There are 2 distinct mood episodes: a bipolar manic episode and a bipolar depressive episode. Below are some of the common signs, symptoms, and behaviors.1
Bipolar disorder can look different in everyone. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people may alternate between extreme episodes of mania and depression.4 Antiepileptic drugs, including Depakote may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you.
See Additional Resources and Links for more sources of information and support.
Talk to your doctor about your periodic shifts in mood from high to low. Your doctor knows you and your medical history and can safely guide you toward making informed decisions about possible treatment.
Available to patients with commercial prescription insurance coverage for Depakote who meet eligibility criteria. Copay assistance program is not available to patients receiving prescription reimbursement under any federal, state, or government-funded insurance programs (for example, Medicare [including Part D], Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Medicaid, TRICARE, Department of Defense, or Veterans Affairs programs) or where prohibited by law or by the patient’s health insurance provider. If at any time a patient begins receiving prescription drug coverage under any such federal, state, or government-funded healthcare program, patient will no longer be able to use the Depakote Savings Card and patient must call OPUS Health at 800.364.4767 to stop participation. Patients residing in or receiving treatment in certain states may not be eligible. Patients may not seek reimbursement for value received from the Depakote Savings Card from any third-party payers. Offer subject to change or discontinuance without notice. Restrictions, including monthly maximums, may apply. This is not health insurance. Please see full Terms and Conditions.
Pharmacist Instructions
DEPAKOTE comes in different dosage forms for oral use. DEPAKOTE® (divalproex sodium) delayed-release tablets and DEPAKOTE® ER (divalproex sodium) extended-release tablets are prescription medicines used:
DEPAKOTE ER and DEPAKOTE are also used to prevent migraine headaches.
DEPAKOTE ER is also used to treat acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder with or without psychotic features.
DEPAKOTE is also used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
The most important information about DEPAKOTE is:
Do not stop taking DEPAKOTE without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping DEPAKOTE suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
DEPAKOTE can cause serious side effects, including:
Do not take DEPAKOTE if you:
Before taking DEPAKOTE, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
DEPAKOTE may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how DEPAKOTE works. Using DEPAKOTE with other medicines can cause serious side effects. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.
DEPAKOTE can cause other serious side effects, including:
Common side effects of DEPAKOTE include: headache, weakness, sleepiness, dizziness, tremors, difficulty walking or problems with coordination, ringing in your ears, blurred vision, double vision, unusual eye movement, hair loss (alopecia), swelling of your arms or legs, loss of appetite, weight loss, increased appetite, weight gain, nausea/vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, bronchitis, flu-like symptoms, and infection.
Please see the full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for additional information about DEPAKOTE. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help. Visit Abbvie.com/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.
If you have any questions about AbbVie's Depakote.com website that have not been answered, click here. This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by US residents only, is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to replace a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient.
DEPAKOTE comes in different dosage forms for oral use. DEPAKOTE® (divalproex sodium) delayed-release tablets and DEPAKOTE® ER (divalproex sodium) extended-release tablets are prescription medicines used:
DEPAKOTE ER and DEPAKOTE are also used to prevent migraine headaches.
DEPAKOTE ER is also used to treat acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder with or without psychotic features.
DEPAKOTE is also used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
The most important information about DEPAKOTE is:
Do not stop taking DEPAKOTE without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping DEPAKOTE suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
DEPAKOTE can cause serious side effects, including:
You are leaving the AbbVie website and connecting to a site that is not under the control of AbbVie. AbbVie is not responsible for the contents of any such site or any further links from such site. AbbVie is providing these links to you only as a convenience and the inclusion of any link does not imply the endorsement of the linked site by AbbVie. You should also be aware that the linked site may be governed by its own set of terms and conditions and privacy policy for which AbbVie has no responsibility.
Conversely, the presence of this link does not imply the linked site’s endorsement of Depakote.com or AbbVie.
Do you wish to leave this site?
US-DPKT-230009
You are about to enter a site that is for U.S. Healthcare Professionals only. By selecting "Yes" below, you certify that you are a Healthcare Professional and that you wish to proceed to the Healthcare Professionals Only section of this site. Products or treatments described on this site are available in the U.S. but may not be available in all other countries.
I am a licensed Healthcare Professional and wish to proceed to the Healthcare Professionals Only section of this site.
US-DPKT-230009
You are leaving the AbbVie website and connecting to the Track It! application on iTunes. This application is not a substitute for seizure safety. Please talk to your doctor for more information on seizure first aid. The Track It! application is not owned by or under the control of AbbVie. AbbVie is not responsible for the contents of any such site or any further links from such site. AbbVie is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply the endorsement of the linked site by AbbVie. You should also be aware that the linked site may be governed by its own set of terms and conditions and privacy policy for which AbbVie has no responsibility.
Conversely, the presence of this link does not imply the linked site’s endorsement of Depakote.com or AbbVie.
Do you wish to leave this site?
US-DPKT-230009
The DEPAKOTE Savings Card is not available to individuals who are paying cash for their prescription or who are receiving prescription reimbursement under a state or federally funded insurance program.
This rebate form is not available to individuals who are paying cash for their prescription or who are receiving prescription reimbursement under a state or federally funded insurance program.
US-DPKT-230009