Short-Term Side Effects of Low Dose Valproate Monotherapy in Epileptic Children: A Prospective Study

Objectives Considering the common use of valproate among children, we investigated the short-term side-effects of low dose valproate monotherapy in epileptic children. Methods In this prospective study, 209 epileptic children (48.3% male, mean age: 7.02 ± 3.13 yr) on low therapeutic dose of valproate monotherapy (20-30 mg/kg/d) were enrolled during 2014-2015 in Isfahan Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran and sideeffects were evaluated through frequent clinical visits and laboratory tests during 6 months of valproate therapy. Results Weight gain was reported in 53.1% of patients. Decreased appetite was seen in 11% of patients, more frequent in younger cases (P=0.006). Abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation were reported in 16.3%, 2.4%, 1.4%, and 1% of patients, respectively. Headache, tremor, dizziness, abnormal color vision, myoclonus, and bruxism were seen in 5.7%, 1.4%, 1%, 1%, 1%, and 0.5% of patients, respectively. Enuresis, hair loss, and skin rash were reported in 8.1%, 6.7%, and 0.5% of patients, respectively. Thrombocytopenia, impaired liver function tests, and leukopenia occurred in 1%, 1%, and 0.5% of patients, respectively. Conclusion Low dose valproate monotherapy may cause numerous side-effects, mostly not life-threatening and requiring no action. Beside other reported complications, we observed decreased appetite (among younger patients), enuresis, and abnormal color vision which are only briefly discussed in the literature and need to be addressed more.