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Valproic Acid

Valproic acid is an anti-epileptic medicine used to treat several types of seizures in adults and children.

Brand names DepakeneDepakoteDepakote ERDepakote Sprinkle
Drug classes Anti-epileptic Agent
Rx Forms 2
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 29 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

✓No current FDA shortage listed · checked Oct 5, 2026
Valproic Acid at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Valproic acid is a broad-acting anti-epileptic medicine for several seizure types, thought to work partly by raising GABA, the brain's natural calming chemical, and a familiar older standby on the U.S. market since about 1978, available generically. Nausea, tremor, drowsiness, hair thinning and weight changes are what people notice most. Watch for its boxed warning risks: liver failure (most likely in the first six months, so liver tests are checked before and often after starting), pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation), and serious harm to an unborn baby, including birth defects and lower IQ. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, have a careful conversation with your prescriber first and use effective contraception.

Clinical pearls

  • Valproic acid raises lamotrigine levels, so the lamotrigine dose usually needs lowering to cut the risk of serious skin reactions.
  • Carbapenem antibiotics such as meropenem can sharply drop valproic acid levels, so tell any hospital team you take it.
  • Unusual sleepiness, confusion or behavior changes can signal high blood ammonia, a risk that rises if topiramate is added.
  • Never stop it suddenly, even if you feel well, because abruptly stopping a seizure medicine can bring seizures back.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Valproic acid carries three serious, potentially life-threatening risks that the FDA requires be highlighted:

Liver damage (hepatotoxicity): Serious and sometimes fatal liver failure has been reported, most often in the first six months of use. Children under 2 years old are at especially high risk, as are people with mitochondrial disorders (such as Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome). Warning signs include tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, swelling of the face, nausea, and vomiting. Valproic acid oral solution is contraindicated in patients with known mitochondrial disorders caused by POLG gene mutations and in children under 2 suspected of having such a disorder. Liver tests should be done before starting and checked frequently, especially in the first 6 months.

Fetal harm: Valproic acid can cause serious birth defects — including neural tube defects like spina bifida — and can lower IQ and cause developmental disorders in children exposed before birth. It must not be used to prevent migraines in pregnant women or in women of childbearing age who are not using effective birth control. For epilepsy or bipolar disorder, it should only be used during pregnancy if other medicines have not worked.

Pancreatitis: Life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas has been reported in both children and adults, sometimes progressing rapidly to death. If you develop severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, seek medical care right away. Valproic acid should normally be stopped if pancreatitis is diagnosed.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asOral solution, Capsule
Earliest FDA record1978
Companies listing it with the FDA19
FDA label last updatedMay 22, 2020
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Valproic Acid, written from its FDA label.

What Valproic Acid is used for

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Valproic acid is an anti-epileptic drug available as capsules and oral solution, used to treat several types of seizures.

  • Complex partial seizures — as the only treatment (monotherapy) or combined with other seizure medicines (adjunctive therapy), for adults and children 10 years and older
  • Simple absence seizures — as sole therapy or add-on therapy
  • Complex absence seizures — as sole therapy or add-on therapy
  • Multiple seizure types that include absence seizures — as add-on therapy

How Valproic Acid works

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After you take valproic acid by mouth, it converts to the valproate ion in the digestive tract and is absorbed into the bloodstream. The exact way it prevents seizures isn't fully known. The leading theory is that it increases the brain's levels of GABA — a natural chemical that calms nerve activity — which helps reduce the runaway electrical signals that trigger seizures.

Valproic Acid dosage

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Valproic acid capsules and oral solution are both taken by mouth, every day as prescribed. Dosing is started at a low level and gradually increased by your doctor until seizures are controlled or side effects become limiting. Taking it with food is generally fine and can help reduce stomach upset. Capsules must be swallowed whole — never chewed.

