Sodium valproate (also known as Divalproex Sodium, Valproate, or VPA) is a sodium salt of valproic acid.
This is a anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder; but also used to treat migraine[?] headaches and schizophrenia. In epileptics, valproic acid is used to control absence seizures[?], tonic-clonic seizures[?] (grand mal[?]), complex partial seizures[?], and the seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome[?].
Valproate is believed to affect GABA receptors in the human brain.
Common side effects are dyspepsia[?] and/or weight-gain. Less common are dizziness, drowsiness, hair-loss, headaches, nausea, sedation and tremors,
Valproic acid can also rarely cause blood dyscrasia[?], impaired liver function, jaundice, thrombocytopenia[?], and and prolonged coagulation times. In ~5% of pregnant users, valproic acid will cross the placenta and cause congenital anomalies[?].
There have also been reports of cognitive dysfunction[?], Parkinsonian syndrome[?] and even pseudoatrophic brain changes[?] in long-term treatment with valproic acid.
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