See Available Brands of Valproate in India

Valproic acid (VPA) is a chemical compound that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and less commonly major depression. It is also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia. It is marketed under the brand names Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene, Depacon, Stavzor.

Related drugs include the sodium salts sodium valproate, used as an anticonvulsant, and a combined formulation, valproate semisodium, used as a mood stabilizer.

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacokinetics

Information Not Available

Valproate Indications / Valproate Uses

Information Not Available

Valproate Adverse Reactions / Valproate Side Effects

Information Not Available

Precautions

Information Not Available

Special Precautions

Information Not Available

Other Drug Interactions

Drugs that affect the level of expression of hepatic enzymes, particularly those that elevate levels of glucuronosyltransferases, may increase the clearance of Valproate. For example, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital (or primidone) can double the clearance of Valproate. Thus, patients on monotherapy will generally have longer half-lives and higher concentrations than patients receiving polytherapy with antiepilepsy drugs.

Other Interactions

Information Not Available

Dosage

Information Not Available

Food(before/after)

Information Not Available

List of Contraindications

Valproate and Pregnancy

Category D

Valproate and Lactation

Valproate is excreted in breast milk. Concentrations in breast milk have been reported to be 1 to 10% of serum concentrations. It is not known what effect this would have on a nursing infant. Consideration should be given to discontinuing nursing when Valproate is administered to a nursing woman.

Valproate and Children

Experience with oral Valproate has indicated that pediatric patients under the age of two years are at a considerably increased risk of developing fatal hepatotoxicity, especially those with the aforementioned conditions

Valproate and Geriatic

Information Not Available

Valproate and Other Contraindications

Valproate causes birth defects: exposure during pregnancy is associated with about three times as many major anomalies as usual, mainly spina bifida and more rarely with several other defects, possibly including a "valproate syndrome".

Women who intend to become pregnant should switch to a different drug if possible. Women who become pregnant while taking valproate should be warned that it causes birth defects, and cognitive impairment in the newborn, especially at high doses (although vaproate is sometimes the only drug that can control seizures, and seizures in pregnancy would have even worse consequences.) They should take high dose folic acid and be offered antenatal screening (alpha-fetoprotein and second trimester ultrasound scans), although screening and scans don't find all birth defects.

Valproate is a known folate antagonist, which can cause neural tube defects. Thus, folic acid supplements may alleviate the teratogenic problems. A recent study showed that children of mothers taking valproate during pregnancy are at risk for significantly lower IQs.Exposure of the human embryo to valproic acid is also associated with risk of autism, and it is possible to duplicate features characteristic of autism by exposing rat embryos to valproic acid at the time of neural tube closure.One study found that valproate exposure on embryonic day 11.5 led to significant local recurrent connectivity in the juvenile rat neocortex, consistent with the underconnectivity theory of autism. A 2009 study demonstrated that children of pregnant women taking valproate had an I.Q. nine points lower than a well-matched control group.

Valproate is contraindicated in overweight patients because it might cause weight gain.

Preexisting hepatic (liver) and/or renal (kidney) damage or cancer, hepatitis, pancreatitis, end-stage AIDS HIV infection, bone marrow depression, urea cycle disorders, and coagulation hematological disorders are absolute contraindications.

Storage

Information Not Available

Lab interference

Information Not Available