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Bipolar disorder Adults

Blood-count and liver checks on valproate

If you take valproate, your blood counts and liver tests should be checked after starting and then periodically.

53% of the time this step is missed

The silent should: If you take valproate, your blood counts and liver tests should be checked after starting and then periodically.

In our analysis of de-identified U.S. psychiatric records, this step was missing 53% of the time it should have happened.

This page is information to help you ask questions — it is not medical advice, and you should never start, stop, or change a medication on your own. Bring these questions to your clinician.

Questions for your doctor the next time you see them

Copy a line and ask it — these are questions, never instructions to change treatment.

  • I take valproate - are my blood counts and liver being checked?
  • When were my last blood-count and liver tests?

This page is informational and not medical advice. It describes care patterns across a population, not your situation. Bring these questions to a clinician who knows you.

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