FormWeb • valproic acid PO

IHS FormWeb

Approved Formulary

Search by class Show Therapeutic Classes

Staff Telephone Numbers

Add Formweb to your mobile device

Android iOS

Search results for:

valproic acid PO

valproic acid PO

Brand names: Depakene, Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakote Sprinkles, Divalproex Sodium

Form	Strength
CAPSULE, ORAL	250 mg
DELAYED RELEASE CAPSULE, ORAL	125 mg
DELAYED RELEASE TABLET, ORAL	125 mg; 250 mg
SYRUP, ORAL	250 mg/5 mL
TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE, ORAL	250 mg; 500 mg

Display Anticonvulsants, Miscellaneous, Antimanic Agents, Antimigraine Agents, Miscellaneous Class: 281292, 282800, 283292

Medication comments:

USP <800> Hazardous Drug Assessment of Risk (AOR)
Per policy, these drugs are exempt from USP <800> handling requirements under normal circumstances. The following outlines must be followed.
generic (Brand) Route [Packaging: Manufacturer ⇒ Dispense]	Activities
valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote) PO [UD ⇒ UD]	125 mg EC tablet (IDBH) 250 mg ER tablet (IDBH) 250 mg EC tablet (IDBH) 500 mg ER tablet 250 mg capsule 125 mg sprinkle 250 mg/5 mL cup	Stock @ IDBH? Y NIOSH Table 2^B↑
Pharmacy: Receiving / Storage / Preparation Exposure Risk: minimal	• Handling/preparation PPE Requirements: n/a
	• Receiving from Distributor: Standard
	• Pharmacy Storage Area: Carousel
	• Packaging/Reconstitution Location: n/a
	• Compounding (Non-Sterile/Sterile) Location: n/a
	• Omnicell Load: Yes
Transport	• Transport (dose is placed inside a plastic sealable bag): Standard
Nursing: Storage / Administration Exposure Risk: low	• Handling/administration PPE Requirements: via Mouth- Single pair of CX approved gloves via Tube- double CX gloves and gown Wash hands after handling
	• Storage of Finished dose in Nursing Area/Procedural Area: Omnicell
	• Signage on Patient Door Required: No
	• Manipulation of Dosage Form: Standard
	• Special Manipulation for Administration: n/a
Disposal / Spills	• Disposal of Drug Waste: Full- blue bin Trace/packaging- trash
	• Disposol of Used PPE: trash bin (inside plastic bag)
	• Spill management: n/a
NIOSH Supplemental Information: BBW for teratogenicity; congenital malformations, including neural tube defects; teratogenic in muliple species
Reason for exemption of USP<800> Containment Requirements: Purchased in final dosage form; packaged as unit dose. Does not require additional manipulation for dispensing.

Enteral Drug Administration notes.
Generic (Brand)	Comments and Considerations	Recommendations for Administration with Enteral Nutrition
valproic acid (Depacon, Depakote)	Administration with food may delay rate of absorption	Suggest administering same total daily dose, but use valproic acid solution dosed every 6-8 hours. Monitor levels.

2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria^® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults.
Medication:	valproic acid (Depacon, Stavzor)
Criteria 2: Potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults due to drug–disease or drug–syndrome interactions that may exacerbate the disease or syndrome. (Table 3)
Drug(s) ⇆ disease or syndrome	antiepileptics ⇄ History of falls or fractures
Rationale	May cause ataxia, impaired psychomotor function, syncope, or additional falls. If one of the drugs must be used, consider reducing the use of other CNS-active medications that increase the risk of falls and fractures. (i.e., anticholinergics, selected antidepressants, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, sedative/hypnotics including benzodiazepines and, Nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, opioids) and implement other strategies to reduce fall risk.
Recommendation	Avoid except for seizures and mood disorders.
Quality of evidence: High, Strength of Recommendation: Strong

Criteria 4: Potentially clinically important drug-drug interactions that should be avoided in older adults. (Table 5)
Interacting drug(s) or class(es)	antiepileptics (including gabapentinoids) ⇄ CNS-active agents
Risk Rationale	Increased risk of falls and of fracture with the concurrent use of ≥3 CNS-active agents (antiepileptics including gabapentinoids, antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, Nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, opioids, and skeletal muscle relaxants).
Recommendation	Avoid concurrent use of ≥3 CNS-active drugs Click for list; minimize the number of CNS-active drugs.
Quality of evidence: High, Strength of Recommendation: Strong

Pediatric Pharmacy Association 2025 KIDs List of Key Potentially Inappropriate Drugs in Pediatrics
Medication:	divalproex (Depakote)
Key Potentially Inappropriate Drugs in Pediatrics (KIDs) List: Second Edition (Table 1)
Drug	valproic acid and derivatives
Risk/Rationale	Pancreatitis, fatal hepatotoxicity
Recommendation	Avoid in younger than 2 yr Caution in 2-6 yr
Quality of evidence: High, Strength of Recommendation: Strong

Last updated: Sep. 25, 2025

Hazard.Drug Handling(USP 800) USP<800> Hazardous Drug / Assessment of Risk
Black Box Warnings Risk to children exposed in utero

UpToDate Lexidrug

Pharmacy Contact Info:

Main Inpatient Pharmacy: ext 4599, 3503
Fax: 704-878-7283

Director of Pharmacy - Randi Raynor, PharmD: ext 4501
Clinical Coordinator - Laura Rollings, PharmD: ext 4597
Pharmacy Informaticist - Stephen Pringle, PharmD: ext 7645
Pharmacy Technician Supervisor - Amy Wingler, CPhT: ext 7385
Pharmacy Automation Coordinator (Omnicell) - Melissa Fulford, CPhT: ext 3556

This site is intended for the staff of Iredell Health System. While others may view accessible pages, Iredell Health System makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the use of this information outside of Iredell Health System. The content of this policy and procedure document serves as guidance to the delivery of quality patient care. Care providers are expected to exercise critical thinking and situational awareness skills, and in specific situations to take such action as is necessary for the delivery of quality patient care.