Effectiveness and Adverse Drug Reaction Mechanisms Associated With Valproic Acid Use: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study in Indonesia

    March 2025 in “ Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal ”
    Vitarani Dwi Ananda Ningrum, Irine Dyah Widyastuti, Rizaldy Taslim Pinzon, Rochmy Istikharah, Natalya Hakim, Rochmy Istikharah, Natalya Hakim, Naning Ni’mawati
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    TLDR Valproic acid is effective but often causes side effects like weight gain and hair loss, so personalized treatment is needed.
    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.
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