Ms. R., a 29-year-old woman recently diagnosed with Bipolar…
Ms. R., a 29-year-old woman recently diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, is started on divalproex sodium (Depakote) for mood stabilization. During medication education, she asks, “How does this medication actually work to stabilize my mood?”As her PMHNP, you explain that valproate’s mood-stabilizing effects are related to its actions on neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter regulation.Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action of valproate?