The active ingredient
Valproic acid and its salts, the valproates, are drugs in the group of antiepileptic drugs or anticonvulsants. The mechanism of action of valproic acid is not completely understood. The antispasmodic effect is probably explained by an amplification of inhibitory signals in the brain.
Valproic acid can be taken orally or administered intravenously. Valproic acid shows numerous interactions with other drugs that can weaken or strengthen its effect. Therefore, the treating physician should always be informed about the use of anticonvulsants.
In addition, the use of valproic acid can be accompanied by side effects. It is particularly important to note that valproic acid becomes strongly teratogenic, i.e. can cause severe damage to the unborn child during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age are not recommended to take valproic acid. If it should be used, an effective method of contraception must be used during treatment.
Side effects
Therapy with valproic acid must be initiated and monitored by a specialist. The dosage is individual for each patient and depends on age and other factors. Valproic acid is usually introduced gradually, i.e. a lower dose is started.
The dose also depends on whether other anti-epileptic drugs are used to treat the seizure disorder. In long-term therapy, the average daily dose of valproic acid monotherapy for adults and adolescents is about 20 mg valproic acid per kg body weight per day, i.e. 1200 to 2000 mg. The daily dose can be divided into several individual doses.
The tablets should be taken one hour before meals with plenty of liquid. The effectiveness of valproic acid in the therapy of epilepsy is hardly related to the concentration of the drug in the blood. Nevertheless, the level of the drug can be determined, for example to adjust the individual dosage of the patient or to check the compliance of the patient, i.e. the proper intake of the drug.
The reference range for valproic acid is approximately between 50 and 100 micrograms per milliliter. Patients who are optimally adjusted according to the mirror can also suffer seizures, which shows the low significance of this value. Ultimately, the decisive factor for therapy is the dose below which the patient shows no seizures.
