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. 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. 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.
Overdose and poisoning
Too much valproic acid can result in wanting to sleep, shaking, near unconsciousness, less breathing, 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.
Brand names
Brand names of valproic acid
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.
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 and ratio-Valproic .
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, Depakine and Depakine Chrono (tablets) are equivalent to Epilim and Epilim Chrono above.