  • Take every dose as scheduled; do not skip doses
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember — unless it's nearly time for your next dose; then skip the missed one
  • Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed one
  • Do not stop valproic acid suddenly without talking to your doctor, as this can cause dangerous seizures

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Valproic Acid prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Complex Partial Seizures - Monotherapy (Initial Therapy), adults and children 10 years of age or older
    • Initiate therapy at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day
    • Increase by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week to achieve optimal clinical response
    • Maximum: Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day; no recommendation regarding safety of doses above 60 mg/kg/day can be made
    • Not systematically studied as initial therapy; if response unsatisfactory, measure plasma levels (usual therapeutic range 50 to 100 mcg/mL)
  • Complex Partial Seizures - Conversion to Monotherapy, adults and children 10 years of age or older
    • Initiate therapy at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day
    • Increase by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week
    • Concomitant AED dosage can ordinarily be reduced by approximately 25% every 2 weeks
    • Maximum: Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day; no recommendation regarding safety of doses above 60 mg/kg/day can be made
    • Reduction may start at initiation of valproic acid or be delayed by 1 to 2 weeks if seizures are a concern
  • Complex Partial Seizures - Adjunctive Therapy, adults and children 10 years of age or older
    • Add at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day
    • May be increased by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week to achieve optimal clinical response
    • Maximum: Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day; no recommendation regarding safety of doses above 60 mg/kg/day can be made
    • If the total daily dose exceeds 250 mg, give in divided doses
  • Simple and Complex Absence Seizures
    • Recommended initial dose is 15 mg/kg/day, increasing at one week intervals by 5 to 10 mg/kg/day until seizures are controlled or side effects preclude further increases
    • Maximum: 60 mg/kg/day
    • If the total daily dose exceeds 250 mg, give in divided doses
  • Elderly patients
    • Starting dose should be reduced
    • Dosage increased more slowly with regular monitoring for fluid and nutritional intake, dehydration, somnolence, and other adverse reactions
    • Due to decreased unbound clearance of valproate and possibly greater sensitivity to somnolence
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Valproic acid oral solution is intended for oral administration. (2.1) Simple and Complex Absence Seizures: Start at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day, increasing at 1 week intervals by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week until seizure control or limiting side effects (2.1) Safety of doses above 60 mg/kg/day is not established (2.1, 2.2) 2.1 Epilepsy Valproic acid oral solution is intended for oral administration. Patients should be informed to take valproic acid oral solution every day as prescribed. If a dose is missed it should be taken as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for the next dose. If a dose is skipped, the patient should not double the next dose. Valproic acid oral solution is indicated as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in complex partial seizures in adults and pediatric patients down to the age of 10 years, and in simple and complex absence seizures. As the valproic acid oral solution dosage is titrated upward, concentrations of clonazepam, diazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, tolbutamide, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and/or phenytoin may be affected [see Drug Interactions (7.2) ] . Complex Partial Seizures For adults and children 10 years of age or older. Monotherapy (Initial Therapy) Valproic acid oral solution has not been systematically studied as initial therapy. Patients should initiate therapy at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day. The dosage should be increased by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week to achieve optimal clinical response. Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day. If satisfactory clinical response has not been achieved, plasma levels should be measured to determine whether or not they are in the usually accepted therapeutic range (50 to 100 mcg/mL). No recommendation regarding the safety of valproate for use at doses above 60 mg/kg/day can be made. The probability of thrombocytopenia increases significantly at total trough valproate plasma concentrations above 110 mcg/mL in females and 135 mcg/mL in males. The benefit of improved seizure control with higher doses should be weighed against the possibility of a greater incidence of adverse reactions. Conversion to Monotherapy Patients should initiate therapy at 10 to 15 mg/kg/day. The dosage should be increased by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week to achieve optimal clinical response. Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Valproic Acid side effects

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The most commonly reported side effects include:

Common side effects

  • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
  • Tremor (shakiness)
  • Drowsiness or sleepiness
  • Dizziness
  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight changes (gain or loss)
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), which can cause bruising or bleeding

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, or vomiting — these may be signs of liver damage
  • Seek emergency care for severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — these can be signs of pancreatitis (dangerous inflammation of the pancreas)
  • Tell your doctor immediately if you have unexplained confusion, unusual sleepiness, or behavior changes — these may signal a build-up of ammonia in the blood
  • Get help right away for thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or sudden changes in mood or behavior
  • Report any new skin rash, especially if combined with fever or swollen glands — this could be a serious allergic reaction (DRESS)
  • Tell your doctor if you develop unusually low body temperature (hypothermia) or easy bruising and bleeding

Serious reactions — including liver failure, pancreatitis, high ammonia levels affecting the brain, severe skin reactions, and suicidal thoughts — can occur. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of these.

