Long-Term Treatment With Sodium Valproate

    March 1987 in “ Therapeutic Drug Monitoring ”
    Gaetano Zaccara, R. Campostrini, M. Paganini, Andrea Messori, T Valenza, G. Arnetoli, R Zappoli
    TLDR Combining sodium valproate with other epilepsy drugs increases ammonia levels and side effects.
    The study monitored venous blood ammonia concentrations and adverse effects in 40 epilepsy patients treated with valproate (VPA) over 7 months. Group 1, with 16 patients, received VPA alone, while Group 2, with 24 patients, received VPA with other anticonvulsants. Group 2 showed a significant increase in ammonia levels and higher VPA concentrations compared to Group 1. Adverse effects, including drowsiness, tremors, weight gain, hair loss, and gastrointestinal symptoms, were reported by 23 patients. The study confirmed that changes in ammonia levels were more pronounced in patients taking VPA with other antiepileptic drugs.
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