Effectiveness and Adverse Drug Reaction Mechanisms Associated With Valproic Acid Use: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study in Indonesia
March 2025
in “
Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal
”
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Studysummary This observational study found that while 96.6% of patients using valproic acid showed the expected clinical response, over half experienced adverse reactions like weight gain, hair loss, and hepatotoxicity, highlighting the need for personalized treatment approaches to minimize these side effects.
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The study evaluated the effectiveness and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of valproic acid (VPA) in 87 outpatients from two Indonesian hospitals. It found that 96.6% of patients experienced the expected clinical response to VPA, but 57.47% experienced ADRs, including weight gain (31.03%), hair loss (16.09%), and hepatotoxicity (10.34%). The study highlights the need for an individualized approach to minimize ADRs and emphasizes monitoring hepatotoxicity. Genetic factors may influence these ADRs, and further research is needed to explore these links. Limitations include a non-randomly selected research location and single time-point data collection, suggesting the need for longitudinal studies.