Valproic Acid warnings and precautions

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  • Liver damage: Fatal liver failure has occurred, most often in the first 6 months. Children under 2 and those with mitochondrial disorders are at highest risk. Watch for unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
  • Serious fetal harm: Valproic acid can cause major birth defects and lower IQ in babies exposed before birth. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant must discuss this risk with their doctor before using it.
  • Pancreatitis: Life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas has been reported at any point during therapy. Severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting should prompt immediate medical evaluation.
  • Suicidal thoughts: Anti-epileptic drugs, including valproic acid, increase the risk of suicidal thinking or behavior. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice new or worsening depression or unusual mood changes.
  • High ammonia levels (hyperammonemia): Can cause brain effects including confusion and drowsiness; risk is higher when used with topiramate. Tell your doctor about any unexplained confusion or behavior change.
  • Low body temperature (hypothermia): Has been reported, with or without high ammonia levels, and may occur with concomitant topiramate use.
  • Bleeding risk: Valproic acid can lower platelet counts and affect clotting; monitor for easy bruising or unusual bleeding.

Valproic Acid interactions

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Valproic acid interacts with a number of commonly used medicines — always tell your doctor and pharmacist everything you take.

  • Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, rifampin: These can lower valproic acid levels, potentially reducing seizure control
  • Felbamate: Can raise valproic acid levels, possibly requiring a dose reduction
  • Aspirin: Can increase the active form of valproic acid in the body — use with caution
  • Carbapenem antibiotics (e.g., meropenem, imipenem, ertapenem): Can sharply reduce valproic acid levels and may cause seizure breakthrough
  • Estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives: May lower valproic acid levels; seizure frequency should be monitored
  • Topiramate: Combination increases the risk of dangerously high ammonia levels and low body temperature
  • Lamotrigine: Valproic acid raises lamotrigine levels significantly; serious skin reactions are possible and lamotrigine dose usually needs to be reduced
  • Warfarin: Valproic acid can displace warfarin from protein binding; dosage adjustment may be needed

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Valproic Acid prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Hepatic enzyme-inducing drugs (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, rifampin): Can increase valproate clearance; phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital (or primidone) can double the clearance of valproate. Increase monitoring of valproate and concomitant drug concentrations and adjust dosage whenever enzyme-inducing drugs are introduced or withdrawn.
  • Aspirin: Decreased protein binding and inhibited metabolism of valproate; valproate free fraction increased 4-fold in the presence of aspirin. Caution should be observed if valproate and aspirin are co-administered.
  • Carbapenem antibiotics (ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem): Clinically significant reduction in serum valproic acid concentration, which may result in loss of seizure control. Monitor serum valproic acid concentrations frequently after starting carbapenem; consider alternative antibacterial or anticonvulsant therapy if concentrations drop significantly or seizure control deteriorates.
  • Estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives: May increase clearance of valproate, decreasing its concentration and potentially increasing seizure frequency. Monitor serum valproate concentrations and clinical response when adding or discontinuing estrogen-containing products.
  • Felbamate: 1,200 mg/day felbamate increased mean valproate peak concentration by 35% (from 86 to 115 mcg/mL); 2,400 mg/day raised it to 133 mcg/mL. A decrease in valproate dosage may be necessary when felbamate therapy is initiated.
  • Rifampin: A 40% increase in the oral clearance of valproate was seen after 5 nights of daily rifampin (600 mg). Valproate dosage adjustment may be necessary when co-administered with rifampin.
  • Antacids (Maalox, Trisogel, Titralac): No effect on the extent of absorption of valproate.
  • Amitriptyline/Nortriptyline: Decreased plasma clearance of amitriptyline by 21% and net clearance of nortriptyline by 34%; rare reports of increased amitriptyline level and toxicity. Consider monitoring amitriptyline levels and lowering the dose of amitriptyline/nortriptyline in the presence of valproate.
  • Lamotrigine: Lamotrigine elimination half-life increased from 26 to 70 hours; serious skin reactions have been reported with concomitant use. Reduce the lamotrigine dose when co-administered with valproate; see lamotrigine package insert.
  • Phenobarbital: Valproate inhibited phenobarbital metabolism, with a 50% increase in half-life and 30% decrease in plasma clearance; evidence of severe CNS depression. Closely monitor patients on barbiturates for neurological toxicity, obtain serum barbiturate concentrations if possible, and decrease barbiturate dosage if appropriate.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Hepatic enzyme-inducing drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, rifampin) can increase valproate clearance, while enzyme inhibitors (e.g., felbamate) can decrease valproate clearance. Therefore increased monitoring of valproate and concomitant drug concentrations and dosage adjustment are indicated whenever enzyme-inducing or inhibiting drugs are introduced or withdrawn (7.1) Aspirin, carbapenem antibiotics, estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives: Monitoring of valproate concentrations is recommended (7.1) Co-administration of valproate can affect the pharmacokinetics of other drugs (e.g. diazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, phenytoin) by inhibiting their metabolism or protein binding displacement (7.2) Patients stabilized on rufinamide should begin valproate therapy at a low dose, and titrate to clinically effective dose (7.2) Dosage adjustment of amitriptyline/nortriptyline, propofol, warfarin, and zidovudine may be necessary if used concomitantly with valproic acid oral solution (7.2) Topiramate: Hyperammonemia and encephalopathy (5.10, 7.3) 7.1 Effects of Co-Administered Drugs on Valproate Clearance Drugs that affect the level of expression of hepatic enzymes, particularly those that elevate levels of glucuronosyltransferases (such as ritonavir), may increase the clearance of valproate. For example, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital (or primidone) can double the clearance of valproate. Thus, patients on monotherapy will generally have longer half-lives and higher concentrations than patients receiving polytherapy with antiepilepsy drugs. In contrast, drugs that are inhibitors of cytochrome P450 isozymes, e.g., antidepressants, may be expected to have little effect on valproate clearance because cytochrome P450 microsomal mediated oxidation is a relatively minor secondary metabolic pathway compared to glucuronidation and beta-oxidation.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿173 supplements and herbs with documented Valproic Acid interactions, ranked by severity Check Valproic Acid against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Valproic Acid

