Valproic Acid
This medication is used to treat seizure disorders, mental/mood conditions, and to prevent migraine headaches.
Full Answer
How effective is valproic acid for bipolar disorder?
Aug 30, 2021 · Divalproex: Also known as valproate or valproic acid, divalproex is the anticonvulsant with the most uses in bipolar disorder — this is discussed more below. Dosing can vary, but it’s available as a tablet, capsule, sprinkle capsule, oral liquid, and injection.
What is valproic acid used for?
User Reviews for Valproic acid to treat Bipolar Disorder Also known as: Valproate Sodium Valproic acid has an average rating of 5.6 out of 10 from a total of 26 ratings for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 46% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 46% reported a negative effect. Filter by condition Reviews for Valproic acid
What are the different types of valproic acid?
Dec 15, 2020 · Valproic acid uses include the treatment and management of seizure disorders, prevention of migraines and the management of bipolar disorder. This medication can be prescribed by itself or in combination with other medications. Although valproic acid for epilepsy is the most well-known use of the medication, valproic acid has become widely accepted as …
What is the best treatment for bipolar disorder?
Jul 28, 2020 · Valproate/divalproex appears to be considerably overused in the US; the use of lithium, second-generation antipsychotics, and carbamazepine should be more prominent in treatment decisions for patients with bipolar mania. Valproate/divalproex was approved by the FDA for use in bipolar mania with the publication of a major study in 1994 that showed efficacy.
How effective is valproic acid for bipolar disorder?
Valproate was more effective than placebo in preventing study withdrawal due to any mood episode (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.93; NNTB 8), but no difference in efficacy was found between valproate and lithium (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.20).Oct 17, 2013
What is the most common drug used to treat bipolar disorder?
Lithium: The first mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are medications that help control the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. They are the cornerstone of treatment, both for mania and depression. Lithium is the oldest and most well-known mood stabilizer and is highly effective for treating mania.
What is valproic acid prescribed for?
Valproic acid is used to treat certain types of seizures (epilepsy). This medicine is an anticonvulsant that works in the brain tissue to stop seizures.Feb 1, 2022
What is the side effects of valproic acid?
Diarrhea, dizziness, drowsiness, hair loss, blurred/double vision, change in menstrual periods, ringing in the ears, shakiness (tremor), unsteadiness, weight changes may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
What is the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder?
Mood stabilizers: Lithium is the most widely prescribed mood-stabilizing medication for bipolar disorder. Lithium is most effective at preventing or reducing the severity of manic episodes and may be prescribed in combination with other medications.Feb 23, 2022
What is the best mood stabilizer for bipolar ll?
Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) may be the most effective mood stabilizer for depression in bipolar disorder, but is not as helpful for mania. The starting dose of lamotrigine should be very low and increased very slowly over four weeks or more.
What is the difference between Depakote and valproic acid?
Valproic acid is metabolized more rapidly than divalproex sodium, which could explain the need for higher doses. However, even at higher doses, treatment with valproic acid is still less expensive than with divalproex sodium because of the difference in price.
Can you take Keppra and Depakote together?
Using divalproex sodium together with levETIRAcetam may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
Is valproic acid and Depakote the same medication?
Depakene (valproic acid) and Depakote (divalproex sodium) are two very similar medications used to treat seizures. When talking about them together, healthcare professionals call these medications valproate products. You shouldn't switch between Depakene and Depakote without a healthcare provider's OK.Feb 25, 2022
Who should not take valproic acid?
You should not use valproic acid if you are allergic to it, or if you have: liver disease; a urea cycle disorder; or. a genetic mitochondrial (MYE-toe-KON-dree-al) disorder such as Alpers' disease or Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome, especially in a child younger than 2 years old.Feb 21, 2022
Does valproic acid make you gain weight?
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). All of these medications are known to increase the risk of weight gain except lamotrigine.Jan 31, 2018
Why does valproic acid make you gain weight?
In vitro studies suggest that VPA initiates pancreatic insulin secretion that might increase appetite and energy storage and result in weight gain (Luef, et al., 2003). Indeed, VPA treatment has been found to increase post-prandial insulin and proinsulin levels (Luef, et al., 2002).Jun 26, 2008
How many ratings does Valproic acid have?
Valproic acid has an average rating of 5.6 out of 10 from a total of 24 ratings for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 46% of users who reviewed this medication reported a positive effect, while 46% reported a negative effect.
Is a bipolar mood stabilizer effective?
Quick acting and highly effective in stabilizing bipolar II disorder. Some initial side effects were vivid dreams, trouble sleeping, racing thoughts and upset stomach. All of which have passed. That being said, this is my first mood stabilizer but it has been really effective none the less.
What is valproic acid?
