Effects of the antiepileptic drug valproate on sodium and potassium currents in the nodal membrane of peripheral nerve fibers of Xenopus laevis were determined by voltage- and current-clamp experiments. Under voltage-clamp conditions, a reduction of both sodium and potassium conductance (in a ratio of 2:1) was observed. Typically, 2.4 mM (400 mg/L) valproate reduced the sodium current 54% and t...

Carnitine deficiency related to epilepsy or antagonism of carnitine by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has attracted increasing attention since the first recognition of a neuromuscular deficiency syndrome in 1973’. Carnitine deficiency is linked to the potentially fatal hepatotoxicity that occasionally attends valproate therapy, particularly in children2, and has been documented in adult and pediatr...

Sixty-five children with seizure disorders, who had been treated with multiple anticonvulsants but were poorly controlled, were selected from the Montreal Children's Hospital Convulsive Disorder Clinic and Neurology Service and were treated with sodium valproate (valproate). All types of seizure disorders were included in the group. Rapid oral absorption of the drug lead to peak plasma levels i...

In a double-blind crossover trial sodium valproate or placebo was added to the existing anticonvulsant treatment of 20 patients with chronic uncontrolled epilepsy. Sodium valproate 1200 mg/day significantly reduced the frequency of both tonic-clonic and minor seizures in these patients. Only mild and transient side effects occurred (drowsiness, ataxia, and nausea), and these may have been due t...

Although lithium remains the preferred medication for bipolar disorders, new investigations suggest that only 60 to 80% of patients have a good response with a classical presentation. The antiepileptics carbamazepine and valproate are important alternatives. Several studies have shown that lithium, carbamazepine and valproate are effective in pure mania. Mixed mania and rapid cycling respond, h...

Valproate is the best choice drug for a variety of medical conditions. As with any other drug, it has adverse effects, and it is important to emphasize the possibility of those adverse effects to prevent complications. We present the case history of a 44-year-old male with valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy, despite having normal liver function tests. This case includes a detailed ...

Introduction: Epilepsy is a clinical syndrome in which seizures have a tendency to recur. Sodium valproate is the most effective drug in the treatment of all types of generalized seizures. Finding the optimal dosage (the lowest effective dose) of sodium valproate is a real challenge to all neurologists. In this study, a new approach based on Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) was pre...

WARNING: LIFE THREATENING ADVERSE REACTIONS Hepatotoxicity General Population: Hepatic failure resulting in fatalities has occurred in patients receiving valproate and its derivatives. These incidents usually have occurred during the first six months of treatment. Serious or fatal hepatotoxicity may be preceded by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, weakness, lethargy, facial edema, anorexia,...

epilepsy is one of the common neurologic disorders in children. drug side-effects are one of the important problems in treating patients with epilepsy. using the antiepileptic medication may cause different side effects such as disorder in bone and vitamin d metabolism. sodium valproate is one of the antiepileptic medications used widely. some of its side effects include digestive disorder, inc...

to compare the effects of topiramate versus valproate sodium as an add-on therapy to a combination of lithium and risperidone (li+ris) on body weight and serum lipid profile in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.in a single-blind randomized clinical trial, thirty children and adolescents with bipolar disorder type i in the manic or mixed phase, treated with the combination of li+ris...