What is valproic acid?
Valproic acid, and its derivative valproate, are drugs used to treat epilepsy. The anti-epileptic drug is used in various forms of epilepsy. Valproic acid can also be used to treat childhood forms of epilepsy, such as absences. Valproic acid is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorders to prevent manic and depressive phases and is also considered an effective alternative to lithium in the treatment of acute manic phases.
Indications for valproic acid
The indications for the antiepileptic drug valproic acid include epilepsy. Valproate is used in the treatment of so-called grand mal seizures, i.e. seizures that affect both sides of the brain. These include absence epilepsy, which is particularly common in children and is characterized by a few seconds of absence.
Valproic acid can also be used in focal seizures that affect only one hemisphere of the brain. Valproic acid can prevent seizures during alcohol or drug withdrawal. In addition to epilepsies, the prophylaxis of manic and depressive states in bipolar disorder is also part of the indication of valproate.
It is also used in acute mania. Despite recommendations of the German Migraine and Headache Society, there is (still) no approval for the use of valproic acid in migraine prophylaxis or for cluster headaches. Valproic acid belongs to the group of anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs, i.e. it is used in the treatment of epilepsy and seizures.
These include generalized seizures, i.e. grand mal seizures, which are accompanied by twitching of muscle groups and loss of consciousness. Valproic acid is also used in the therapy of absence epilepsy, including the childhood form. In addition, focal epilepsies also belong to the field of application.
Valproic acid can be used as a monotherapy, i.e. as the only drug for the treatment of the seizure disorder, and in more severe forms also as part of a combination therapy with several anticonvulsants. Besides carbamazepine, valproic acid is the first choice in the long-term therapy of epilepsy. Valproic acid is not suitable as a therapeutic agent for unipolar depression.
However, it is used as a so-called phase therapeutic in bipolar disorder for the prophylaxis of both manic and depressive phases. In patients with symptoms of depression, the diagnosis of unipolar depression should be made very carefully, as it may well be symptoms of a depressive phase of bipolar disorder. Depending on the disorder, different medications are used. Patients who are treated with antidepressants and who take valproic acid due to a seizure disorder must inform the treating physician about the medication taken. Valproic acid has numerous side effects with other drugs, for example with the antidepressant fluoxetine.
