Sodium Valproate Coupons & Prices

Looking for a sodium valproate coupon? Sodium valproate (valproate sodium, closely related to valproic acid and divalproex sodium) is available as a generic, but the price still isn't the same at every pharmacy. Rx.com compares prices for sodium valproate across more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies, so instead of guessing, enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you.

What Is Sodium Valproate?

Sodium valproate (valproate sodium) is an anticonvulsant, also called an antiepileptic, that is also used as a mood stabilizer. It's the active ingredient in the injectable brand Depacon and is closely related to valproic acid (the brand Depakene) and divalproex sodium (the brand Depakote/Depakote ER), which the body converts into valproic acid; all three are grouped together as "valproate" medications and work the same way once in the bloodstream.

Valproate products are FDA-approved for monotherapy and adjunctive (add-on) treatment of complex partial seizures and simple or complex absence seizures, for adjunctive treatment in people with multiple seizure types including absence seizures, for treating manic episodes of bipolar disorder, and for preventing migraine headaches. Doctors also sometimes prescribe it off-label, such as an IV form for status epilepticus (a seizure emergency) or, less commonly, for agitation in dementia or for ADHD in children — these are off-label uses your doctor would need to explain and are not the drug's main, FDA-approved purpose.

Sodium Valproate Cost and Coupons

Sodium valproate is available as a generic, and it does not have a manufacturer savings card the way many brand-name drugs do — those cards are typically only offered on brand products. That doesn't mean the price is the same everywhere, though. Generic drug prices can vary significantly from one pharmacy to the next, sometimes even between two pharmacies in the same neighborhood, so it's worth comparing before you fill.

Rx.com checks pricing at over 60,000 pharmacies nationwide, including major chains and independent pharmacies, so you can see where your specific prescription (strength, quantity, and pharmacy) is priced lowest. Enter your ZIP code and prescription details above to compare current prices near you.

Sodium Valproate vs. Valproic Acid vs. Divalproex Sodium (Depakote)

Patients are often confused about the difference between sodium valproate, valproic acid, and divalproex sodium because a pharmacist may fill any of the three depending on what your doctor prescribed. Sodium valproate is the sodium salt form (used in the IV brand Depacon); valproic acid is the free-acid form (the brand Depakene); and divalproex sodium (Depakote/Depakote ER) is a compound that combines valproic acid and sodium valproate in a 1:1 ratio and breaks down into valproic acid in the digestive tract. Because the forms aren't interchangeable milligram-for-milligram, your doctor and pharmacist choose the specific product and dose — don't switch between them without medical guidance.

If you and your doctor are weighing other seizure or bipolar medication options, related anticonvulsants include lamotrigine, levetiracetam, carbamazepine, and topiramate. Each has its own uses, dosing, and side-effect profile, so a switch should always be discussed with your prescriber.

Sodium Valproate Safety Information

Sodium valproate carries boxed warnings, the FDA's strongest safety warning, for three serious risks. First, hepatotoxicity: it can cause liver failure that has been fatal, with the highest risk in the first six months of treatment and in children under age 2; it should not be used in people with known mitochondrial disorders such as Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome (POLG mutations). Second, fetal risk: valproate can cause neural tube defects and other major birth defects, and children exposed in the womb have shown decreased IQ and neurodevelopmental problems — it should not be used for migraine prevention during pregnancy, and in epilepsy or bipolar disorder it should only be used in pregnancy if no other treatment works for you. Third, pancreatitis: this can be fatal and can occur at any point during treatment, not just early on.

Valproate also carries a warning shared across anticonvulsant medications about a small increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior, and it should not be used by anyone with a known urea cycle disorder. Watch for and report symptoms like unusual bleeding, severe abdominal pain, yellowing skin or eyes, or unusual fatigue to your doctor right away. This is general information, not medical advice — talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether sodium valproate is right for you.