Valproate Sodium Injection shortage
Valproate sodium injections are on the FDA’s drug shortage list as of Oct 6, 2026. 1 other company sells the same medicine and has not reported a problem, so your pharmacy may be able to order another company’s version.
Valproate sodium injection has been on the FDA shortage list for over a year, but both strengths — 500 mg/5 mL and 100 mg/mL — still have available supply. The same medicine is also listed by makers not reporting a shortage, including Hikma and Sagent Pharmaceuticals.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — ask your pharmacist about other companies’ versions (see options) and your prescriber about a long-term plan.
Do you take this medicine? See the ‘What to do’ note from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →Is valproate sodium still in shortage? — status as of Oct 6, 2026
Yes, still current as of Oct 6, 2026. Every strength is still made by at least one company. 2 of the 2 companies that reported this shortage say they still have some supply, and 1 other company sells the same medicine and has not reported a problem. Your pharmacy may still need to order it or offer another company’s version.
The charts count only the companies that reported this shortage to the FDA; companies that haven’t reported a problem are in the green card, and the Supply-Risk rating counts them too.
Shortage timeline
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Sep 18, 2026Currently in shortage2 of 2 products affected.
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Sep 15, 2026FDA refreshed this shortage record1 product updated.
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Dec 30, 2020First reported to the FDA2 products first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
Which valproate sodium products are affected — by company
Company: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC 📞 888-386-1300 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Valproate Sodium Injection, 100 mg/mL | 100 mg/mL | Available | Checkwholesalers for inventory | — |
Company: Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 📞 800-631-2174 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Valproate Sodium Injection, 500 mg/5 mL | 500 mg/5 mL | Available | Additional lots will be available. Product will be made available as it is released. | — |
These rows are company reports to the FDA for Valproate Sodium Injection — they do not cover every company that lists this medicine. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other companies may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get valproate sodium? options further down this page.
Why is valproate sodium in shortage?
I want to be upfront with you — the FDA has not shared a specific reason why Valproate Sodium Injection is on the shortage list. Neither Hikma Pharmaceuticals nor Fresenius Kabi provided a public explanation for why the shortage occurred in the first place.
What I can tell you is where things stand right now: Hikma's 500 mg/5 mL vials are available, and they've noted that additional lots will continue to be released as they're ready. Fresenius Kabi's 100 mg/1 mL vials are also listed as available, and they're pointing people to check with wholesalers for current inventory. So while this product is on the shortage list, both of these manufacturers are reporting that supply is coming through.
Based on the company-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Valproate Sodium Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as companies report changes.
What should I do if I take valproate sodium?
Valproate Sodium Injection is currently on the FDA shortage list, but the outlook here is reassuring. Both strengths of this medicine still have a reported source, and none are without supply at this time.
To be specific: both the 500 mg/5 mL and the 100 mg/1 mL strengths still have an available source. The 500 mg/5 mL is reported as available, with additional lots being released over time. The 100 mg/1 mL is also available, and pharmacies are advised to check wholesalers for inventory.
Two of the two manufacturers on this record are still reporting supply, so this shortage is rated low risk even though it has lasted over a year. That usually means stock can be tight in spots rather than absent.
Here is what I would suggest:
- Do not stop, skip, or change your dose on your own.
- Since your strength still has supply, ask your pharmacy to order it — they can check wholesalers and other manufacturers.
- The same medicine (100 mg/mL) is also listed from other makers, so your pharmacy may be able to source one, though it may not be in local stock right away.
- If your exact strength cannot be found, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about options.
Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle those calls.
This is general, national information and may not match your local pharmacy's stock.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other companies’ versions, other strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores — the options below are a starting point.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), arrange continued supply before you run out rather than rationing doses.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get valproate sodium?
FDA shortages are company-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every company that lists valproate sodium injections is necessarily short. Below are the other listings in the current FDA NDC Directory that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from companies that haven’t reported a problem (the reporting companies are excluded), and other dosage forms. Some listings are repackagers, which relabel another company’s product. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine from other companies (not reporting a shortage)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from companies that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Company | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valproate Sodium | VALPROATE SODIUM 100 mg/mL | Injection, Solution · Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0797-05 |
Other dosage forms of valproate sodium
A different form of the same drug (for example a solution when capsules are short). A form change is a clinical decision — ask your prescriber:
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 5 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valproate Sodium 100 mg/mL | Hikma | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Valproate Sodium 500 mg/5mL | Hikma | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Valproate Sodium 100 mg/mL | Sagent | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Valproate Sodium 100 mg/mL | Fresenius | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Valproate Sodium 100 mg/mL | Fresenius | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of valproate sodium — that fall in the same broad treatment class (anticonvulsants) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Codes & classification for pharmacists and billers
Where does this data come from?
Other neurology shortages
Valproate sodium shortage FAQs
Is valproate sodium still in shortage?
Which strengths of valproate sodium are affected?
Which valproate sodium products are affected?
When will valproate sodium be available again?
Can I still get valproate sodium somewhere?
What should I do if I take valproate sodium?
Still have a question about the valproate sodium shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Valproate Sodium Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (companies listing the same ingredient & form — the "other companies" the rating counts); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.