Best Anti-epileptic Agent for bipolar disorder
Top-rated pick: Depakote — pharmaranks score 72/100, the highest of the 13 Anti-epileptic Agent drugs used for bipolar disorder, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for bipolar disorder or the full Anti-epileptic Agent class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 13 anti-epileptic agent drugs we rate for bipolar disorder, all are available as lower-cost generics, and most are tablet. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for bipolar disorder; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How anti-epileptic agent work
Anti-epileptic (anticonvulsant) drugs calm the abnormal, excessive electrical activity that triggers seizures. They do this by stabilizing overactive sodium or calcium channels in nerve cells, boosting the brain's natural calming chemical GABA, or dampening excitatory signals, which makes nerves less likely to fire uncontrollably.
Source: Seizure Medications — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
Other drug classes for bipolar disorder
Top anti-epileptic agent for bipolar disorder: 1. Depakote · 2. Depakote ER · 3. Lamictal
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $6 | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $6 | View → | |
| 3 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $4 | View → | |
| 4 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $4 | View → | |
| 5 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $4 | View → | |
| 6 | 68/100 | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $6 | View → | |
| 7 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 8 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $64 | View → | |
| 9 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 10 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $4 | View → |
Full ranking · 13 drugs
depakote
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Depakote (Divalproex Sodium) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, Absence Epilepsy, Complex Partial Epilepsy.
Pharmacy pays
~$5.99 /30
Save up to 83% in class
depakote er
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Depakote ER (Divalproex Sodium) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, Absence Epilepsy, Complex Partial Epilepsy.
Pharmacy pays
~$5.99 /30
Save up to 83% in classlamictal
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classlamictal cd
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Lamictal Cd (Lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classlamictal odt
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Lamictal ODT (Lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classdivalproex sodium
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Divalproex Sodium is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy, Absence Epilepsy, Complex Partial Epilepsy.
Pharmacy pays
~$5.99 /30
Save up to 83% in classgabapentin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Phobic Disorders, Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.63/30· 8 forms Save up to 16% in classgabitril
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Gabitril (Tiagabine Hydrochloride) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$58.73/30· 4 forms Save up to 98% in class
gralise
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Gralise (Gabapentin) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Phobic Disorders, Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.63/30· 8 forms Save up to 16% in classlamictal xr
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Lamictal XR (Lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classlamotrigine
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Lamotrigine is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classneurontin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Neurontin (Gabapentin) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Phobic Disorders, Postherpetic Neuralgia.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.63/30· 8 forms Save up to 16% in classsubvenite
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Subvenite (Lamotrigine) is an anti-epileptic agent used to treat Bipolar Disorder, Partial Epilepsies, Seizures, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.88/30· 8 forms Save up to 77% in classFrequently asked
- What is the best anti-epileptic agent for bipolar disorder?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — depakote ranks highest among Anti-epileptic Agent drugs used for bipolar disorder. Always consult a professional.
- Which anti-epileptic agent drugs treat bipolar disorder?
- pharmaranks lists 13 Anti-epileptic Agent products used for bipolar disorder, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.