Valproic acid has been used for many years and is widely accepted as an effective substance for the management of seizure disorders and bipolar disorder, as well as other mood and behavior disorders. The term “valproic acid” is associated with three medications: valproic acid, divalproex sodium and valproate sodium.
When was Valproic Acid discovered?
The history of valproic acid begins when it was first discovered in 1882 by the chemist Beverly Burton; however, it was not until the 1960s that scientists and physicians realized that the substance could be used to reduce seizures in people with epilepsy.
What to do if you overdose on valproic acid?
In the case of an overdose or a suspected overdose, it is best to call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222 to speak with a trained overdose professional.
What are the side effects of Valproic Acid?
When starting to take valproic acid, it is important for a person to contact their doctor if they begin to experience any side effects from the medication: Valproic acid side effects include: Dizziness. Drowsiness. Headache. Constipation. Diarrhea. Weight changes. Changes in appetite. Back pain.
Can valproic acid affect lab results?
Valproic acid can interact with other medications or supplements and skew some laboratory test results. It is important for individuals to keep a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medicines they are taking and to share this with health care professionals when starting a new medication, undergoing laboratory tests or receiving emergency treatment.
Can you take Valproic acid with bipolar disorder?
The recommended dosing of valproic acid in bipolar disorder depends on the specific product selected by the doctor, multiple patient factors, including a history of liver disease or bleeding abnormalities, and other medications that the person may be taking.
Is valproic acid a non-active ingredient?
Prior to its use as a medication, valproic acid was used as a nonactive ingredient for chemical reactions. In the United States, valproic acid was approved for the treatment of epilepsy in 1983 and then for the management of bipolar disorder in 1995. Valproic acid products are still commonly prescribed and accepted as effective for the treatment ...
How many ratings does Valproic acid have?
Valproic acid has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 46 ratings on Drugs.com. 50% of users who reviewed this medication reported a positive effect, while 38% reported a negative effect.
How long is bipolar bear taken?
Bipolarbear · Taken for 1 to 6 months May 25, 2019. For Bipolar Disorder: “Not for me. Didn’t do much to stabilize me at low levels and sedated me at high levels. Also the side effects of Nausea, hair loss, zero sex drive etc didn’t help.
Is valproic acid bad for epilepsy?
For Epilepsy: “valproic acid is a horrible medicine Try to avoid. I lost 5 years of my life to memory loss before switching to vimpat (not 100% but definitely better)”
Is a bipolar mood stabilizer effective?
Quick acting and highly effective in stabilizing bipolar II disorder. Some initial side effects were vivid dreams, trouble sleeping, racing thoughts and upset stomach. All of which have passed. That being said, this is my first mood stabilizer but it has been really effective none the less.
What is the evidence base for bipolar disorder?
Purpose of Review The evidence basis for treatment of bipolar disorder, both for adults and children, is fairly varied and while Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval provides one marker of evidence, many psychotropic medications are used for off-label indications. Primary care providers are increasingly at the forefront of initiating treatment for patients with mental health disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current state of evidence for medications treating bipolar disorder, highlighting the evidence, exploring contraindications, side effects, and monitoring requirements for each of the major agents available. Recent Findings Currently, there are three major classes of medication to treat bipolar disorder: lithium, anti-seizure drugs, and a growing range of second-generation antipsychotics. The guiding principle in initiation of treatment is to target treatment to the primary phase of illness while balancing side effect profiles with patient characteristics and comorbidities. Summary While FDA approval of medications for the treatment of bipolar disorder is somewhat limited for both children and adults, in practice, a wider range of medications have shown to be useful. Increasing second-generation antipsychotic medications can be used as first-line agents for both bipolar mania and bipolar depression.
What is sodium valproate?
Sodium valproate (VPA) is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, widely prescribed in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and yet the precise modes of therapeutic action for this drug are not fully understood. After exposure of the rat serotonergic cell line RN46A to VPA, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis showed widespread changes in gene expression. Analysis by multiple pipelines revealed as many as 230 genes were significantly upregulated and 72 genes were significantly downregulated. A subset of 23 differentially expressed genes was selected for validation using the nCounter platform, and of these we obtained robust validation for ADAM23, LSP1, MAOB, MMP13, PAK3, SERPINB2, SNAP91, WNT6, and ZCCHC12. We investigated the effect of lithium on this subset and found four genes, CDKN1C, LSP1, SERPINB2 and WNT6 co-regulated by lithium and VPA. We also explored the effects of other HDAC inhibitors and the VPA analogue valpromide on the subset of 23 selected genes. Expression of eight of these genes, CDKN1C, MAOB, MMP13, NGFR, SHANK3, VGF, WNT6 and ZCCHC12, was modified by HDAC inhibition, whereas others did not appear to respond to several HDAC inhibitors tested. These results suggest VPA may regulate genes through both HDAC-dependent and independent mechanisms. Understanding the broader gene regulatory effects of VPA in this serotonergic cell model should provide insights into how this drug works and whether other HDACi compounds may have similar gene regulatory effects, as well as highlighting molecular processes that may underlie regulation of mood.
