Evaluate the Effects of long-term valproic acid treatment on metabolic profiles in newly diagnosed or untreated female epileptic patients: a prospective study

Sodium valproate (VPA) and lamotrigine (LTG) are the broad-spectrum anticonvulsants drugs used in both generalized and partial seizures. Weight gain is a well-known adverse effect of VPA treatment occurring in up to 71% of exposed patients, although typically the rate is around 10%1. Weight gain is the most common reason for patients to discontinue VPA treatment2–4. In a study, 38% of VPA-treated patients gained more than 10% of their body weight compared with 8% of patients treated with LTG5. Further, weight gain associated with VPA seems to be appetite-related and not metabolic6.

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