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  • Do not take valproic acid if you have liver disease or significant liver problems
  • Do not take valproic acid oral solution if you have a known mitochondrial disorder caused by POLG mutations, or if your child under 2 is suspected of having one
  • Do not take valproic acid if you have a urea cycle disorder (a genetic condition affecting how your body processes protein)
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are of childbearing age — effective contraception is required during treatment
  • Children under 2 years old are at high risk of serious liver damage; extreme caution and close monitoring are required in this group
  • Older adults may experience more sleepiness; dose increases should be slow, with monitoring of food and fluid intake
  • Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take — many drugs interact with valproic acid
  • Tell your doctor if you or a family member has ever had unexplained liver problems, encephalopathy, or symptoms suggesting a mitochondrial or metabolic disorder

Valproic Acid overdose

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Taking too much valproic acid can cause deep drowsiness, coma, heart rhythm problems (heart block), and dangerously high sodium levels in the blood — and has been fatal in some cases. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 or poison control immediately. Medical treatment can include supportive care and, in severe cases, dialysis to remove the drug from the body.

What Valproic Acid does in the body

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The level of valproate in the blood does not always predict how well it will work for a given person, partly because the drug binds tightly to blood proteins in a concentration-dependent way — meaning the proportion of active, unbound drug changes as levels rise. In epilepsy, blood levels of 50 to 100 mcg/mL are generally targeted, though some patients do well outside this range. Higher levels of unbound (active) drug tend to occur in older adults, people with liver or kidney disease, and those with high blood fat levels.

How your body processes Valproic Acid

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Valproic acid is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral dosing and broken down almost entirely by the liver. It has a half-life (the time for half the drug to leave the body) of roughly 9 to 16 hours when taken alone, though this can be shorter in people taking other enzyme-inducing seizure medicines. The drug binds heavily to blood proteins, and only a small fraction — about 10% — crosses into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Less than 3% is excreted from the body unchanged; most is processed by the liver and excreted in the urine.

How to store Valproic Acid

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Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

173

Supplements & herbs that interact with Valproic Acid

173 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Valproic Acid in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 9
  • Moderate · 147
  • Minor · 17
1,4-BUTANEDIOL Major ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major BEER Major GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB) Major KAVA Major L-TRYPTOPHAN Major LITHIUM Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major +165 more
Every supplement checked against Valproic Acid — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 9 major · 147 moderate · 17 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Valproic Acid against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

9

Nutrient depletion considerations

Valproic Acid has been associated with lower levels of 9 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

Evidence & significance mix
  • Higher significance · 3
  • Moderate · 5
  • Unrated · 1
INOSITOL Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN K Insignificant Depletion ZINC Insignificant Depletion ACETYL-L-CARNITINE Moderate Depletion FOLIC ACID Moderate Depletion L-CARNITINE Moderate Depletion NIACIN Moderate Depletion PROPIONYL-L-CARNITINE Moderate Depletion +1 more
See the full Valproic Acid nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Valproic Acid: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Valproic Acid — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What exactly is valproic acid used for?