What are MSCs in Trail?
Human bone marrow‑derived mesenchymal stem cells secreting tumor necrosis factor‑related apoptosis‑inducing ligand (MSCs‑TRAIL) have demonstrated effective anti‑tumor activity against various tumors including lung, pancreatic and prostate tumors, although several tumor types are not responsive. In such case, other reagents may decrease tumor growth via TRAIL‑mediated cell death. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of valproic acid (VPA) in enhancing the efficacy of TRAIL, which was delivered using MSCs. Moreover, the present study examined the induced tumor tropism of MSCs via cell viability and migration assays. Combination treatment with VPA and MSCs‑TRAIL enhanced the glioma therapeutic effect by increasing death receptor 5 and caspase activation. Migration assays identified increased MSC migration in VPA and MSCs‑TRAIL‑treated glioma cells and in the tumor site in glioma‑bearing mice compared with VPA or MSC‑TRAIL treatment alone. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MSC‑based TRAIL gene delivery to VPA‑treated tumors had greater therapeutic efficacy compared with treatment with each agent alone. These findings suggested that VPA treatment increased the therapeutic efficacy of MSC‑TRAIL via TRAIL‑induced apoptosis and enhanced tropism of MSCs, which may offer a useful strategy for tumor gene therapy.
What is the role of Kv7?
K v 7 ("M-type," KCNQ) K+ currents, play dominant roles in controlling neuronal excitability. They act as a "brake" against hyperexcitable states in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Pharmacological augmentation of M current has been developed for controlling epileptic seizures, although current pharmacological tools are uneven in practical usefulness. Lately, however, M-current "opener" compounds have been suggested to be efficacious in preventing brain damage after multiple types of insults/diseases, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, drug addiction and mood disorders. In this review, we will discuss what is known to date on these efforts and identify gaps in our knowledge regarding the link between M current and therapeutic potential for these disorders. We will outline the preclinical experiments that are yet to be performed to demonstrate the likelihood of success of this approach in human trials. Finally, we also address multiple pharmacological tools available to manipulate different K v 7 subunits and the relevant evidence for translational application in the clinical use for disorders of the central nervous system and multiple types of brain insults. We feel there to be great potential for manipulation of K v 7 channels as a novel therapeutic mode of intervention in the clinic, and that the paucity of existing therapies obligates us to perform further research, so that patients can soon benefit from such therapeutic approaches.
What is phosphorylated tau?
Phosphorylation is one of the most prevalent post-translational modifications found in aggregated tau isolated from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient brains. In tauopathies like AD, increased phosphorylation or hyperphosphorylation can contribute to microtubule dysfunction and is associated with tau aggregation. In this review, we provide an overview of the structure and functions of tau protein as well as the physiologic roles of tau phosphorylation. We also extensively survey tau phosphorylation sites identified in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from AD patients compared to age-matched healthy controls, which may serve as disease-specific biomarkers. Recently, new assays have been developed to measure minute amounts of specific forms of phosphorylated tau in both cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, which could potentially be useful for aiding clinical diagnosis and monitoring disease progression. Additionally, multiple therapies targeting phosphorylated tau are in various stages of clinical trials including kinase inhibitors, phosphatase activators, and tau immunotherapy. With promising early results, therapies that target phosphorylated tau could be useful at slowing tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in AD and other tauopathies.
How does VPA affect energy metabolism?
The widely used mood stabilizer valproate (VPA) causes perturbation of energy metabolism, which is implicated in both the therapeutic mechanism of action of the drug as well as drug toxicity. To gain insight into these mechanisms, we determined the effects of VPA on energy metabolism in yeast. VPA treatment increased levels of glycolytic intermediates, increased expression of glycolysis genes, and increased ethanol production. Increased glycolysis was likely a response to perturbation of mitochondrial function, as reflected in decreased membrane potential and oxygen consumption. Interestingly, yeast, mouse liver, and isolated bovine cytochrome c oxidase were directly inhibited by the drug, while activities of other oxidative phosphorylation complexes (III and V) were not affected. These findings have implications for mechanisms of therapeutic action and toxicity.
How does pharmacogenomics help?
Therefore, pharmacogenomics can help clinicians in optimizing therapy based on patient’s genotype, also in psychiatric and neurological settings. However, pharmacogenetic screenings for psychotropic drugs are not routinely employed in diagnosis and monitoring of patients treated with mood stabilizers, such as carbamazepine and valproate, because their benefit in clinical practice is still controversial. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on pharmacogenetic biomarkers of these anticonvulsant drugs.