Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1. To treat seizures (partial, generalized, tonic, clonic, myoclonic) 2. To treat migraines or headaches 3. To treat bipolar disorder |
| Common Side Effects | 1. Black, tarry stools 2. Bleeding gums 3. Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet 4. Blood in the urine or stools 5. Chills 6. Confusion 7. Cough 8. Delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness 9. Diarrhea 10. Difficult or labored breathing 11. Dysphoria 12. False beliefs that cannot be changed by facts 13. False or unusual sense of well-being 14. Feeling of unreality 15. Fever 16. General feeling of discomfort or illness 17. Headache 18. Hoarseness 19. Joint pain 20. Loss of appetite 21. Lower back or side pain 22. Mental depression 23. Muscle aches and pains 24. Nausea 25. Nervousness 26. Painful or difficult urination 27. Pinpoint red spots on the skin 28. Poor insight and judgment 29. Problems with memory or speech 30. Rapid weight gain 31. Rapidly changing moods 32. Runny nose 33. Sense of detachment from self or body 34. Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet 35. Shivering 36. Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness 37. Sore throat 38. Sweating 39. Tightness in the chest 40. Tingling of the hands or feet 41. Trembling or shaking of the hands or feet 42. Trouble recognizing objects 43. Trouble sleeping 44. Trouble thinking and planning 45. Trouble walking 46. Unusual bleeding or bruising 47. Unusual tiredness or weakness 48. Unusual weight gain or loss 49. Vomiting |
| Additional Information | This medicine can create drowsiness, so avoid driving or any other machinery work that may cause accidents. |
| Storage | 1. The medicine should be stored at room temperature. 2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture. 3. Keep away from the reach of children. |
| How to Take This Medicine | Swallow this medicine with water. |
Sodium Valproate Uses
Sodium Valproate 200 mg (EC) is an oral medicine belonging to the category of anticonvulsant drugs and is used for the following indications:
- Seizures
- Migraines
- Bipolar disorder
Sodium Valproate side effects
More Common
- Black, tarry stools
- Bleeding gums
- Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- Blood in the urine or stools
- Chills
- Confusion
- Cough
- Delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
- Diarrhea
- Difficult or labored breathing
- Dysphoria
- False beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
- False or unusual sense of well-being
- Feeling of unreality
- Fever
- General feeling of discomfort or illness
- Headache
- Hoarseness
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Lower back or side pain
- Mental depression
- Muscle aches and pains
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Painful or difficult urination
- Pinpoint red spots on the skin
- Poor insight and judgment
- Problems with memory or speech
- Rapid weight gain
- Rapidly changing moods
- Runny nose
- Sense of detachment from self or body
- Shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
- Shivering
- Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
- Sore throat
- Sweating
- Tightness in the chest
- Tingling of the hands or feet
- Trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
- Trouble recognizing objects
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble thinking and planning
- Trouble walking
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Unusual weight gain or loss
- Vomiting
Less Common
- Abnormal dreams
- Absence of or decrease in body movement
- Anxiety
- Bloody nose
- Blurred vision
- Bruising, burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
- Change in personality
- Change in walking and balance
- Changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
- Chest pain
- Cloudy urine
- Clumsiness or unsteadiness
- Cold sweats
- Constipation
- Dark urine
- Deep or fast breathing with dizziness
- Degenerative disease of the joint
- Difficulty with moving
- Dizziness
- Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- Dry mouth
- Excessive muscle tone
- Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- Feeling of warmth or heat
- Flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
- Increased need to urinate
- Indigestion
- Lack of coordination
- Large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
- Leg cramps
- Lip smacking or puckering
- Loss of bladder control
- Loss of strength or energy
- Multiple swollen and inflamed skin lesions
- Muscle pain or stiffness
- Muscle tension or tightness
- Normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected
- Numbness of the feet, hands and around mouth
- Pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
- Passing urine more often
- Pounding in the ears
- Puffing of the cheeks
- Rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
- Rapid weight gain
- Restlessness
- Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- Shakiness and unsteady walk
- Slurred speech
- Small red or purple spots on the skin
- Sweating
- Swollen joints
- Trouble with speaking
- Twitching
- Uncontrolled chewing movements
- Uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs
- Unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
- Vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Yellow eyes or skin
How Sodium Valproate works
Sodium valproate works by calming the brain’s nerve signals using a natural chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and by blocking certain overactive pathways. This helps prevent sudden seizures in epilepsy and controls extreme mood swings in bipolar disorder. Think of it like a traffic cop for your brain, slowing things down and keeping emotions steady. It brings more control and calm to how the mind works.
