Valproate, also referred to as valproic acid, is a prescription medication that is used to control seizures in people with epilepsy. While valproate cannot cure epilepsy, it works on certain pathways in the brain to prevent, and reduce the severity of, seizures.
In addition to its use as a treatment for seizures, valproate may be prescribed to treat manic episodes in patients who have bipolar disorder.
Valproic acid is the medicated form of valproate. Once it has been ingested into the body, valproic acid is converted to valproate. For the purposes of this article, valproic acid will be referred to as valproate.