December 2025 in “Scientific Reports” Valproic acid helps hair follicle stem cells survive better in low oxygen and glucose conditions.
5 citations
,
June 2012 in “PubMed” Valproic acid can cause a skin condition called leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which usually gets better after stopping the drug.
35 citations
,
August 2004 in “Epilepsy & behavior” Extended-release divalproex is better tolerated and more effective for seizures and psychiatric symptoms than delayed-release divalproex, but doesn't reduce hair loss.
19 citations
,
April 2011 in “Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain” Both topiramate and divalproex sodium effectively reduce migraine frequency and are generally well-tolerated.
9 citations
,
January 2015 in “Indian Journal of Pharmacology/The Indian journal of pharmacology” Higher doses of the medication valproate can cause hair loss, which may stop when the dose is lowered or the medication is stopped.
6 citations
,
March 1986 in “PubMed” Valproic acid can cause weight gain and hair texture changes.
85 citations
,
April 2012 in “PLOS ONE” Valproic Acid helps regrow hair in mice and activates a hair growth marker in human cells.
October 2024 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Genetic variants can affect valproic acid's effectiveness, side effects, and levels in epilepsy treatment.
15 citations
,
May 2006 in “Brain & development” Valproic acid may cause hair loss by reducing biotinidase enzyme activity in rats.
February 2025 in “International Journal of Morphology” Vitamin E can reduce the negative effects of valproic acid on hair and skin development.
7 citations
,
March 2018 in “Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology” Valproate can cause brain swelling with high ammonia levels, possibly underreported, especially in psychiatric patients.
1 citations
,
December 1982 in “PubMed” Sodium valproate effectively reduces seizures in children with epilepsy, especially in primary generalized cases.
8 citations
,
October 2019 in “The Journal of surgical research/Journal of surgical research” Sodium valproate helps skin healing by affecting GABA and histone deacetylase.
1 citations
,
October 2023 in “Journal of clinical psychopharmacology” Divalproex sodium can cause pleural effusion, which stops when the drug is discontinued.
4 citations
,
January 2019 in “PubMed” Low dose valproate in epileptic children mainly causes weight gain and other non-life-threatening side effects.
4 citations
,
October 2015 in “JAAD Case Reports” Surgical grafting may fix nail issues caused by valproic acid.
5 citations
,
August 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry” Biotin may effectively treat hair loss caused by valproate medication.
21 citations
,
June 2011 in “Journal of child neurology” Valproic acid and carbamazepine do not change biotin or biotinidase levels but may lower zinc levels, still within normal range.
January 2016 in “International journal of clinical pediatrics” Valproic acid may cause temporary hair changes like loss or thinning in children.
16 citations
,
March 1986 in “Biochemical Pharmacology”
September 2025 in “Indian Journal of Psychiatry” Valproic acid treatment may cause hair loss due to reduced biotinidase activity.
5 citations
,
November 2012 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology” Valproic acid and isoniazid can interact, causing toxicity, so careful monitoring is needed.
December 2021 in “Black sea journal of health science” Valproic acid can cause a rare allergic reaction leading to fluid around the lungs and heart, which is treatable by changing medication.
37 citations
,
September 2009 in “JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Diphencyprone (DPC) is an effective and safe long-term treatment for alopecia areata, especially with maintenance therapy.
August 2023 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Valproic acid, a common antiepileptic medication, can cause reversible hair loss in patients.
January 2025 in “Dusunen Adam The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences” 2 citations
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September 2014 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Sodium valproate can worsen psoriasis-like skin conditions.
July 2014 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Applying valproic acid on the scalp increased hair growth in men with hair loss.
September 2009 in “European journal of paediatric neurology” Biotin supplements did not significantly reduce hair loss in rats on valproic acid.
September 2018 in “Practical diabetes” Sodium valproate is not recommended as a first-line treatment for neuropathy but may be used in resistant cases.