Safety Measures and Warning
📌 Pregnancy
Sodium valproate can harm baby growth if taken during pregnancy, especially affecting the brain and its development. Doctors only use it if no safer medicine works; in case they need, choose the smallest helpful dose.
📌 Breastfeeding
Sodium valproate passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should stop breastfeeding or stop sodium valproate.
📌 Kidney and Liver Problems
Patients suffering from kidney and liver problems are more prone to kidney and liver damage due to the use of this medicine.
📌 Past Mental Health Issues
Sodium Valproate directly acts on the brain and causes different effects like sedation, drowsiness, and suicidal thoughts. inform the doctor about your past mental health issues before using it.
Sodium Valproate Interaction with Food Product
Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking simultaneously as it may affect the drug’s action and show an effect on blood glucose levels.
Sodium valproate Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking Sodium Valproate 200 mg (EC) with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Sodium Valproate Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name
sodium 2-propylpentanoate
Intake routine/cycle
📌 Daily Dose
Take sodium valproate exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.
📌 Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
📌 Overdose
Avoid taking more than 2500 mg of sodium valproate per day, as it may cause severe overdosing effects like extreme drowsiness, confusion, low blood pressure, unconsciousness, sweating, and coordination issues. If any severe effects arise due to overdose, take him to the doctor.
Storage
- Store the medicine at room temperature.
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Directions for use
- Take sodium valproate exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking sodium valproate without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take sodium valproate, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
Sodium Valproate Summary
Sodium valproate is a medication consisting of valproic acid and sodium valproate, used primarily to treat seizures, bipolar disorder and prevent migraines. It works by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a key chemical that calms excitation of nerves and helps stabilize mood and control seizures. Common side effects include nausea, sleepiness, tremors, hair thinning, weight gain, and liver-related issues; the drug should be avoided in individuals with liver dysfunction, and particularly in pregnant women, due to the risk of harm to the fetus. Consuming it with food can reduce gastrointestinal discomfort. Alcohol intensifies sedative effects and therefore should be avoided.
FAQ’s
1. What is the action of sodium valproate’s on human body?
➡️ Sodium valproate works by calming the brain’s nerve signals using a natural chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid and by blocking certain overactive pathways. This helps prevent sudden seizures in epilepsy and controls extreme mood swings in bipolar disorder.
2. What are the indications of sodium valproate?
➡️ Sodium valproate is a medication consisting of valproic acid and sodium valproate, used primarily to treat seizures and bipolar disorder and prevent migraines.
3. Which class does sodium valproate belong to?
➡️ Sodium valproate belongs to the category of anticonvulsants, and it is a sodium salt of valproic acid belonging to the class of short-chain fatty acid anticonvulsants or miscellaneous anticonvulsants.
4. What are sodium valproate brand names?
➡️ Depacone, Depakote, Depakene, and Stavzor are the most common brand names of sodium valproate. Although sodium valproate has different brand names that are endorsed by marketing companies, the salt name remains the same. Many of the brands fail to pass the Central Drug Standard Control Organization standard quality test, and it’s the time when online pharmacy like Saya Care steps in, and we provide the medicine with a quality test report. ly seek medical attention and provide the patient with sufficient fluids and sugary foods to minimize the effects.
Reference
- Valproate sodium (intravenous route). Mayo Clinic. [accessed 28 Jul 2025] Available from.
- PubChem. Sodium Valproate. Nih.gov. [accessed 28 Jul 2025] Available from.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (US). LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2012 [updated 2023 Jul 10; cited 2025 Jul 28]. Available from.
- Practo. Sodium Valproate: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Price, Composition [Internet]. Bangalore: Practo Technologies Pvt Ltd; [updated 2017 Nov 16; cited 2025 Jul 28]. Available from.
- Drugs.com. Valproate Sodium: Advanced Patient Information [Internet]. New Jersey: Drugs.com; [updated 2024 Oct 4; cited 2025 Jul 28]. Available from.
