You should be reviewed every year by your doctor or nurse. They will assess whether you need to continue taking sodium valproate or whether it is possible to change your medicine.

Your doctor can arrange for tests to check the strength of your bones. Regular exercise and a good diet can also help to keep your bones strong.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

For women and girls of childbearing age, if you do need to take sodium valproate then your doctor will enrol you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

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Sodium valproate may affect fertility in men. There may also be a small chance of learning or behavioural problems in the baby if you are taking sodium valproate and your partner becomes pregnant. For these reasons, doctors may recommend different treatments for men who could possibly have children, or in those planning to try for a baby.

If you're taking it for bipolar disorder or to prevent migraine, your condition could get worse for a short time after you stop taking the medicine.

If a single medicine is not preventing your seizures, then your doctor may recommend taking 2 or more anti-epileptic medicines at the same time.

You may feel sleepy, tired or dizzy when you first start taking sodium valproate. This may also happen if your dose has increased. If you're affected, do not drive or ride a bike until you feel more alert.

For men who could possibly have children, it's important to discuss sodium valproate with your doctor. You and your partner should consider using contraception while you're taking sodium valproate and for at least 3 months after stopping.

For men who could possibly have children, it's important to discuss sodium valproate with your doctor. You and your partner should consider using contraception while you're taking sodium valproate and for at least 3 months after stopping.

Gastro-resistant tablets release the medicine as soon as it passes through your stomach. This means the sodium valproate is less likely to upset your stomach.

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Sodium valproate passes into breast milk in small amounts but it's unlikely to harm your baby so you can continue breastfeeding if your doctor says you need to take it.

They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

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If you're taking sodium valproate for epilepsy or bipolar disorder and you become pregnant, do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first. This is because your symptoms may get worse.

Sodium valproate is not suitable for girls or women who could become pregnant. However, in some cases it may be the only treatment option available, for example for epilepsy where other treatments have not worked. Girls and women who need to take sodium valproate must be enrolled on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

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Sodium valproate is not recommended in pregnancy, as it can cause birth defects and problems with your baby's learning and behaviour.

If you're taking sodium valproate twice a day, try to leave a gap of 10 to 12 hours between doses. For example you could take your first dose in the morning (between 7am and 8am) and your second dose in the evening (between 7pm and 8pm).

If you have bipolar disorder, there are several types of medicine to prevent mood swings and treat mania. It's not possible to say that one works better than another and it varies from person to person.

For men who are planning to start a family within the next year, speak to a doctor about your treatment options. Do not stop taking sodium valproate without speaking to a doctor first.

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If you need to continue sodium valproate then you must be using reliable contraception, even if you are not currently sexually active. Your doctor or nurse can advise you about reliable contraception. You will be asked to sign a form to say that you are using contraception and understand the risks of becoming pregnant while taking sodium valproate.

You're unlikely to get any extra symptoms when you stop taking this medicine. However, if you're taking sodium valproate for epilepsy, it's possible that you'll get seizures again once you stop taking it. You can prevent these withdrawal seizures by reducing your dose of sodium valproate gradually.

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In men, sodium valproate has been reported to cause infertility. This may get better if you stop taking it. Do not stop or change your medicine without speaking to your doctor, as it may make your condition worse.

If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking this medicine, your doctor will enrol you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as capsules, tablets and a liquid that you swallow. It also comes as granules that you mix with food or drink.

Before prescribing a medicine, your doctor will also take into account your age and sex, the medicines you're already taking and any other health problems you have.

If you use recreational drugs alongside sodium valproate, you may be more likely to have side effects like panic attacks, anxiety and memory loss.

You can take sodium valproate with or without food, but it's best to stick to the same way each time. Do not take it with food some days and without food on other days.

Valproic acid and semisodium valproate are very similar to sodium valproate. They work in the same way but these medicines are sometimes given at different doses for different conditions.

If you have epilepsy, you're not allowed to drive until you've had no seizures for 1 year (or only have seizures while you're asleep).

If you think you might be pregnant and you're taking sodium valproate, contact your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.

There are some medicines that may affect how sodium valproate works. Sodium valproate can also affect the way other medicines work.

Lithium is commonly used for bipolar disorder, as well as anti-epileptic medicines like sodium valproate and antipsychotic medicines like olanzapine. You can take sodium valproate instead of lithium, or together with lithium, depending on what your doctor recommends.

However, there are potential side effects that can happen over a long time. Long-term treatment with sodium valproate can cause osteoporosis and osteopenia (increasing your risk of breaking a bone).