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Valproic acid is an anti-seizure medicine. It's used to treat several types of epileptic seizures — including complex partial seizures and absence seizures — either on its own or alongside other seizure medicines. It comes as capsules or an oral solution. Your doctor will tell you which form is right for you and which seizure type it's being used to treat.

Can I take valproic acid if I'm pregnant or trying to get pregnant?

▾
This is one of the most important things to discuss with your doctor before starting. Valproic acid carries serious risks for babies exposed before birth — it can cause birth defects like spina bifida and can lower a child's IQ. It should only be used in pregnancy if other medicines haven't worked and your doctor decides the benefit outweighs the risk. If you're of childbearing age, you need to use effective contraception while on it, and talk with your doctor before making any changes.

What side effects are most common and what should I just watch for?

▾
The most common things people notice are nausea, stomach pain, shakiness (tremor), drowsiness, dizziness, and sometimes hair thinning. These are often manageable, and many improve over time. What you really need to act on quickly is anything that suggests liver trouble — like unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes — or severe stomach pain, which can signal pancreatitis. Also tell your doctor right away about any new or unusual changes in mood, or thoughts of self-harm.

Are there medicines or supplements I should avoid while on valproic acid?

▾
Yes — quite a few things interact with it. Some common seizure medicines like carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital can lower your valproic acid levels. Certain antibiotics (carbapenems like meropenem) can also drop your levels significantly. Aspirin can push levels up. And if you're taking topiramate at the same time, your risk of a dangerous ammonia build-up goes up. Always tell every doctor and pharmacist you see that you take valproic acid before they prescribe anything new.

Can I stop taking it if I feel better or if it's bothering me?

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Please don't stop suddenly without talking to your doctor first. Stopping valproic acid abruptly can trigger a dangerous, prolonged seizure called status epilepticus. If you're having side effects or having doubts about the medicine, call your doctor — they can help adjust your dose or safely transition you to something else if needed.

Is valproic acid safe for children?

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It can be used in children, but with important caveats. Children under 2 years old are at a much higher risk of serious liver damage, especially if they're on multiple seizure medicines or have other medical conditions. When it is used in very young children, it must be used with extreme caution, usually as the only seizure medicine, and with close monitoring. Children 10 and older can generally be treated in a similar way to adults. Always follow your child's specialist's guidance closely.

Is Valproic Acid available over the counter?

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No. Valproic Acid is a prescription medicine: every Valproic Acid product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Valproic Acid first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Valproic Acid is from 1978: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Valproic Acid was first used.

Who makes Valproic Acid?

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19 companies currently list Valproic Acid products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC, PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma, Remedyrepack Inc.. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Valproic Acid on HelloPharmacist

📊Valproic Acid supplement interactions173 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerValproic Acid vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Valproic Acid NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Valproic Acid Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Valproic Acid forms and strengths (how it comes)

Valproic Acid is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Oral solution

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Valproic Acid oral solution is used for monotherapy and add-on treatment of complex partial seizures in adults and children 10 years and older
  • Valproic Acid oral solution is used as sole or add-on therapy for simple and complex absence seizures
  • Valproic Acid oral solution is used as add-on therapy in patients with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures
Important instructions
  • Valproic Acid oral solution is taken by mouth every day as prescribed
  • If you miss a dose of Valproic Acid oral solution, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose — never take two doses at once
  • Valproic Acid oral solution is contraindicated in patients with known mitochondrial disorders caused by POLG mutations and in children under 2 suspected of having a mitochondrial disorder
  • Follow your prescriber's instructions carefully — your dose will be started low and adjusted over time
Available strengths 3 strengths
250 mg/5 mL 500 mg/10 mL 1 kg/kg
38 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Capsule

