Depakote (valproic acid): online prescription management for bipolar disorder
Psychiatry appointments online, from anywhere. Our licensed psychiatric clinicians diagnose and treat bipolar disorder. Get medications like Depakote at your local pharmacy, if prescribed.
What is Depakote?
Depakote (or valproic acid) is an anticonvulsant medication. It treats seizures and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It’s commonly prescribed if a patient occasionally experiences fleeting cycles of moods and helps by easing brain hyperactivity that can occur during episodes of mania.
What is Depakote used for?
Depakote (and its generic version, valproic acid) can be prescribed to treat a number of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder. Some conditions Depakote treats include:
How Talkspace psychiatry works
Complete a brief assessment
Answer a few questions and we’ll match you with an online prescriber who meets your needs
Schedule your initial session
Once matched, schedule your live video psychiatry session.
Begin your treatment
Your online psychiatry prescriber will personalize your treatment, which may include medication and follow-ups.
Connect with a licensed prescriber
Get specialized psychiatric treatment from a licensed prescriber — all from the comfort of your home.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
To get help through Talkspace Psychiatry, you’ll first need to complete a brief assessment. We’ll then match you with a psychiatric clinician where you’ll share your symptoms over a live video session. From there, they’ll prescribe a treatment plan—should your plan include a prescription (such as Depakote), you can pick it up at a pharmacy near you.
Depending on prescribed instructions from your doctor, Depakote (valproic acid) can be taken in different forms, dosages, and frequency. All will depend on your diagnosed mental health condition and the treatment plan prescribed by your provider.
It’s important to take Depakote and its generic form, valproic acid, exactly as prescribed by your clinician. Side effects of Depakote are often mild, but can include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, weight changes, constipation, mood swings, and more. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience bruising or bleeding, fever, rash, hives, swollen glands, trouble breathing, swelling, confusion, peeling or blistering skin, vomiting, and low body temperature.
Depakote is an oral medication used (alone or with other medications) to treat epilepsy and other various types of seizure disorders. It can also be prescribed to treat migraine and manic episodes occurring in someone who has bipolar disorder.
Depakote can have a calming effect in some cases. It calms brain hyperactivity that’s commonly experienced with mania and can result in drowsiness.
Today, Depakote is sometimes used to treat anxiety and panic attacks in addition to epilepsy and some other psychiatric conditions. When used for anxiety, Depakote calms hyperactivity in the brain, effectively combating anxiety symptoms and reducing feelings of panic.
Depakote is not in the class of drugs known as antipsychotics. It’s an anticonvulsant that was originally used to treat epilepsy.
There are several different medications your psychiatrist may prescribe for bipolar disorder.
Other medications for bipolar disorder include:
- Topamax (Topiramate)
- Lamictal (Lamotrigine)
- Abilify (Aripiprazole)