ABSTRACT

Three patients with generalized epilepsy are presented in whom initiation of sodium valproate was aşociated with aggravation of seizures. In one patient, the frequency of seizures showed a marked increase with sodium valproate as the first treatment, and upon ceşation of sodium valproate and administration of phenytoin the seizures did not recur. The other patients already had drug-resistant epilepsy and addition of sodium valproate to the preexisting treatments aggravated seizures. Since no history of encephalopathy, hepatopathy, or metabolic disorders, or no signs of overdose existed in these patients, aggravation of seizures was most likely to be due to sodium valproate treatment.

Keywords: Anticonvulsants/adverse effects, drug toxicity, epilepsy/drug therapy, seizures, valproic acid