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Valproic Acid

Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches. It should be taken with food to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Nurses should monitor ammonia levels and discontinue the drug if levels are clinically elevated. They should also monitor serum valproic acid and liver function test levels, especially during the first few weeks of therapy. Common adverse effects include sedation, tremors, gastrointestinal issues, and dermatological effects.

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35 views2 pages

Valproic Acid

Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and migraine headaches. It should be taken with food to prevent gastrointestinal upset. Nurses should monitor ammonia levels and discontinue the drug if levels are clinically elevated. They should also monitor serum valproic acid and liver function test levels, especially during the first few weeks of therapy. Common adverse effects include sedation, tremors, gastrointestinal issues, and dermatological effects.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Dosage/ Nursing

Generic Frequency Classification Indication Contraindication Adverse Effects Responsibilities


Name

valproic acid 25-mg Antiepileptic  Sole and  Contraindicated  CNS: sedation,  Give drug with
capsule adjunctive with tremor, emotional food to prevent
Brand therapy in hypersensitivity upset, depression, GI upset
Name: simple (petit to valproic acid, psychosis,
Depakote mal) and hepatic disease, aggression,  Monitor ammonia
complex or significant hyperactivity, levels and
absence hepatic behavioural discontinue if
seizures; acute impairment. deterioration, there is clinically
treatment of weakness significant
manic episodes  Use cautiously elevation in level.
associated with with children  Dermatologic:
bipolar disorder; younger than Transient increases  Monitor serum
prophylaxis of 18mo; children in hair loss, rash, levels of valproic
migraine younger than petechiae acid and other
headaches; 2yr; especially antiepileptics
adjunctive with multiple  GI: nausea, given
therapy for antiepileptics, vomiting, concomitantly,
multiple seizure congenital indigestion, especially during
disorders metabolic diarrhea, abdominal the first few
disorders, severe cramps, weeks of
seizures constipation, therapy.
accompanied by anorexia with
severe mental weight loss,
retardation, increased appetite
organic brain with weight gain,
disorders; life-threatening
pregnancy; pancreatitis,
lactation hepatic failure

 GU: irregular
menses, secondary
amenorrhea
 Hematologic:
Slight elevations in
AST, ALT, LDH;
increases in serum
bilirubin; abnormal
changes in other
LFTs; altered
bleeding time;
thrombocytopenia;
bruising; hematoma
formation; frank
haemorrhage;
relative
lymphocytosis;
leukopenia;
eosinophilia;
anemia; bone
marrow suppression

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