Valparin
Valparin is a valproic acid tablet for epileptic seizures, mania in bipolar disorder and migraine prevention, available in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg strengths.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 30 tablets | $115.20 | $3.84 |
| 250mg | 60 tablets | $192.00 | $3.20 |
| 250mg | 90 tablets | $275.40 | $3.06 |
| 500mg | 30 tablets | $192.00 | $6.40 |
| 500mg | 60 tablets | $345.00 | $5.75 |
| 750mg | 30 tablets | $307.20 | $10.24 |
- Category
- Neurology
- Active ingredient
- Valproic Acid
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet, Syrup
- Strengths
- 250/500/750mg
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Epilepsy · Bipolar disorder
- Therapeutic Class
- Anticonvulsant
- Pharmacological Class
- Fatty acid derivative
- Minor Side Effects
- Drowsiness, Tremor
- Moderate Side Effects
- Weight gain, Nausea
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet, Syrup
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Manufacturer
- Sanofi
- Onset Time
- 1–2 hours
- Duration
- 12–24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store in a dry cool place.
- Drug Interactions
- Phenobarbital, Phenytoin
- Age Restrictions
- Use with caution in children.
FAQ
Which Valparin strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Valparin comes as 250mg tablets in packs of 30, 60 or 90; 500mg tablets in packs of 30 or 60; and 750mg tablets in packs of 30. Each page shows the price per tablet in Hong Kong dollars, and where offered.
Is Valparin sent discreetly to Hong Kong?
Valparin orders to Hong Kong ship in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. Tracked courier takes 5 to 9 business days and includes online tracking; standard airmail takes 14 to 21 business days and is untracked.
What other names is valproic acid sold under?
Valparin is a branded generic of valproic acid, the ingredient in Depakene. Valproic acid is also sold as Epilim. Here, valproic acid can be bought online as Valparin, and also as valproic acid capsules. These are generics, not the original brand.
What is the difference between Valparin and the Valproic Acid capsules?
They contain the same medicine, valproic acid, in the same three strengths. Valparin is made as tablets and the other option as capsules, so the only real difference is the form you swallow. Strength for strength, there is nothing else separating them.
Can Valparin stop a migraine that has already started?
No. Valproate is taken daily to make migraine attacks less frequent; it does not ease a headache that has already begun. Stopping an attack in progress calls for a different kind of medicine, such as a painkiller taken at the first sign.
Does Valparin cause weight gain?
It can. Weight gain is one of the effects that shows up with longer-term valproate use, along with a fine tremor and thinning hair, and appetite often increases as well. These tend to appear gradually over months rather than in the first few days.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Valparin?
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness, dizziness and poor coordination valproate already causes, and regular heavy drinking puts extra strain on a liver the medicine can itself affect. One drink with a meal is far less of a worry than several, but expect to feel sleepier than usual.
Can I stop Valparin suddenly?
Abrupt stopping is one of the quickest ways to bring seizures back, sometimes within days. That is why the amount is lowered gradually over time rather than cut off. A single late tablet is a different matter from deliberately dropping the treatment.
About Valparin
What Valparin is used for
Valparin tablets contain valproic acid, also called valproate, an anticonvulsant. It is used to control certain types of epileptic seizure, to settle the manic episodes that come with bipolar disorder, and to make migraine attacks happen less often. In the brain it raises the amount of GABA, a chemical messenger that quiets nerve signals, and it steadies the way nerve cells handle sodium and calcium, so there are fewer sudden surges of electrical activity.
Taking the tablets
Valparin goes down best with a meal or a snack, which spares the stomach, and the tablets are swallowed whole. A day's amount is commonly divided into two doses taken at similar times, so the level in the blood stays even. Stopping all at once can bring seizures back within days, so the dose is wound down in steps. Tablets keep best in their original pack, out of direct sunlight.
Side effects
Feeling sick, stomach ache, loose stools, drowsiness, dizziness, a fine shake in the hands and headaches are what people notice first, and most of these ease within a few weeks. Weight gain and thinning hair build up over months rather than days.
Liver damage is uncommon but serious, and the risk is highest during the first six months. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes), dark urine, pain below the ribs on the right, going off food, heavy tiredness or a puffy face need urgent help. Ongoing stomach pain that spreads to the back with vomiting points to the pancreas, and easy bruising or nosebleeds can mean a fall in platelets. Valproate can also harm a baby in the womb, so it is not used in pregnancy.
Valparin or the Valproic Acid capsules?
Valparin and the Valproic Acid capsules contain the same medicine in the same three strengths. The difference is the form: one is a tablet, the other a capsule. Your choice comes down to which you would rather swallow.
Alcohol and other medicines
Alcohol adds to the sleepiness, dizziness and unsteadiness valproate can cause, and heavy drinking increases the load on the liver. Carbapenem antibiotics such as meropenem can push valproate levels down far enough for seizures to break through, and taking lamotrigine alongside valproate raises the chance of a skin rash. Sleeping tablets and similar sedatives deepen the drowsiness.
Sources
- Valproic Acid: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Epilepsy - NHS — NHS