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Dutta S, Zhang Y, Selness DS, Lee LL, Williams LA, Sommerville KW. Comparison of the bioavailability of unequal doses of divalproex sodium extended-release formulation relative to the delayed-release formulation in healthy volunteers. Epilepsy Res. 2002 Mar;49(1):1-10. PMID: 11948003.

Giving doses of Depakote ER that were 14-20% higher than doses of regular Depakote produced an equivalent level of medication in the blood with reduced fluctuations.

Freitag FG, Collins SD, Carlson HA, Goldstein J, Saper J, Silberstein S, Mathew N, Winner PK, Deaton R, Sommerville K; Depakote ER Migraine Study Group. A randomized trial of divalproex sodium extended-release tablets in migraine prophylaxis. Neurology. 2002 Jun 11;58(11):1652-9. PMID: 12058094.

The rate of migraine headaches was reduced in patients who took Depakote ER, without excessive adverse effects.

Mattson RH, Cramer JA, et al. A comparison of valproate with carbamazepine for the treatment of partial seizures and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 327:765-771, 1992. PMID: 1298221.

Depakote and Tegretol (carbamazepine) are equally effective for treating secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures in adults. Although other studies show that Depakote is effective for newly diagnosed partial seizures, in this study Tegretol provided better control of complex partial seizures. The side effects of these two medications are different.

Wilder BJ, Ramsay RE, Murphy JV, Karas BJ, Marquardt K, Hammond EJ. Comparison of valproic acid and phenytoin in newly diagnosed tonic-clonic seizures. Neurology 1983 Nov;33(11):1474-6. PMID: 6415511.

Depakote was slightly more effective than Dilantin in controlling generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Sato S, White BG, Penry JK, et al. Valproic acid versus ethosuximide in the treatment of absence seizures. Neurology 1982 Feb;32(2):157-63. PMID: 6798490.

Depakote and Zarontin were equally effective against both newly diagnosed and refractory absence seizures