Depakote Dosages for Adults and Children: Your GoodRx Guide

Depakote (divalproex) is a common antiepileptic medication. It’s used to treat different types of seizures in adults and children. You can also take it for migraine prevention and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. While Depakote is very similar to Depakene (valproic acid), it’s not exactly the same thing.

There are several different forms of Depakote available — extended-release (ER) tablets, delayed-release (DR) tablets, and sprinkle capsules. The typical Depakote dosage can be different depending on what you’re treating and which form you take.

Below, we cover the most common recommended Depakote dosages. That said, everyone is unique. Your healthcare provider may recommend a different dose for you. Don’t hesitate to ask your care team if you have any questions about your Depakote dose.

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Depakote dosage forms

As mentioned above, Depakote comes in several different dosage forms, each with their specific uses and ways to take them. You can take any Depakote product with or without food, but taking it with food may help with stomach-related side effects.

• Depakote DR tablets: Available as 125 mg, 250 mg, and 500 mg tablets. You’ll typically take your total daily dose as several smaller doses throughout the day. Take Depakote DR tablets whole — don’t break, chew, or crush them. Otherwise, medication will be released too quickly in your body.

• Depakote ER tablets: Available as 250 mg and 500 mg tablets that should be taken once a day. Like Depakote DR, it’s designed to be swallowed as a whole tablet. Both formulations have the same effectiveness, but Depakote ER may be more convenient for some people.

• Depakote Sprinkle capsules: Can be a good option for certain people who have difficulty swallowing Depakote tablets whole. They can be swallowed whole, or you can open them and sprinkle their contents onto soft food, such as applesauce or pudding. This mixture should be swallowed immediately without chewing.

What’s the typical Depakote dosage for adults?

Depakote DR and ER are both approved for manic episodes, migraines, and certain types of seizures. Depakote Sprinkle capsules are only approved for seizures. Typical dosages by use and product are described below.

Manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder

If you take Depakote ER, the recommended starting dose for manic episodes is 25 mg/kg of body weight taken once daily. For Depakote DR, the starting dose is usually 750 mg divided into smaller doses throughout the day. Based on how you respond to treatment, your healthcare provider may recommend increasing your dose to up to 60 mg/kg daily (maximum daily dose).

Seizures

All forms of Depakote are approved to treat complex partial seizures and absence seizures in adults. Depakote may be prescribed on its own or added onto other medications. If you have multiple seizure types that include absence seizures, Depakote is typically added on.

No matter the Depakote form you’re taking for seizures, the recommended dosage is the same and is calculated based on your body weight:

• Complex partial seizures: The starting Depakote dosage is between 10 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg of body weight per day. 

• Absence seizures: The starting Depakote dosage is 15 mg/kg of body weight per day.

If needed, your healthcare provider may increase your dose on weekly intervals up to the maximum recommended dosage (60 mg/kg per day). During this time, they may also check your blood levels to see if they are within an effective range.

Migraine prevention

For migraine prevention, the typical Depakote DR dosage is 250 mg twice daily. If needed, your dosage may be increased up to 1,000 mg per day. For Depakote ER, the starting dosage is 500 mg daily for 1 week. After that, your dosage may be increased up to 1,000 mg per day.

What’s the typical Depakote dosage for children?

Depakote DR, Depakote ER, and Depakote Sprinkles are approved to treat complex partial seizures and absence seizures in children ages 10 to 17 years old. The typical Depakote dosage is based on your child’s body weight and calculated the same way as adults.

The typical starting Depakote dosage for seizures in children is between 10 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg of body weight per day, depending on the type of seizures they have. If needed, the dosage may be increased up to the maximum dosage, 60 mg/kg per day.

Are there any dosage adjustments for drug interactions?

Depakote is known to have many drug interactions, including certain medications you may be taking with it for seizures. In many cases, their dosage may need to be adjusted if you’re taking them with Depakote. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and ethosuximide (Zarontin) are a few examples.

With some interacting medications, adjustments may depend on which medication you’re taking first. For example, if you’re adding Depakote to rufinamide (Banzel), you may need to start with a lower Depakote dose. But if you’re adding rufinamide to Depakote, you may need to start with a lower rufinamide dose.

What happens if you miss a dose of Depakote?

It’s important to take Depakote every day as directed. But if you realize that you missed your Depakote dose one day, don’t worry. It’s OK to take it as soon as you remember. 

But if it’s close to the time of your next dose, skip your missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Don’t double your dose to make up for the one you missed. Doing this can increase your risk of experiencing side effects.

Keep in mind: Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for what to do if you miss your Depakote dose. You can always double check with them if you’re not sure.

What should you do if you take too much Depakote?

Taking Depakote as prescribed is one of the best ways to limit your risk of serious side effects. But if you think that you or your child may have taken too much, contact Poison Control at 800-222-1222 or your healthcare provider for guidance.

If you’ve taken too much Depakote, you may experience drowsiness. Depakote can also start affecting your electrolyte levels and liver. Severe symptoms include low blood pressure, a fast heartbeat, and slowed breathing. If these symptoms develop, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.

How to save on Depakote

There are ways to save on Depakote, which is available as lower-cost generics. With GoodRx discounts, you could save over 70% off the average retail price of your prescription.

At certain pharmacies, the GoodRx price is as low as $17.40 for generic Depakote DR tablets and as low as $20.26 for generic Depakote ER tablets. The price of generic Depakote Sprinkle capsules is as low as $35.57.

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Written by:

Sandy P. Bonfin, PharmD, BCPS

Sandy Bonfin has 9 years of experience as a pharmacist and has been working as a clinical pharmacist in a hospital in Florida for the past 7 years after a short stint as a mail-order retail pharmacist. Sandy has worked in pediatric medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and intensive care.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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