Definition

1. Noun:
   • An anticonvulsant medication: Valproic acid is a pharmaceutical drug primarily used to treat certain types of seizures in epilepsy.
   • A mood stabilizer: It is also used to treat manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The neurologist prescribed valproic acid to manage her complex partial seizures.
  • Valproic acid is a key component of his treatment plan for bipolar disorder.
  • A common side effect of valproic acid is weight gain.

Advanced Usage

• "be on valproic acid": to be taking this medication as part of a treatment regimen.
  • The patient has been on valproic acid for three years with good control of her epilepsy.
• "valproic acid therapy/treatment": refers to the use of this drug as a medical treatment.
  • Initiating valproic acid therapy requires careful monitoring of liver function.

Variants and Related Words

• Valproate (n): A salt or ester of valproic acid (e.g., sodium valproate, divalproex sodium). These are common alternative forms of the medication.
  • Divalproex sodium is a formulation that may cause less stomach irritation than valproic acid.
• Anticonvulsant (n): A broader class of drugs to which valproic acid belongs.
• Mood stabilizer (n): A functional category describing one of its uses.

Synonyms

• Depokene: A former trade name for valproic acid.
• Divalproex sodium: A related compound that is converted to valproic acid in the body.

Important Notes

• Not a Phrasal Verb or Idiom: As a specific pharmaceutical compound, "valproic acid" does not have associated phrasal verbs or idioms. It is used strictly as a noun referring to the medication.
• Medical Context: This term is almost exclusively used in medical, psychiatric, and pharmacological contexts.

Noun

1. anticonvulsant (trade name Depokene) used to prevent some kinds of seizures