Is there an alternative to sodium valproate?
Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine can be considered as alternatives. Because of risks to the unborn baby sodium valproate should not be given to women or girls of childbearing age unless all other treatment options have failed.
Is sodium valproate an antidepressant?
Valproate is a mood stabilizer medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), seizures (epilepsy), and migraine headaches. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression and/or mania.
Does sodium valproate help with anxiety?
It has been shown that valproic acid reduces anxiety symptoms in a 12-week open-label study in patients with social anxiety disorder [6. Valproic acid for the treatment of social anxiety disorder.
Does valproate reduce anxiety?
What symptoms does valproate treat?
Does sodium valproate cause weight gain?
Sodium valproate (VPA) and lamotrigine (LTG) are the broad- spectrum anticonvulsants drugs used in both generalized and partial seizures. Weight gain is a well-known adverse effect of VPA treatment occurring in up to 71% of exposed patients, although typically the rate is around 10% [1].
Does sodium valproate affect your kidneys?
However, there is growing evidence that valproate can cause renal tubular injury in children, and there are increasing reports of valproate-induced Fanconi’s syndrome where the renal tubules lose their ability to reabsorb electrolytes, urea, glucose and protein.
Is sodium valproate used for depression?
Valproate was effective for the reduction of depressive symptoms of acute bipolar depression and was well tolerated.
Can I take valproate sodium and drink alcohol?
Drinking alcohol while taking sodium valproate may make you feel sleepy or tired. For this reason it’s best to stop drinking alcohol during the first few days, until you see how the medicine affects you. If you do drink, try not to have more than the recommended guidelines of up to 14 units of alcohol a week.
What is valproate used for?
Valproate is an anticonvulsant drug which is approved for use in epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It has also been used for neuropathic pain and migraine prophylaxis. Gastrointestinal adverse effects are common, particularly at the start of therapy. Important adverse effects include pancreatitis, hepatitis, weight gain and sedation.
Does sodium valproate cause liver problems?
Sodium valproate (VPA) is widely used throughout the world to treat epilepsy, migraine, chronic headache, bipolar disorder, and as adjuvant chemotherapy. VPA toxicity is an uncommon but potentially fatal cause of idiosyncratic liver injury.
How does valproate sodium relieve migraines?
While valproate is typically thought of as a prophylactic agent, the rapid infusion of this agent may have a place as an abortive migraine agent as well. This may be helpful in avoiding the more extensive use of opiates and other analgesics that can often lead to a cycle of addiction and have their own toxicity.