodium valproate enteric-coated tablet.

UK only

Capsules – Episenta prolonged release by Beacon
Sachets – Episenta prolonged release by Beacon
Intravenous solution for injection – Episenta solution for injection by Beacon

Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Sweden

Tablets – Orfiril by Desitin Pharmaceuticals
Intravenous injection – Orfiril IV by Desitin Pharmaceuticals

South Africa

Syrup – Convulex by Byk Madaus
Tablets – Epilim by Sanofi-synthelabo

Malaysia

Tablets – Epilim by Sanofi-Aventis

Romania

Companies are SANOFI-AVENTIS FRANCE, GEROT PHARMAZEUTIKA GMBH and DESITIN ARZNEIMITTEL GMBH
Types are Syrup, Extended release mini tablets, Gastric resistant coated tablets, Gastric resistant soft capsules, Extended release capsules, Extended release tablets and Extended release coated tablets

Canada

Intravenous injection – Epival or Epiject by Abbott Laboratories.
Syrup – Depakene by Abbott Laboratories its generic formulations include Apo-Valproic Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine and ratio-Valproic Archived 2008-01-15 at the Wayback Machine.

Japan

Tablets – Depakene by Kyowa Hakko Kirin
Extended release tablets – Depakene-R by Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Selenica-R by Kowa
Syrup – Depakene by Kyowa Hakko Kogyo

Europe

In much of Europe, Dépakine and Depakine Chrono (tablets) are equivalent to Epilim and Epilim Chrono above.

Taiwan

Tablets (white round tablet) – Depakine (帝拔癲 / di-ba-dian) by Sanofi Winthrop Industrie (France)

Israel

Depalept (equivalent of Epilim)
Depalept Chrono (extended release tablets; equivalent of Epilim Chrono)

India, Russia and CIS countries

Valprol CR by Intas Pharmaceutical (India)
Encorate Chrono by Sun Pharmaceutical (India)
Serven Chrono by Leeven APL Biotech (India)

Brand names of valproate semisodium

Brazil – Depakote by Abbott Laboratories and Torval CR by Torrent do Brasil
Canada – Epival by Abbott Laboratories
Mexico – Epival and Epival ER (extended release) by Abbott Laboratories
United Kingdom – Depakote (for psychiatric conditions) and Epilim (for epilepsy) by Sanofi-Aventis and generics
United States – Depakote and Depakote ER (extended release) by Abbott Laboratories and generics
India – Valance and Valance OD by Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Divalid ER by Linux laboratories Pvt Ltd, Valex ER by Sigmund Promedica, Dicorate by Sun Pharma
Germany – Ergenyl Chrono by Sanofi-Aventis and generics
Chile – Valcote and Valcote ER by Abbott Laboratories
France and other European countries — Depakote
Peru – Divalprax by AC Farma Laboratories
China – Diprate OD

References

↑ "Valproic Acid". Drugs.com. Retrieved Mar 22, 2016.
↑ Sztajnkrycer MD (2002). "Valproic acid toxicity: overview and management". J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 40 (6): 789–801. doi:10.1081/CLT-120014645. PMID 12475192. S2CID 23031095.
↑ "Sodium valproate -- Pharmaceutical Schedule". Pharmaceutical Management Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

[1] "Valproic Acid". Drugs.com. Retrieved Mar 22, 2016.

[2] Sztajnkrycer MD (2002). "Valproic acid toxicity: overview and management". J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 40 (6): 789–801. doi:10.1081/CLT-120014645. PMID 12475192. S2CID 23031095.

[3] "Sodium valproate -- Pharmaceutical Schedule". Pharmaceutical Management Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2014.

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