Possible Risks Associated With Valproate Treatment of AIDS-Related Mania

Sir: Recently, RachBeisel and Weintraub contributed further to the literature on the usefulness of valproate for treating AIDS-related mania. Contrary to current trends, they apparently prescribed valproic acid rather than divalproex sodium— the former being less expensive, but generally less well tolerated. Given the likelihood of preexisting gastrointestinal symptoms in this population, better tolerability rather than lower cost might make divalproex sodium the preferred preparation.