Valproic Acid

Information about Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid Uses

Valproic Acid is used for Epilepsy/Seizures, Prevention of migraine and Bipolar disorder.

How Valproic Acid works

Valproic Acid is an antiepileptic medication. It controls seizures or fits by decreasing the abnormal and excessive activity of the nerve cells in the brain.

Common side effects of Valproic Acid

Headache, Dizziness, Blurred vision, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Vomiting, Sleepiness, Hair loss, Weight gain, Tremor, Double vision, Diarrhea, Impaired coordination, Increased appetite, Weakness, Stomach pain
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
Dr. Swati Mishra
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD (Pharmacology), MBBS
Last updated:
07 Apr 2020 | 10:49 AM (UTC)

Want to know more?

Read Our Editorial Policy

Available Medicine for Valproic Acid

EpsovalLa Pharmaceuticals
₹21 to ₹524 variant(s)
DisovalLa Pharmaceuticals
₹56 to ₹772 variant(s)
IvalpKivi Labs Ltd
₹38 to ₹1214 variant(s)
Novalept ChronoAurum Life Science Pvt Ltd
₹36 to ₹573 variant(s)
ValcotPsycormedies
₹42 to ₹903 variant(s)
ConvulexA N Pharmacia
₹29 to ₹822 variant(s)
DivazenSain Medicaments Pvt Ltd
₹541 variant(s)
DivunaDr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd
₹601 variant(s)
Diovat XRPulse Pharmaceuticals
₹72 to ₹1202 variant(s)
DevelpinLifecare Innovations Pvt Ltd
₹38 to ₹692 variant(s)

Expert advice for Valproic Acid

  • Take your medication regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
  • Do not change the brand of your medicine and make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
  • Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
    • Practice yoga every day.
    • Get enough sleep at nighttime.
    • Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/laptop.
    • Take your medication on time.
  • It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
  • It may cause cosmetic side effects such as increased hair growth on the face, acne and thinning of hair. Talk to your doctor if this bothers you.
  • Monitor your weight during treatment with this medicine as it can cause weight gain.
  • Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.
  • Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may increase the seizure frequency.

Frequently asked questions for Valproic Acid

Valproic Acid

Q. I have been taking Valproic Acid for a year, and I did not have any episode of seizure during this time. For how long should I take it to cure my epilepsy completely?

Valproic Acid does not cure your condition, it only prevents the seizures from occurring. Therefore, you will have to keep on taking it, maybe for years. Consult your doctor if you face any problems while taking this medicine.

Q. What happens if I stop taking Valproic Acid?

You should not stop taking Valproic Acid suddenly. It should be discontinued gradually. Stopping it suddenly may increase the chances of recurrence of seizures. Always consult your doctor if you feel the need to stop taking this medicine.

Q. I have gained weight after I started using Valproic Acid. Is it because of this medicine? What should I do?

Yes, weight gain can occur with the use of Valproic Acid. To control your weight, you should have a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. Talk to your doctor if you have any other concerns.

Q. Can I take birth control pills while taking Valproic Acid?

Yes, Valproic Acid does not have any effect on the working of birth control pills. However, contraceptives (birth control pills) may interfere with the working of Valproic Acid and seizures may occur. It is important that you inform your doctor that you are using birth control pills. Your doctor will keep a track on your response to the treatment and monitor the Valproic Acid levels in your blood levels.

Q. Is it safe to take Valproic Acid for a long term?

Many patients can safely take Valproic Acid for a long time. Rarely, long-term use of Valproic Acid may weaken your bones, thereby increasing their chances of breaking easily (osteoporosis and osteopenia). If you are taking Valproic Acid for a long time, get regular check ups done for bone health.

Q. I am concerned because I have heard that Valproic Acid causes hair loss. Is it true?

Valproic Acid may cause thinning of hair, change of hair colour and even hair loss. If you are concerned talk to your doctor if it is possible to reduce the dose of Valproic Acid. Your hair may regrow after either reducing your dose or switching to a different medicine.

INDIA’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

160M+
Visitors
27M+
Orders Delivered
1800+
Cities
Get the link to download App

Connect

  • Social Links
  • Want daily dose of health?
Download App
Reliable

All products displayed on 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies. All labs listed on the platform are accredited

Secure

1mg uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption and is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant

Affordable

Find affordable medicine substitutes, save up to 50% on health products, up to 80% off on lab tests and free doctor consultations.

India's only LegitScript and ISO/IEC 27001 certified online healthcare platform

Know More About 1mgdownArrow

Access medical and health information

1mg provides you with medical information which is curated, written and verified by experts, accurate and trustworthy. Our experts create high-quality content about medicines, diseases, lab investigations, Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products, Ayurvedic herbs/ingredients, and alternative remedies.

Order medicines online

Get free medicine home delivery in over 1800 cities across India. You can also order Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and other Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products. Your safety is our top priority. All products displayed on 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies.

Book lab tests

Book any lab tests and preventive health packages from certified labs and get tested from the comfort of your home. Enjoy free home sample collection, view reports online and consult a doctor online for free.

Consult a doctor online

Got a health query? Consult doctors online from the comfort of your home for free. Chat privately with our registered medical specialists to connect directly with verified doctors. Your privacy is guaranteed.

© 2021 1mg. All rights reserved. In compliance with Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, we don't process requests for Schedule X and other habit forming drugs.