Valproate (Valproic acid)

What is Valproate?

Valproate is a pill that you can buy at a pharmacy. What is a Valproate? Medical professionals say that this product contains Valproic acid. How does this medicine work? The drug instructions state that this is an anticonvulsant drug. Valproate has no sedative and hypnotic effects, nor does it suppress the center of respiration. Moreover, its active substance does not have a negative effect on the heart rate, body temperature, arterial pressure and renal function.

You can find this medication in your local drugstores or you may buy cheap Valproate online.

In what kind of disease treatment, Valproate is helpful?

For which conditions and diseases Valproate 500 mg is most effective? Instructions for use, testimonials from experienced specialists indicate that the medicine is used specially for the treatment of generalized epilepsy, including the following types of seizures:

• Myoclonic
• Absences
• Atonic
• Tonic-clonic

Also, this drug is prescribed for partial epilepsy, or more precisely, with:

• Secondary generalized attacks
• Combined or simple attacks

In addition, these pills are often used in the emergence of specific syndromes (Lennox–Gastaut and West syndrome).

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Valproate?

According to the opinion of many specialists and manufacturers of this medication, there are many prohibitions to use:

• Pregnancy
• Severe impairment in the functioning of the pancreas
• Thrombocytopenia
• Hepatitis of acute or chronic character
• Porphyria
• Cases of active hepatitis (medicinal genesis)
• Breastfeeding
• Age of children under three years old
• Increased sensitivity to the components of the medication, including Valproic acid

How should I take Valproate?

Valproate oral must be swallowed whole,washed down with a small amount of warm (not hot) water.

The frequency of taking this medicine is 1-2 times a day.

If you are looking for inexpensive medications, you may buy generic Valproate online. This medicine can be purchased from New Zealand pharmacies online. Traditional pharmacies also sell this medication.

Valproate dosage information

The dosage of this drug is selected individually, depending on the body weight and age of the patient.

As a rule, for adults, the initial dose of Valproate is 600 mg per day. In the future, this amount is increased by 200 mg every three days until the desired result is achieved). Maximum recommended dosage of the drug is 1-2 g per day. In the elderly, the dosage regimen of this remedy is similar to the dosage regimen in adult patients, but is selected on an individual basis. For toddlers with a body weight of 20 kg, the initial Valproate dose is 400 mg per day. This amount should be increased gradually to achieve the desired result (about 20-30 mg kg per day in 1-2 admissions).

It is prohibited to prescribe this anticonvulsant drug to children weighing less than 20 kg.

What may interact with?

This drug is able to enhance the effect of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Unlike other anticonvulsants, this medication does not promote induction of liver enzymes; therefore, it does not reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. With the parallel administration of Warfarin, its percentage of binding to proteins is reduced. The active substance of the described drug is capable of altering the plasma concentrations of Lamotrigine and Phenytoin. When combined with acetylsalicylic acidderivatives and anticoagulants, the anti-aggregate effect is increased. When Valproate is co-administered with ethanol, as well as other medicines thatsuppress the CNS (e.g., MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs), CNS suppression may be increased. Alcohol and other hepatotoxic drugs increase the risk of developing liver damage. The considered medication increases the half-life of Lamotrigine, as well as causes a slowing down of its metabolism and suppresses liver enzymes. In this regard, the half-life of the drug can be increased to 70 hours in adult patients and up to 45 hours in children. Valproate is able to reduce the clearance of Zidovudine by about 40%.

MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs (neuroleptics), as well as other drugs that reduce the level of seizure readiness, greatly reduce the effectiveness of Valproate.

What should I watch for while taking Valproate?

According to experts, it is only possible to take Valproate during pregnancy only if the potential benefit for the future mother exceeds the possible risk for the baby. When taking medication during pregnancy it is necessary to carry out specialized prenatal observation of the fetus. The use of the drug during lactation is prohibited.

Before you start treatment with this medication, you should always consult your doctor. While taking this medication, regular monitoring of the content of bilirubin in the blood, amylase and platelets, as well as the activity of hepatic transaminases (every 3 months) is required. According to experts, Valproic acid is able to inhibit platelet aggregation. This greatly increases the risk of increasing blood clotting time during bleeding. It is necessary to take into account the probable development of complications associated with bleeding in postoperative time. With prolonged use of this medicine, may develop spontaneous bleeding and hematomas. In this case, stop taking this medicine immediately. This medication often causes pancreatitis, as well as contributes to the disruption of the liver function (usually in the first 6 months of treatment). In this regard, at the very beginning of therapy, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the patient's pancreas, as well as regularly carry out liver tests and observe the level of prothrombin. Disrupted liver function and hepatic insufficiency against the background of taking this medicine may be observed in children with epilepsy, with metabolic and degenerative diseases, delayed mental development and organic pathology of brain tissue. When observing signs such as lethargy, weakness, swelling, jaundice and vomiting, it is necessary to immediately stop using the drug.

When taking Valproate, the patient should be particularly careful when dealing with complex mechanisms and driving vehicles. This is due to the fact that this medication is able to reduce the concentration of attention.

Valproate side effects

On the background of taking this drug, patients may experience some negative effects:

• Allergic reactions: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, skin rash, erythema multiforme, itchy skin, sensitivity to light
• Digestive system disorders: nausea, hepatitis, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, pancreatitis
• Sexual system problems: secondary amenorrhea, menstrual irregularities
• CNS: coma, tremor, ataxia, disturbance of consciousness
• System of hematopoiesis: anemia, inhibition of platelet aggregation, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, neutropenia, decrease of fibrinogen content
• Others: weight gain, hair loss, creatininemia, hyperammonemia

Where can I keep Valproate?

Anticonvulsant drug Valproate is a prescription-only medication that is sold in pharmacy. However, it is possible to buy Valproate online without prescription. This medicinal product should be stored in a place not accessible to children and protected from moisture, and also at a temperature not more than 30°C (86°F). The expiration date of this medicine is three years from the date of manufacture.