{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"sodium-valproate","kind":"medication","name":"sodium valproate","aliases":["valproate","valproic acid","Epilim"],"brands_sg":["Epilim","Epilim Chrono","Valparin XR","Valproate-AFT","Sodium Valproate Aguettant"],"class":"anticonvulsant / mood stabiliser","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"healthhub: some types of seizures; bipolar mood swings","use_after":"healthhub: with or after food; tablets swallowed whole","use_duration":null,"take_with":"healthhub: food or water, not carbonated drinks","pros":["nhs: most adults and children can take it for epilepsy","healthhub: chrono tablets release it slowly","register: tablets, syrup and injection in sg"],"cons":["nhs: not recommended in pregnancy — birth defects","healthhub: weight gain, tremor, finer hair texture","healthhub: rare sjs/ten skin reactions, liver harm"],"dose_note":"the singapore product information for epilim chrono (national drug formulary) states for adults with epilepsy: “Dosage should start at 600mg daily increasing by 200mg at three-day intervals until control is achieved. This is generally within the dosage range 1000mg to 2000mg per day … the dose may be further increased to 2500mg per day.” — 2500 mg a day is the adult label ceiling on that sg insert, and the same label sets children over 20 kg at 20–30 mg/kg/day. healthhub notes the dose is not adjusted or stopped without the prescriber, and that brands or formulations are not swapped without telling them.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["liver problems, or a family history of severe hepatic dysfunction — sg label contraindication","pregnancy or possible pregnancy — nhs: enrolment on Prevent, the pregnancy prevention programme","porphyria, urea cycle disorders or mitochondrial (POLG) disorders — sg label contraindications","kidney or pancreas problems, or a blood-related disease (healthhub)"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_val_mix"],"note":"nhs lists these among medicines that affect how sodium valproate works","with":"other epilepsy medicines such as carbamazepine"},{"src":["nhs_val_mix"],"note":"nhs lists blood-clot medicines and aspirin among the cautions","with":"warfarin and aspirin"},{"src":["nhs_val_mix"],"note":"nhs lists mental-health medicines among the cautions","with":"venlafaxine, quetiapine or diazepam"},{"src":["nhs_val_mix"],"note":"nhs lists antibiotics, hiv medicines and antimalarials among the cautions","with":"erythromycin, ritonavir, mefloquine or chloroquine"},{"src":["hh_val_avoid"],"food":true,"note":"healthhub: it can cause excessive drowsiness with this medication","with":"alcohol"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084); cached at /tmp/hsa_all.json and filtered locally (not re-fetched), 11 valproate rows","quote":"EPILIM 200 TABLET SIN05690P · EPILIM CHRONO TABLET 500 mg SIN08112P · EPILIM SYRUP 200 mg/5 ml SIN05434P · VALPARIN XR 500 SIN12559P · VALPROATE-AFT injection SIN16642P — all 11 rows “Prescription Only”, ATC N03AG01","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub (Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore / MOH) — Sodium valproate: what is this medication for","quote":"Sodium valproate is used to control some types of seizures (commonly known as fits). It can also be used as a mood stabilizer to help reduce mood swings in a condition known as bipolar disorder.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_howto","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub — Sodium valproate: how should I take or use this medication","quote":"You should take this medication with or after food. If you are taking the controlled-release tablet (Chrono), swallow the tablet whole or halved, do not chew or crush … do not mix the medication with any carbonated drink.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_prec","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub — Sodium valproate: what precautions should I take","quote":"Inform your healthcare professionals if you have the following medical conditions before starting on sodium valproate: Liver problems; Kidney problems; Pancreas problems; Blood related disease; Drug allergies","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_side","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub — Sodium valproate: common side effects","quote":"Dizziness or feeling lightheaded … Drowsiness … Change in hair texture to finer at the beginning when you start to use the medicine … Increase in appetite, weight gain … Slight and fine tremors of fingers and hands","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_serious","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub — Sodium valproate: rare but serious side effects","quote":"Blistering, peeling, red skin rash due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) … Liver problems: Dark-coloured urine or light-coloured stools, yellowing of your eyes or skin","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_val_avoid","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/sodium-valproate","label":"HealthHub — Sodium valproate: what food or medication should I avoid","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication as it can cause excessive drowsiness. There are several medicines that affect the level of this medication in your body.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_val_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sodium-valproate/who-can-and-cannot-take-sodium-valproate/","label":"NHS medicines A–Z — Sodium valproate: who can and cannot take it (reviewed 11 March 2025)","quote":"Most adults can take sodium valproate to treat epilepsy or bipolar disorder or help prevent migraine. Most children can take sodium valproate to treat epilepsy.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_val_preg","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sodium-valproate/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-sodium-valproate/","label":"NHS medicines A–Z — Sodium valproate: pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility","quote":"Sodium valproate is not recommended in pregnancy, as it can cause birth defects and problems with your child's learning and behaviour … your doctor will enrol you on Prevent, the valproate pregnancy prevention programme.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_val_mix","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sodium-valproate/taking-sodium-valproate-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/","label":"NHS medicines A–Z — Sodium valproate: taking it with other medicines and herbal supplements","quote":"any other medicines for epilepsy such as carbamazepine … warfarin … aspirin … cimetidine … ritonavir … erythromycin … venlafaxine, quetiapine or diazepam … cholestyramine … mefloquine or chloroquine","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_val_dose","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin08112p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary — EPILIM CHRONO TABLET 500 mg [SIN08112P], Posology (epilepsy, adults)","quote":"Dosage should start at 600mg daily increasing by 200mg at three-day intervals until control is achieved. This is generally within the dosage range 1000mg to 2000mg per day … the dose may be further increased to 2500mg per day.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"ndf_val_contra","url":"https://www.ndf.gov.sg/about-drugs/product-information/sin08112p/","label":"Singapore National Drug Formulary — EPILIM CHRONO [SIN08112P], Contra-indications","quote":"Active liver disease; Personal or family history of severe hepatic dysfunction, especially drug related; Hypersensitivity to sodium valproate; Porphyria; Known urea cycle disorders","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:31.341231+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}