It07:Sodium Valproate

Sodium Valproate

Sodium Valproate is the active ingredient used in Epilim for treatment of epilepsy. It is an antiepileptic/anticonvulsant.

Sodium Valproate

IUPAC Systematic name
Sodium 2-propylpentanoate
Other name
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Indentifiers
ATC Code
CAS number	{{{CASNo}}}
PubChem (CID)	[3]
SMILES	<'nowiki'>'CCCC(CCC)C( [O-)=O.[Na+]'</'nowiki'>' '<'nowiki'>'CCCC(CCC)C([O-])=O.[Na+]'</'nowiki'>']
Chemical Data
Molecular formula	C₈H₁₆O₂Na
Molar mass	166.19 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic Data
Bioavailability
Protein Binding	{{{Protein_binding}}}
Metabolism
Half life	8-20 Hours
Excretion
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.
Legal status
Routes

Pentahelicene

Main Uses

Sodium Valproate is used to treat all forms of epilepsy the main forms being:

Tonic-clonic seizures, tonic being where the patient goes stiff due to all muscles contracting and possibly cry due to the air being forced out of their lungs and clonic where the patient jerks due to the muscles now contracting and relaxing.

General absence where the person is unconscious for a period of time – usually occurs in children

Myoclonic seizures – a sudden contraction of the muscles, the person is unconscious for this time but it is such a short amount they do not appear to be.

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome – a form of severe epilepsy in children.

Other Uses

Sodium Valproate is used also used with great effect as a mood stabiliser in psychiatric illnesses however it is an unlicensed drug and it is unknown how it works in this way apart from the increase of the calming neurotransmitter GABA.

How it works

Sodium Valproate is a white crystalline, odourless powder with a salty tasteIt is hygroscopic and so readily dissolves in the blood stream. Other anticonvulsants have nitrogen in their chemical formula or an aromatic, sodium Valproate is different as it does not.

It works to stabilise electrical activity in the brain. The salt increases the activity of a neurotransmitter (GABA) this is naturally used by the body to “calm” neurones this reduces the activity of the nerves in the brain. It also helps to prevent fits by preventing the sodium to increase in concentration around nerve cells so reducing the rapid firing between cells. The reduction of electrical activity aids in preventing seizures.

Other Names

Convulex (as valproic acid)

Epilim

Epilim Chrono

Epilim EC

Episenta

Epival CR

Orlept

Side Effects

Weight gain

Nausea

Gastric irritation

Drowsiness

Liver impairment

Hair loss

Hormone problems (women only)

Blood disorders

Tremors

Pancreatitis

Rash

Storage

Store in a cool dry place (below 30˚C) out of reach from children.

Hygroscopic – keep in foil packaging until needed.