Can anyone give me more information on the medication deprecot ?… by camimarie
I dont know if this is spelled right.But this is how it sounds.Any information on this drug would helP.I think its a seizure drug but im not sure.
Best Answer:
Valproic acid is an oral anticonvulsant that is chemically unrelated to other anticonvulsants. Valproic acid was synthesized over a century ago, but its anticonvulsant properties were not discovered until 1963. Valproate sodium and divalproex sodium (a sustained-release form) are also commercially available and share the same pharmacology. Although valproic acid was initially used for absence seizures, data published in 1992 confirmed that it is as effective as carbamazepine for the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is also active in the treatment of complex partial seizures, absence seizures, and myoclonic seizures. Sedation and other adverse CNS effects are minimal. Valproic acid was licensed by the FDA in 1978. In 1993, Abbott Laboratories filed an NDA for treatment of bipolar disorder and on June 1, 1995, valproic acid was approved for this indication. A NDA for divalproex in the prevention of migraine was filed on September 1, 1994 and approval was granted March 29, 1996. An intravenous dosage form is currently under investigation.
Mechanism of Action: Although the exact mechanism of action is unclear, it is believed that valproic acid increases brain concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. It may inhibit enzymes that catabolize GABA or block the reuptake of GABA into glia and nerve endings. These explanations do not, however, account for therapeutic effects seen in animal models in the absence of an accompanying increase in GABA levels. Valproic acid may also work by suppressing repetitive neuronal firing through inhibition of voltage-sensitive sodium channels.
Pharmacokinetics: Valproic acid is administered orally and is well absorbed from the GI tract, with a bioavailability of nearly 100%. Absorption of valproate sodium from the syrup is more rapid. Valproate sodium is rapidly converted to valproic acid in the stomach. Bioavailability is the same for valproic acid and divalproex sodium. Food can delay the rate, but not the extent, of absorption, and magnesium-aluminum antacids can increase valproic acid AUC by 12%. Divalproex sodium passes through the stomach into the upper small intestine, where the enteric coating allows release and dissociation into valproate, which is then absorbed. Peak plasma concentrations are achieved within 1
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