Sodium valproate Q&A
Bipolar UK asks Professor Stephen Bazire, Honorary Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, to help clear up the confusion about bipolar and sodium valproate.
What is sodium valproate?
Valproate is a salt that is used as a treatment for epilepsy to help control or prevent fits (seizures or blackouts, and to help stabilise mood, especially mania or hypomania.
There are three types of valproate:
- Sodium valproate
- Valproic acid
- Semisodium valproate
The therapeutic effect is the same regardless of the salt type.
What bipolar symptoms does sodium valproate treat?
Valproate seems to be effective in both bipolar type 1 and bipolar type 2 for treating manic and hypomanic symptoms. It is not usually much help for bipolar depression, but it does work differently for different people.
Who can be prescribed sodium valproate?
At the moment, in the UK, anyone with epilepsy or bipolar can, at least theoretically, be prescribed valproate but there are significant restrictions for prescribing.
What are the regulations for prescribing sodium valproate?
It has been known since the 1990s that valproate has a risk of harming unborn babies. In 2019, the UK imposed a ban on prescribing valproate for any female under the age of 55, unless there were very specific reasons for doing so.
In 2024, new guidelines were also released about men under the age of 55 taking valproate.
What should I do if I’m worried about valproate?
Speak to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about taking valproate.
And you can find more information here
