| Migraine Disorders
Botox vs Depakote
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for migraine disorders.Deep comparison between: Botox vs Depakote with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsDepakote has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Botox based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Depakote but not Botox, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Botox
Depakote
At A Glance
IM injection
Every 12 weeks
Botulinum toxin type A
Oral
Daily in divided doses
Valproate anticonvulsant
Indications
- Overactive Bladder
- Migraine Disorders
- Benign essential blepharospasm
- Strabismus, Comitant
- Bipolar Disorder
- Complex partial seizures
- Absence Epilepsy
- Migraine Disorders
Dosing
Overactive Bladder 100 Units injected as 0.5 mL (5 Units) across 20 sites into the detrusor via cystoscope; repeat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Detrusor Overactivity associated with a Neurologic Condition 200 Units injected as 1 mL (~6.7 Units) across 30 sites into the detrusor via cystoscope; repeat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Pediatric Detrusor Overactivity associated with a Neurologic Condition 200 Units (>=34 kg) or 6 Units/kg (<34 kg) via intradetrusor injection across 20 sites; repeat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Migraine Disorders 155 Units IM as 0.1 mL (5 Units) per site divided across 7 head/neck muscle areas; re-treat every 12 weeks.
Adult Upper Limb Spasticity 75-400 Units IM divided among affected muscles; re-treat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Adult Lower Limb Spasticity 300-400 Units IM divided across 5 muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus); re-treat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Pediatric Upper Limb Spasticity 3-6 Units/kg IM (maximum 200 Units) divided among affected muscles; re-treat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Pediatric Lower Limb Spasticity 4-8 Units/kg IM (maximum 300 Units) divided among affected muscles; re-treat no sooner than 12 weeks.
Cervical Dystonia Dose individualized based on head/neck position, pain, and muscle hypertrophy; mean dose approximately 236 Units IM divided among affected muscles.
Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis 50 Units per axilla injected intradermally across 10-15 sites approximately 1-2 cm apart.
Benign essential blepharospasm 1.25-2.5 Units injected into 3 sites per affected eye; re-treat approximately every 3 months.
Strabismus, Comitant 1.25-5 Units per muscle via electromyographic-guided injection, dosed based on deviation size in prism diopters; re-examine 7-14 days after each injection.
Bipolar Disorder 750 mg/day initially in divided doses, titrated rapidly to clinical response; max 60 mg/kg/day; oral.
Complex partial seizures 10-15 mg/kg/day initially, increased by 5-10 mg/kg/week to optimal response; max 60 mg/kg/day; divide doses if total daily dose exceeds 250 mg; oral.
Absence Epilepsy 15 mg/kg/day initially, increased at one-week intervals by 5-10 mg/kg/day until seizures are controlled; max 60 mg/kg/day; divide doses if total daily dose exceeds 250 mg; oral.
Migraine Disorders 250 mg twice daily; some patients may benefit from doses up to 1,000 mg/day; oral.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin product or to any component of the formulation
- Infection at the proposed injection site(s)
- Urinary tract infection at time of intradetrusor injection
- Urinary retention or post-void residual urine volume >200 mL in patients not routinely performing clean intermittent self-catheterization (for intradetrusor injection)
- Hepatic disease or significant hepatic dysfunction
- Mitochondrial disorders caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG; e.g., Alpers-Huttenlocher Syndrome) and children under two years of age suspected of having a POLG-related disorder
- Known hypersensitivity to divalproex sodium, sodium valproate, or valproic acid
- Known urea cycle disorders
- Migraine prophylaxis in pregnant women or in women of childbearing potential not using effective contraception
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=2%) Urinary tract infection, dysuria, urinary retention, neck pain, headache, muscular weakness, eyelid ptosis, injection site pain, dysphagia, upper respiratory infection
Serious Spread of toxin effects, dysphagia and breathing difficulties, hypersensitivity reactions, autonomic dysreflexia, corneal exposure and ulceration, retrobulbar hemorrhage
Postmarketing Abdominal pain, alopecia, brachial plexopathy, peripheral neuropathy, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, death associated with dysphagia and pneumonia, new onset or recurrent seizures
Most common (>=5%) Nausea, vomiting, somnolence, dizziness, tremor, asthenia, alopecia, headache, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, diarrhea, weight gain
Serious Hepatic failure, birth defects, pancreatitis, hyperammonemic encephalopathy, suicidal behavior and ideation, bleeding and hematopoietic disorders, hypothermia, DRESS/multiorgan hypersensitivity, serious dermatologic reactions, angioedema
Postmarketing Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, parkinsonism, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, fractures, decreased bone mineral density, polycystic ovary disease, male infertility, angioedema
Pharmacology
Botulinum toxin type A that blocks neuromuscular transmission by inhibiting acetylcholine release at motor and autonomic nerve terminals through cleavage of SNAP-25, producing localized, reversible chemical denervation of muscle, sweat glands, or the detrusor depending on injection site.
Divalproex sodium dissociates to the valproate ion in the gastrointestinal tract; its therapeutic mechanisms have not been fully established, but its anticonvulsant activity is thought to relate to increased brain concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Botox
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (11/12) · Step Therapy (11/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Depakote
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (0/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Botox
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Depakote
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Botox
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Depakote
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Depakote.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.