Crush the tablets using the back of a spoon and mix the powder with some soft food that you can swallow whole. If you prefer, add the powder to a small drink, then stir and swallow it.

Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first as your symptoms may get worse. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

If your doctor tells you to take sodium valproate twice a day, you'll usually take half the dose in the morning and half in the evening (to make up your full daily dose).

If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking sodium valproate you must use contraception. Your doctor will put you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.

If you decide to try valproic acid or semisodium valproate instead, your doctor will explain how to come off sodium valproate safely.

Use the plastic syringe or spoon that comes with your medicine to measure the correct dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as you will not get the right amount.

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Your doctor or specialist will find the medicines that work best for you. It depends on your mood swings, how often they happen, how severe they are and how well you cope with a medicine.

To reduce the chance of side effects, your doctor will start you off on a low dose of sodium valproate. They will increase it gradually over a few days or weeks.

However, if your epilepsy has been difficult to control in the past and the brand you're taking is working well for you, your doctor may recommend staying on the same one.

If sodium valproate is not working for you and you're being sick, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.

For men who are planning to start a family within the next year, speak to a doctor about your treatment options. Do not stop taking sodium valproate without speaking to a doctor first.

If there's a chance you could become pregnant while taking this medicine, your doctor will put you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme. Your doctor may still recommend sodium valproate if it is the only medicine that works for you.

You'll usually take them once a day, unless you're on a high dose and your doctor tells you to take your medicine twice a day.

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It's usual to try to treat epilepsy using a single medicine. If this medicine is not working well, or you're getting side effects, your doctor will try you on a different one.

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Sodium valproate is not used as often for preventing migraine. However, your doctor may recommend it if these other medicines are causing side effects or are not working for you.

Once you find a dose that suits you, it will usually stay the same, unless your condition changes, or your doctor starts you on a new medicine that may affect sodium valproate.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

In women sodium valproate can change your menstrual cycle, causing delayed or missed periods. Sodium valproate has also been reported to cause polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), though this happens rarely.

Sodium valproate is an anticonvulsant (or anti-epileptic) medicine. It prevents epileptic seizures by reducing excessive electrical activity in your brain.

Your doctor may also prescribe sodium valproate if you have a health problem that means you cannot take other migraine medicines.

For men taking sodium valproate, your fertility could be affected. It may also cause learning or behavioural problems in your child if your partner becomes pregnant while you're taking sodium valproate.

Once you're on a dose of sodium valproate that suits you, you're likely to keep taking the same type or brand. This is because it can be a problem to swap from modified release to gastro-resistant tablets.

If you're taking sodium valproate once a day, you can choose a time that suits you. Just try to keep to the same time every day.

Some people may change brands to try a different type of sodium valproate. For example they may want to try the granules instead of the tablets. If you need to change brand your doctor or pharmacist will explain how to do so safely.

It's important to get advice as soon as possible if you think you are pregnant or might become pregnant while taking sodium valproate. However, do not stop taking sodium valproate suddenly without talking to your doctor first.

Sodium valproate works for several different types of epilepsy. If it's giving you side effects, or you're worried it is not suitable for you, ask your doctor or specialist to recommend a different medicine.

For many people topiramate, propranolol and amitriptyline work better than sodium valproate at preventing migraines. These medicines are likely to cause fewer side effects, so your doctor or specialist will usually prescribe one of these first.

Your doctor may continue to prescribe sodium valproate, but only if there's no other suitable treatment for your epilepsy or bipolar disorder.

Drinking alcohol while taking sodium valproate may make you feel sleepy or tired. It's best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days, until you see how the medicine affects you.

Add the granules to a small drink, then stir and swallow it. If you prefer, sprinkle the granules onto any soft food that you can swallow whole. Do not chew the granules.

It's not fully understood how this medicine works for treating bipolar disorder. However, sodium valproate is thought to reduce or prevent manic episodes by increasing the amount of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA blocks transmission across nerves in the brain and has a calming effect.

The application form for the medical exemption certificate is called FP92A. You can get this from your doctor's surgery. You will need to fill in the form, then your doctor will sign it and send it off.

If taken during pregnancy, sodium valproate can cause problems for a baby's development, including birth defects and lifelong learning difficulties. Sodium valproate is not recommended if there's a chance that you could become pregnant.

There are many different medicines for treating epilepsy. It's not possible to say that one works better than the others. It varies from person to person and depends on the type of seizures and how often you have them.

Sodium valproate comes as slow release (prolonged or sustained release) tablets, capsules and granules, gastro-resistant tablets, crushable tablets, and as a liquid.