Valproic Acid
Valproic Acid capsules in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg strengths — an anticonvulsant used to reduce seizures in epilepsy and to treat mania in bipolar disorder.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250mg | 30 capsules | $115.20 | $3.84 |
| 250mg | 60 capsules | $192.00 | $3.20 |
| 250mg | 90 capsules | $275.40 | $3.06 |
| 500mg | 30 capsules | $192.00 | $6.40 |
| 500mg | 60 capsules | $345.00 | $5.75 |
| 750mg | 30 capsules | $307.20 | $10.24 |
- Category
- Neurology
- Active ingredient
- Valproic Acid
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule, Syrup
- Strengths
- 250/500/750mg
You will receive a quality generic, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Therapeutic Class
- Anticonvulsant
- Pharmacological Class
- GABA inhibitor
- Minor Side Effects
- Drowsiness, Tremor
- Moderate Side Effects
- Nausea, Weight changes
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule, Syrup
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Hong Kong Standard Generic
- Onset Time
- Days to weeks for mood stabilized
- Duration
- Daily
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Phenobarbital, Phenytoin
What you will receive
Valproic Acid is a generic medicine sold under the name of its active ingredient, Valproic Acid.
- The manufacturer depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
- It contains the same active ingredient, at the same strength, as the brand-name versions.
FAQ
Which Valproic Acid strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Valproic Acid comes as 250mg, 500mg and 750mg capsules. Packs range from 30 to 90 capsules, depending on strength.
How is Valproic Acid delivered to Hong Kong?
Valproic Acid can be sent by tracked courier in 5 to 9 business days with tracking, or by standard airmail in 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, without tracking. Every order uses plain, unbranded packaging.
What are the other names for valproic acid?
Brand names for valproic acid include Depakene and Epilim. Valproic acid capsules are a pure generic valproic acid product and are not any of those brands. Here, valproic acid can also be bought online as Valparin.
How long does valproic acid take to start working?
Valproic acid is started at a low dose and increased in steps, so the level in the body builds over a few weeks rather than days. Blood tests are used to check that level. Seizure control often improves early, but settling on the right dose can take longer.
Can I drink alcohol with valproic acid?
Alcohol increases the drowsiness, dizziness and slow reactions valproic acid can cause, and heavy drinking puts extra strain on the liver, the organ this medicine already affects. A single drink with a meal is unlikely to cause trouble; a heavy night can.
Does valproic acid cause hair loss?
Thinning hair is a known effect of valproic acid and usually shows up after a few months of treatment. It is more common at higher doses. Weight gain and a fine tremor in the hands are the other slow changes people tend to notice over time.
Can I open or crush valproic acid capsules?
Swallow them whole with water rather than chewing or crushing them — the dose is meant to be released at a steady pace, and opening the capsule lets it out at once, which is harder on the stomach. A syrup form of valproic acid exists for people who find capsules difficult.
Is Valproic Acid the same as Valparin?
Yes — Valparin and the capsules sold here both contain valproic acid; the brand name differs. Valparin is a tablet, so the difference you would notice day to day is the form rather than the medicine inside.
About Valproic Acid
What Valproic Acid capsules are used for
Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant. It cuts the number of seizures in epilepsy and treats mania — the racing, over-excited mood of a bipolar episode. It also helps prevent migraine attacks, though it will not shift a headache that has already started. The capsules sold here come in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg strengths.
A medicine that works by building up
Nothing about valproic acid is quick. It starts at a low dose, climbs over a few weeks and is checked by blood test, and the capsules go in at the same times every day so the level in the blood stays even. The reason is GABA: the medicine raises this calming chemical in the brain, which makes a seizure or a manic swing less likely to take hold. It holds the conditions steady and does not cure them.
Fitting the capsules around meals
Most people take their capsules two or more times a day, and a meal or snack with each dose is the simplest way to head off the stomach upset they can cause. One with breakfast and one with the evening meal is a common pattern; the same times each day matter more than the exact hour. Swallow each capsule whole with water — chewing or splitting it releases the dose too fast and irritates the stomach.
Side effects worth knowing about
Nausea, stomach cramps, loose stools, drowsiness, shaky hands and appetite changes are the usual early complaints, and they often ease within a few weeks. Weight gain and thinning hair build up more slowly. The two serious risks are liver damage, which is rare but most likely in the first six months — yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or unusual tiredness and weakness — and pancreatitis, where pain starts in the stomach and spreads through to the back, with vomiting and loss of appetite; that needs urgent treatment. Unusual bruising or bleeding can point to a fall in platelets. Valproic acid can also harm an unborn baby, so it is not used in pregnancy. Alcohol deepens the drowsiness, as do other brain-calming medicines.
Capsules here, tablets as Valparin
Valparin is a valproic acid tablet in the same three strengths. The capsules on this page are the other form, so the real decision is whether you would rather swallow a tablet or a capsule.
Sources
- Valproic Acid: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Epilepsy - NHS — NHS