The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 43 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, a neurological disease that causes seizures. Although there is no cure for epilepsy, there are medications available to reduce the number of seizures experiences due to the disease. In Canada and the United Kingdom, doctors commonly prescribe the drug Epival, or sodium valproate, for such purposes. Despite its effectiveness, Epival is not for everyone, as it presents several risks for side effects and complications in some patients.
Common Side Effects
Approximately 48 to 57 percent of Epival users report tremors and nausea, making these the most common side effects of the drug. Headache, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, hair loss, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased incidences of infections and diarrhea are also common, occurring in at least 20 percent of users. More than 10 percent of patients who take Epival experience insomnia, nervousness, double or blurred vision, loss of appetite, indigestion and general body pain.
Other Side Effects
Epival also has the potential to cause a number of other troublesome or annoying, but not dangerous, side effects. Neurological and psychiatric effects of the drug include lack of coordination, forgetfulness, moodiness, depression, anxiety, confusion and tingling in the extremities. Epival sometimes causes effects to the skin, sensory organs and musculoskeletal system, such as skin rash, itching, ringing ears, muscular twitching, dryness of the skin or eyes, leg cramps, eye pain, stiffness and pain in the back, joints or muscles. Gastrointestinal side effects of the drug include dry mouth, constipation, flatulence and an increase in appetite.
Drug Interactions
There are some medications that produce unwanted side effects when used in conjunction with Epival. Diazepam frequently causes drowsiness when combined with the drug, and carbamazepine increases your chance of experiencing dizziness or nausea. Frequent use of aspirin, cimetidine and felbamate increase the concentration of Epival in your bloodstream, amplifying the drug's side effects. You should not take St. John's Wort supplements while using Epival, as doing so increases the likelihood of severe seizures.
Risks
In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, Epival has the potential to cause serious medical complications. After long-term use, Epival sometimes causes damage to the liver or pancreas. In some patients, Epival causes potentially life-threatening infections of the skin such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Rarely, Epival causes thoughts of suicide or self-harm in patients.
Considerations
Epival can cause low birth weights and defects, and is therefore typically avoided during pregnancy. In addition, Epival is not normally prescribed for children under the age of two due to its side effect. If you have a history of liver disease, decreased kidney function, head injury, diabetes or lupus, Epival might not be safe for you to take due to its side effects. Since it has the potential to make you drowsy, you should not operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery while taking Epival. It is also important to avoid alcohol, as drinking exacerbates the side effects of the medication.
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