VALPROIC ACID

A valproic acid test measures the amount of valproic acid, which is an anticonvulsant medicine, in a blood sample. Valproic acid is prescribed primarily to prevent seizures. The seizure disorder epilepsy is a nervous system condition that causes electrical signals in the brain to misfire. These disruptions lead to temporary communication problems between nerve cells, resulting in symptoms that range from mild (blinking or staring into space) to severe (losing consciousness or whole body shaking). Seizures may be caused by many different conditions, including infections such as meningitis or encephalitis; a congenital (present from birth) brain or blood vessel malformation; brain trauma due to an accident or lack of oxygen at birth; a metabolic or genetic disorder; brain tumor; or stroke. Frequently, the cause is unknown. Valproic acid also may be used to treat bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by periods of intensely high and low moods, or to help prevent migraine headaches. In many cases, it's used in conjunction with other medications for maximum effectiveness.