Tell me about Valproic acid

Valproic acid (Depakote, Convulex, Syonell, Belvo)

Valproic acid is an anti-seizure medication used as a mood stabiliser in the treatment of bipolar disorder and it has several brand names in the UK: Depakote, Convulex, Syonell and Belvo. Information relating to its use, dosage and side effects can be found on the website of the National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) - British National Formulary (BNF)

Latest

Bipolar: Surviving the Crash

Polly Rigg gives her account of what having bipolar feels like...When cars speed on the motorway, weaving expertly between their silver and black counterparts, burning tyre tracks into the sticky tarmac, no one is surprised when they burnout...This is bipolar.
Family Fun Day

Join us on Saturday 18 May at the Great Cockrow Railway in Surrey to fundraise for Bipolar UK with a day of darts with James Wade, miniature steam railway rides, and a locally sourced BBQ.
Bipolar UK on BBC Breakfast

On World Bipolar Day 2024, Simon Kitchen, Andy Barnes and Callum Barnes visited the BBC Breakfast sofa to explain why the need for earlier bipolar diagnosis and specialist services for bipolar is so urgent
Crawley

Our Crawley Support Group meets online on the 4th Wednesday of each month

Self-management webinar: approaches to bipolar

Part two of a series of webinars from the experts at Cardiff University covering medication and lifestyle
Tell me about Sodium Valproate

Summary information about Sodium Valproate, also known as Epilim and Depakote
Tell me about Risperidone

Summary information about Risperidone, also known as Risperdal and Risperdal Consta
Tell me about Quetiapine

Summary information about Quetiapine also known as Atrolak, Biquelle, Ebesque, Seroquel, Tenprolide or Zaluron
Tell me about Olanzapine

Summary information about Olanzapine, also known as Zalasta, Zyprexa, ZypAdhera
Tell me about Lurasidone

Summary information about Lurasidone also known as Latuda
Tell me about Lithium

Summary information about Lithium Carbonate, also known as Camcolit, Liskonum, Priadel and the liquid version, Lithium Citrate also known as Priadel liquid, Li-liquid
Tell me about Lamotrigine

Summary information about Lamotrigine also known as Lamictal
Tell me about Haloperidol

Summary information about Haloperidol also known as Dozic, Haldol, Haldol decanoate or Serenace
Tell me about Fluoxetine

Summary information about Fluoxetine also known as Prozac

Bipolar UK Mood Scale

Our mood scale can help you to keep track of your moods, and to spot your patterns, triggers and any early warning signs of a relapse
Join our eCommunity

Our eCommunity is an anonymous and supportive online forum for anyone affected by bipolar (including those without a diagnosis) to chat and share experiences
How do I know if I have bipolar?

What are the common signs of bipolar disorder
Diagnosing Bipolar

Learn how to get a diagnosis of bipolar, recognise the symptoms, and get the support and treatment you need with our Could it be Bipolar? resources
Is there a test for bipolar?

How can you get a confirmation of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar UK Mood Diary

Using this mood diary alongside our mood scale will help you keep track of your moods, allowing you to spot your patterns, triggers and any early warning signs of a relapse.
What causes bipolar?

Find out what we know about the causes of bipolar
Speak to our Peer Support Line

Free support and information from our call-back service staffed by people affected by bipolar
Seeing Red: a look at bipolar anger

Anyone can get angry but bipolar can take rage to unprecedented extremes. What is bipolar anger, what triggers it, and how can it be managed?
Could mood swings mean bipolar?

An introduction to bipolar and how monitoring your moods and behaviour can help