Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Valproate Sustained-Release Formulation in Newly Diagnosed Partial Epilepsy: VIPe Study. A Multicenter Observational Open-Label Study

In a study conducted between November 2004 and May 2006 across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, excluding Saudi Arabia, 77 newly-diagnosed epileptic patients with partial seizures were observed to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of valproate (VPA) sustained-release in monotherapy. The study included both adults (56%) and children (44%) with an average epilepsy duration of 5 months for children and 17 months for adults. At the end of the study, 66 patients (treatment retention rate of 80.5%) completed the 6-month period, with 87% achieving seizure freedom using VPA sustained-release monotherapy at an average dose of 22 mg/kg/day. Adverse drug reactions, including hair loss and tremor, were reported in less than 20% of patients, primarily affecting adults. The study concluded that VPA sustained-release monotherapy is effective and well-tolerated for short-term treatment in this patient population.