PMID: 7512905Feb 1, 1994Paper

Valproic acid. A reappraisal of its pharmacological properties and clinical efficacy in epilepsy

Drugs
R DavisDonna McTavish

Abstract

Valproic acid is a branched-chained fatty acid, structurally unrelated to any other antiepileptic drug. Since publication of the original review in the Journal in 1977, several clinical trials have documented its efficacy and safety in adults and children for the treatment of generalised seizures (absence, tonic-clonic, myoclonic), partial seizures (simple, complex, secondarily generalised) and compound/combination seizures (including those refractory to treatment with other antiepileptic drugs). Valproic acid monotherapy has demonstrated efficacy equivalent to that of carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital in the treatment of both generalised and partial seizures and ethosuximide in the treatment of absence seizures. Adverse effects associated with the drug are primarily gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia) in nature, although the use of enteric-coated formulations has reduced the incidence of abdominal discomfort. Weight gain, tremor and transient hair loss are commonly reported. Importantly, valproic acid has minimal neurological adverse effects (sedation, ataxia, impairment of cognitive function) compared with other antiepileptic drugs, a finding that may be of particular relevance in many patients with epile...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Ataxias

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on different types of ataxias here.

Ataxias (MDS)

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on ataxia here.

Absence Epilepsy

Absence epilepsy is a common seizure disorder in children which can produce chronic psychosocial sequelae. Discover the latest research on absence epilepsies here.

Ataxia

Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements including loss of coordination, balance, and speech. Discover the latest research on ataxia here.