Bipolar I disorder

Mei Kimura is a 29-year-old Japanese person (pronouns they/them/their) who comes to see you in your office after they were hospitalized for 14 days for a manic episode. Mei has bipolar I disorder. They are 5′ 8″ and 150 pounds. Mei has currently prescribed 1,500 mg of divalproex sodium (Depakote ER). Their most recent VPA level was 45 µg/ml. Question: Based on their Depakote level and how they present to you, what changes (if any) would you make with Mei’s Depakote ER? Why? Provide the dose, route, and timing/frequency for all medication changes. Include a peer-reviewed journal article source.