Two medicines, side by side
Divalproex vs gabapentin
Divalproex and gabapentin are both labeled for seizures and epilepsy. Drugs@FDA records approvals of divalproex since 1983 and of gabapentin since 1993. Pharmacies paid $0.194 per divalproex sod ER 500 mg tablet and $0.0218 per gabapentin 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, divalproex is a mood stabilizer and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
Check it at the source: the divalproex FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 31, 2026); the gabapentin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 12, 2026).
Highlights of the divalproex record
Divalproex (Depakote) · label of March 31, 2026
LIFE THREATENING ADVERSE REACTIONS Hepatotoxicity General Population: Hepatic failure resulting in fatalities has occurred in patients receiving valproate and its derivatives. These incidents usually have occurred during the first six months of treatment. Serious or fatal hepatotoxicity may be preceded by non-specific symptoms such as malaise, weakness, lethargy, facial edema, anorexia, and vomiting. In patients with epilepsy, a loss of seizure control may also occur.
Used for
From the label: indicationsDepakote is an anti-epileptic drug indicated for: Treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder ( 1.1 ) Monotherapy and adjunctive therapy of complex partial seizures and simple and complex absence seizures; adjunctive therapy in patients with multiple seizure types that include absence seizures ( 1.2 ) Prophylaxis of migraine headaches ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Mania Depakote (divalproex sodium) is a valproate and is indicated for the treatment of the manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 10, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 44 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.194 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 16
Highlights of the gabapentin record
Gabapentin (Neurontin) · label of May 12, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsNEURONTIN ® is indicated for: • Management of postherpetic neuralgia in adults • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy NEURONTIN is indicated for: • Postherpetic neuralgia in adults ( 1 ) • Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, with and without secondary generalization, in adults and pediatric patients 3 years and older with epilepsy […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 30, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 85 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0218 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Divalproex label of March 31, 2026, Gabapentin label of May 12, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do divalproex and gabapentin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, divalproex is a mood stabilizer and gabapentin an anti-epileptic agent.
How each works, in its label's words: Divalproex, “Divalproex sodium dissociates to the valproate ion in the gastrointestinal tract.”; Gabapentin, “The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Divalproex, “Mean terminal half-life for valproate monotherapy ranged from 9 to 16 hours following oral dosing regimens of 250 to …”; Gabapentin, “Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing.”
Only the divalproex label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: divalproex since 2008; gabapentin since 2003 (Drugs@FDA).
| Divalproex | Gabapentin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bipolar disorder, Migraine, Seizures and epilepsy | Nerve pain and fibromyalgia, Seizures and epilepsy |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-epileptic Agent, Mood Stabilizer | Anti-epileptic Agent |
| How it works (label) | Divalproex sodium dissociates to the valproate ion in the gastrointestinal tract. The mechanisms by which valproate exerts its therapeutic effects have not been established. | The precise mechanisms by which gabapentin produces its analgesic and antiepileptic actions are unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | Mean terminal half-life for valproate monotherapy ranged from 9 to 16 hours following oral dosing regimens of 250 to 1,000 mg. | Gabapentin elimination half-life is 5 to 7 hours and is unaltered by dose or following multiple dosing. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | March 10, 1983 | December 30, 1993 |
| First generic approved | July 29, 2008 | September 12, 2003 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 44 labelers | 85 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.194 per tablet (Divalproex sod ER 500 mg tablet) | $0.0218 per capsule (Gabapentin 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +3% | +0.9% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 16 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 46,267 | 362,654 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to divalproex
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions