Divalproex drug administration

Pharmacotherapy is the cornerstone of acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Mood-stabilizing drugs are the usual first-choice treatments and include lithium, divalproex, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine. Atypical antipsychotics other than clozapine are also approved for treatment of acute mania. Lithium, lamotrigine, olanzapine, and aripiprazole are approved for maintenance therapy. Drugs used with less research support and without Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval include topiramate and oxcarbazepine. Benzodiazepines are used adjunctively for mania. 

Absorption - /a pro c acid is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the Gl tract. Absorption of the drug is delayed but not decreased by administration with meals administration of the drug with milk products does not affect the rate or degree of absorption. The bioavailability of valproate from divalproex sodium delayed-release tablets and capsules containing coated particles has been shown to be equivalent to that of valproic acid capsules. 

A. Ahmad, E. D. Boudinot, and W. E. Barr, R. C. Reed, and W. R. Garnett, The use of Monte Carlo simulations to study the effect of poor compliance on the steady state concentrations of valproic acid following administration of enteric-coated and extended release divalproex sodium formulations. Biopharm Drug Disp 26 417 25 (2005). 

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