What is valproic acid?
Valproic acid affects chemicals in the body that may be involved in causing seizures.
Valproic acid is used to treat various types of seizure disorders. Valproic acid is sometimes used together with other seizure medications.
Valproic acid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about valproic acid?
Valproic acid may cause harm to an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both the mother and the baby.
Valproic acid may also affect cognitive development in children born to mothers who take this medication during pregnancy. Studies have shown that these children may score lower on cognitive tests (reasoning, intelligence, and problem-solving) than children whose mothers took other seizure medications during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking valproic acid for seizures. Do not start or stop taking valproic acid during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.
In rare cases, valproic acid has caused life-threatening liver failure, especially in children younger than 2 years old.
Valproic acid has also caused rare cases of life-threatening pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can come on suddenly and symptoms may start even after you have been taking valproic acid for several years.
Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking this medicine has nausea, vomiting, upper stomach pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage. Some of these symptoms may also be early signs of pancreatitis.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking valproic acid?
In rare cases, valproic acid has caused life-threatening liver failure, especially in children younger than 2 years old. Children of this age may be at even greater risk for liver problems if they use more than one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic disorder, or if they have a brain disease causing mental impairment (such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, or a brain injury or infection).
Valproic acid has also caused rare cases of life-threatening pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can come on suddenly and symptoms may start even after you have been taking valproic acid for several years. Do not take valproic acid if you have liver disease or a urea cycle disorder.
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to valproic acid, or if you have severe liver disease or a urea cycle disorder.
To make sure you can safely take valproic acid, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
a history of head injury, brain disorder, or coma;
a family history of a urea cycle disorder;
a family history of infant deaths with unknown cause; or
HIV or CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
FDA pregnancy category D. Valproic acid can cause birth defects. Do not start taking valproic acid without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking valproic acid.
Valproic acid may also affect cognitive development in children born to mothers who take this medication during pregnancy. Studies have shown that these children may score lower on cognitive tests (reasoning, intelligence, and problem-solving) than children whose mothers took other seizure medications during pregnancy.
Although valproic acid may harm an unborn baby, having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. If you become pregnant while taking valproic acid, do not stop taking the medicine without your doctor's advice.
Seizure control is very important during pregnancy. The benefit of preventing seizures may outweigh any risks posed by taking valproic acid. There may be other seizure medications that can be more safely used during pregnancy. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking valproic acid while you are pregnant.
Valproic acid can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using valproic acid.