valproate(Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene)
Broad-spectrum antiepileptic / mood stabilizer
Pronunciation
/ˈvælproʊeɪt/
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Say it aloud once — you will remember it forever.
At a glance
- Generic name
- valproate
- Brand names
- Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon
- Therapeutic class
- Broad-spectrum antiepileptic / mood stabilizer
- Mechanism (summary)
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Clinical pearls
- Take with food to reduce GI upset.
- Swallow ER tablets whole; do not crush.
- Avoid pregnancy - effective contraception required (women of childbearing age).
- Report abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, easy bruising.
- Monitor labs: CBC, LFTs, ammonia, valproate level.
Sources
See how valproate appears in NAPLEX-style questions
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