Dosage ; 800mg-1400mg daily.
Children up to 3 years; 20-30mg/kg daily,
3-15 years; 400mg to slightly lower than 1400mg daily.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer Name | Distributor | Drug Strength | Packaging | Formulation | Formulation Strength | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convulex | Nycomed International Management GmbH | Phillips Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 300mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 2,820.00 |
| Convulex | Nycomed International Management GmbH | Phillips Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 250mg | 100ml | Syrup | per 5ML | KES 1,200.00 |
| Epilim | Sanofi Aventis | Surgipharm Ltd | 200mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 1,673.00 |
| Epilim | Sanofi Aventis | Surgipharm Ltd | 300mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 2,743.00 |
| Epilim | Sanofi Aventis | Surgipharm Ltd | 500mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 4,779.00 |
| Epilim | Sanofi Aventis | Surgipharm Ltd | 300ml | Syrup | per 5ML | KES 1,114 | |
| Epilim | Sanofi Aventis | Surgipharm Ltd | 400mg | 1 | Injection | per vial | KES 1,283.45 |
| Valcip | Cipla Ltd. | Lords Healthcare Ltd. | 200mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 1,092 |
| Valcip | Cipla Ltd. | Lords Healthcare Ltd. | 300mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 1,150 |
| Valcip | Cipla Ltd. | Lords Healthcare Ltd. | 500mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 2,127 |
| Valex | Incepta Pharma | Radiance Pharmaceuticals Limited | 200mg | 100ml | Syrup | per 5ML | KES 367 |
| Valstal | Stallion Laboratories Ltd | Medox Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 200mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 430 |
| Encorate | Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd | Sunpar Pharmaceuticals Ltd. | 200mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 1,300.00 |
| Epiroate | GlaxoSmithkline | GlaxoSmithKline | 300mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 843.80 |
| Epiroate | GlaxoSmithkline | GlaxoSmithKline | 500mg | 100 | Tablet | per tablet | KES 1,210.50 |
| Sodium valproate | |
|---|---|
| Mode Of Action | Enhancing and /or mimicking the inhibitory synaptic action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). |
| Drug Indication | All forms of epilepsy; manic disorders; prophylaxis of migraine headache |
| Precautions | Platelet counts and bleeding time to be monitored; caution when performing activity requiring alertness; monitor hepatic functions; diabetes |
| Contra-Indications | Severe hepatic disorders; pregnancy; hypersensitivity to valproic acid |
| Side Effects | Ataxia; increased appetite and weight gain; GI disturbances; rashes; tremor; nausea; blood disorders; transient hair loss; hyperammonemia; prolongation of bleeding time, pancreatitis, hepatic disorders. |
| Dosage | 800mg-1400mg daily. Children up to 3 years; 20-30mg/kg daily, 3-15 years; 400mg to slightly lower than 1400mg daily. |
| Special Information | Sodium 2-propylpentanoate |
| Pregnancy Category | Category D |
| Pregnancy Category Description | Drugs, which have caused, are suspected to have caused, or may be expected to cause an increased rise in the frequency of malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects required required |
| Drug Category | DRUGS ACTING ON CNS |
| Drug Sub-Category | Anticonvulsants |
Specific Dosages;
Dosing: Adult
Seizures: Administer doses >250 mg/day in divided doses.
Oral:
Simple and complex absence seizure: Initial: 15 mg/kg/day; increase by 5-10 mg/kg/day at weekly intervals until therapeutic levels are achieved; maximum: 60 mg/kg/day.
Complex partial seizure: Initial: 10-15 mg/kg/day; increase by 5-10 mg/kg/day at weekly intervals until therapeutic levels are achieved; maximum: 60 mg/kg/day.
Note: Regular release and delayed release formulations are usually given in 2-4 divided doses/day; extended release formulation (DepakoteŽ ER) is usually given once daily. Conversion to DepakoteŽ ER from a stable dose of DepakoteŽ may require an increase in the total daily dose between 8% and 20% to maintain similar serum concentrations.
I.V.: Administer as a 60-minute infusion (≤20 mg/minute) with the same frequency as oral products; switch patient to oral products as soon as possible. Rapid infusions ≤45 mg/kg over 5-10 minutes (1.5-6 mg/kg/minute) were generally well tolerated in clinical trials.
Rectal (unlabeled): Dilute syrup 1:1 with water for use as a retention enema; loading dose: 17-20 mg/kg one time; maintenance: 10-15 mg/kg/dose every 8 hours
Status epilepticus (unlabeled use):
Loading dose: I.V.: 15-45 mg/kg administered at ≤ 6 mg/kg/minute
Maintenance dose: I.V. infusion: 1-4 mg/kg/hour; titrate dose as needed based upon patient response and evaluation of drug-drug interactions
Mania: Oral:
Initial: 750 mg/day in divided doses; dose should be adjusted as rapidly as possible to desired clinical effect; maximum recommended dosage: 60 mg/kg/day
Initial: 25 mg/kg/day given once daily; dose should be adjusted as rapidly as possible to desired clinical effect; maximum recommended dose: 60 mg/kg/day.
Migraine prophylaxis: Oral:
250 mg twice daily; adjust dose based on patient response, up to 1000 mg/day
500 mg once daily for 7 days, then increase to 1000 mg once daily; adjust dose based on patient response; usual dosage range 500-1000 mg/day
Diabetic neuropathy (unlabeled use): Oral: 500-1200 mg/day (Bril, 2011)
Dosing: Pediatric
(For additional information see "Valproate: Pediatric drug information")
Seizures:
Oral, I.V.:
Simple and complex absence seizures: Refer to adult dosing. Larger maintenance doses may be required in younger children.
Complex partial seizures: Children ≥10 years: Refer to adult dosing. Larger maintenance doses may be required in younger children.
Note: DepakoteŽ ER is not recommended for use in children <10 years of age.
Rectal (unlabeled): Refer to adult dosing.
Migraine prophylaxis: Oral: Children ≥12 years: Refer to adult dosing