Bipolar Disorder  & Valproate

Valproic acid is a chemical compound that has found clinical use as an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing drug, primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also used to treat migraine headaches and schizophrenia. In epileptics, valproic acid is used to control absence seizures, tonic-clonic seizures,complex partial seizures, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and the seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is also used in treatment of myoclonus. In some countries, parenteral preparations of valproate are used also as second-line treatment of status epilepticus, alternatively to phenytoin.

Related drugs include the sodium salts sodium valproate, used as an anticonvulsant, and a combined formulation, valproate semisodium, used as a mood stabilizer and additionally in U.S. also as an anticonvulsant.

Valproate is believed to affect the function of the neurotransmitter GABA in the human brain, making it an alternative to lithium salts in treatment of bipolar disorder.

Valproic acid is an inhibitor of the enzyme histone deacetylase 1.HDAC1 is needed for HIV to remain in infected cells. A study published in August 2005 revealed that patients treated with valproic acid in addition to highly active antiretroviral therapy showed a median 75% reduction in latent HIV infection.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health and others, valproic acid appears to have wide implications in the treatment of various cancers, including multiple myeloma,glioma,and melanoma. Valproic acid is cytotoxic to many different cancer types through its action as a histone-deacetylase inhibitor.

Another potential indication may be leukemia in juvenile patients. Studies conducted by several European centres are ongoing. Although it is too early to make a definitive statement, preliminary results are encouraging.

Valproic acid was first synthesized in 1882 by Burton. A clear liquid fatty acid at room temperature, for many decades its only use was in labora