Do you or someone in your family have a seizure disorder, or epilepsy? If so, your doctor may have prescribed you a shot called Valproate Sodium. This is an injection that is given directly into a vein. So today, let's talk about what this medicine is, what it does, and what you need to be careful about when using it. This information will be very important to you.
What is Valproate Sodium?
Simply put, this is a medicine that is given to control and prevent seizures caused by epilepsy. A seizure occurs when the nerves in our brain become overactive and rapid. This medicine works by calming those overactive nerves. Then the seizure is controlled.
This medicine can sometimes be used for other conditions. If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before starting this treatment, it is extremely important to give your doctor a complete and honest account of your health condition. This medicine may not be compatible with some medical conditions. Be sure to tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has any of the following conditions.
- If you are a regular drinker .
- If you have kidney disease .
- If you have liver disease .
- If you have low platelets in your blood.
- If you have a rare condition like mitochondrial disease .
- If you or someone in your family has had suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts .
- If you have a urea cycle disorder (UCD) .
- If you have previously had an allergic reaction to this medicine (Valproate) or similar medicines, other medicines, foods, or dyes.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant (this is very important).
- If you are a mother who is breastfeeding a child .
Hiding this information from the doctor could even endanger your life. So please explain everything clearly.
How do you get this medicine?
This is not a medicine that you can take home. This is an injection that is given into a vein. This means that it is given to you by medical staff in a hospital or clinic. So you don't have to worry about the dosage or the timing.
This medicine is also given to children over 10 years of age in some selected cases. However, this decision is made by a pediatrician.
What if the dose of the medicine increases?
Since this is given in a hospital setting, the chances of an overdose are very low. However, if you think you have overdosed, you should inform the medical staff immediately. Normally, if you take too much of any other medicine, we would advise you to call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . However, since this is given in a hospital setting, the best thing to do is to inform the doctor or nurse there immediately. In an emergency, you will be referred directly to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
It is important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, including vitamins, traditional medicines, and even herbs, because some medications can cause problems when combined with Valproate.
| Type of medicine | Description |
|---|---|
| Medicines that should definitely not be taken | |
| Sodium phenylbutyrate | This drug should never be taken with Valproate. |
| Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking the following medications: | |
| Aspirin | The effects of valproate can be altered. |
| Some antibiotics | E.g. Ertapenem, Imipenem, Meropenem. |
| Medication for mental illness | Medications for conditions such as depression and anxiety. |
| Medications for other fits | Medicines like Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Phenytoin. |
| Anticoagulant | Like Warfarin. |
| Hormones | Medications containing estrogen or progestin. |
Things to be careful about while taking the medicine
Serious skin reactions
Some people may develop a serious skin reaction a few weeks or months after starting this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you develop a rash along with symptoms such as a fever or a cold . These rashes may turn red or purple, then blister and the skin may peel off. You may also have swelling of the face, lips, or a lump in the neck or armpits. These can be very serious symptoms, so do not ignore them.
Sleepiness and attention
This medicine may make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or have blurred vision . Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Drinking alcohol can make this sleepiness worse. Therefore, avoid alcohol completely.
Changes in mental health
This is also a very important issue. Patients and their families should be aware of this. New or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal ideation may occur while taking this medication. Sudden changes in mood, such as feeling anxious, irritable, restless, or having trouble sleeping, may also occur. If this happens, especially when you first start taking the medication or after changing the dosage, tell your doctor right away.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Taking this medicine during pregnancy or if you are planning to become pregnant can cause serious side effects to the unborn baby.
Therefore, if you are planning to have a child, talk to your doctor as soon as you plan to do so. He or she will be able to advise you on a safer option. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, inform your doctor as soon as you know.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, this one can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common.
| Side effect | What to do |
|---|---|
| Side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rashes, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Liver injury | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine. |
| Pancreatitis | Severe stomach pain radiating to the back, fever, nausea. |
| Suicidal thoughts, mental changes | Changes in mental health as previously described. |
| Unusual bleeding or bruising | Bleeding that does not stop even from a small wound. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Dizziness, drowsiness | If these persist or interfere with daily activities. |
| Headache, nausea | It usually subsides within a few days. |
| Change in taste, vision changes | If these persist, inform the doctor. |
| Pain and redness at the injection site | This usually heals on its own. |
Take-Home Message
- Valproate Sodium is an injection given into a vein in a hospital to control seizures.
- Before starting treatment, it is imperative that you tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions and medications you are taking.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe skin rash, changes in mental status, or signs of liver damage (such as yellowing of the eyes) while taking this medicine.
- If you are planning to become pregnant, taking this medication is very risky. Talk to your doctor about this before even thinking about having a child.
- This medication may cause drowsiness, so be careful when performing activities that require alertness.
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