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Valproic and Valproic Acid capsules are used for monotherapy and add-on treatment of complex partial seizures in adults and children 10 years and older
  • Valproic and Valproic Acid capsules are used as sole or add-on therapy for simple and complex absence seizures
  • Valproic and Valproic Acid capsules are used as add-on therapy in patients who have multiple seizure types that include absence seizures
Important instructions
  • Valproic and Valproic Acid capsules should be swallowed whole — do not chew, as this can irritate the mouth and throat
  • Valproic and Valproic Acid capsules are taken by mouth every day as prescribed; do not skip doses
  • If you miss a dose of Valproic or Valproic Acid capsules, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose — never double up
  • Follow your prescriber's instructions for Valproic or Valproic Acid capsules; your dose will be started low and adjusted gradually
Available strengths 1 strength
250 mg
27 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Valproic Acid on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Valproic Acid appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

19 companies list 30 Valproic Acid product records with the FDA, mostly as oral solution, capsule; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1978. Brand names on the directory include Depakene, Depakote, Depakote ER and 1 more; the rest are generics.

2
Dose forms ⓘ
19
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
2
Brand names
30
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1978
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (4) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC10%
PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma10%
Remedyrepack Inc.10%
American Health Packaging7%
Bryant Ranch Prepack7%
Chartwell Governmental & Specialty RX, LLC.7%
Other makers50%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Valproic Acid is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Valproic Acid is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Valproic Acid is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

292,052
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$8.4M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Valproic Acid prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Valproic Acid ranks #331 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 79% of them.

Where Valproic Acid ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #331 of 1,601
#326 Ipratropium Oral Inhal... 298,032 Rx #327 Donepezil 295,048 Rx #328 Mirabegron 293,458 Rx #329 Mycophenolate 292,779 Rx #330 Mycophenolate Mofetil 292,779 Rx #331 Valproic Acid 292,052 Rx #332 Bumetanide 291,494 Rx #333 Sodium Bicarbonate 289,349 Rx #334 Midazolam Injection 286,843 Rx #335 Vilazodone 285,554 Rx #336 Ipratropium Nasal Spra... 285,523 Rx

Utilization by Valproic Acid product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

Other Valproic Acid products — combination packs and listings not yet matched to a specific clinical product (kept visible so every prescription is accounted for)

292,052 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 100% of Valproic Acid prescriptions shown $8.4M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $29 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 10 of 93 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity.

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Valproic Acid, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 10 of 93 listed Valproic Acid NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Valproic Acid products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Valproic Acid — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 30 of 30 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 30 Valproic Acid NDCs →

Valproic Acid recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Valproic Acid recalls since July 2021.

✅No Valproic Acid recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

💵 What Valproic Acid costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule, Liquid Filled · Oral 250 mg $0.243 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 250 mg $0.243 per capsule NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Valproic Acid brand names

Valproic Acid is sold under 4 brand names in the FDA directory — Depakene, Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakote Sprinkle. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Depakene Depakote Depakote ER Depakote Sprinkle

Who makes Valproic Acid: manufacturers and labelers

19 companies list Valproic Acid products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC, PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma, Remedyrepack Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Aphena Pharma Solutions - Tennessee, LLC 3 PAI Holdings, LLC dba PAI Pharma 3 Remedyrepack Inc. 3 American Health Packaging 2 Bryant Ranch Prepack 2 Chartwell Governmental & Specialty RX, LLC. 2 Chartwell RX, LLC 2 Major Pharmaceuticals 2 ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1 Atlantic Biologicals Corp. 1 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 1 Bionpharma Inc. 1 Direct_Rx 1 Kesin Pharma Corporation 1 NCS HealthCare of KY, LLC dba Vangard Labs 1 NorthStar Rx LLC 1 Quagen Pharmaceuticals Llc 1 Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC 1 Xttrium Laboratories Inc. 1

Valproic Acid drug class (RxNorm)

Valproic Acid belongs to the Mood Stabilizer class.

Pharmacologic class Mood Stabilizer, Anti-epileptic Agent
Drug family (ATC) Fatty acid derivatives

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Valproic Acid page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective May 22, 2020
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Valproic Acid.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Valproic Acid after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
29
Finished products in the current FDA directory
30
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
19
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
21
Linked representative label ⓘ
McKesson Corporation dba SKY Packaging
Linked label effective
May 22, 2020
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
82d29262-c72b-48d1-8471-5d582b3496ea
Linked SPL Document ID
6e5ca6ac-75ca-4a53-92ab-995dff1f6672
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗
NDC package records associated with this linked SPL 1

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. McKesson Corporation dba SKY Packaging is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →