TLDR Sodium valproate can cause severe liver disease and side effects, sometimes leading to death.
Five patients, including four children, developed acute liver disease following treatment with sodium valproate, with three fatalities. The liver disease manifested 3-6 months after initiating treatment and was frequently accompanied by side effects like thrombocytopenia and hair loss.
59 citations
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October 1976 in “BMJ” Sodium valproate can cause low platelet count.
3 citations
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October 1976 in “BMJ” Sodium valproate can cause low platelets and hair loss.
17 citations
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January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Pharmacology” High levels of the seizure medication sodium valproate can cause hair loss.
4 citations
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January 2019 in “PubMed” Low dose valproate in epileptic children mainly causes weight gain and other non-life-threatening side effects.
Topical valproate can effectively promote hair growth.