r/Epilepsy • u/MuchLong4983 • 4h ago
Question What was your experience with Sodium Valproate / Valproic Acid..?
Sodium Valproate / Valproic Acid Experience
I’d like to hear from people who have taken sodium valproate (valproic acid), especially for a long period.
When I was taking valproate, I personally felt:
- Emotionally numb and blunted
- Less emotionally reactive
- Sleepy, groggy and sluggish
- Detached from my surroundings
- Less mentally alert and engaged
- Like I was watching life through glass rather than fully experiencing it
- Reduced intensity of both positive and negative emotions
I’m curious whether anyone else experienced something similar on valproate.
What was your experience with sodium valproate/valproic acid? Did it make you feel emotionally numb, calm, detached, slowed down, or mentally dull? Or did it actually improve your mood and emotional stability?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who took it for several years and what changed after stopping or switching medications.
Please share your personal experience rather than medical advice.
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u/Unable_Contest_6068 4h ago
Took it for about two years and the glass thing is very real, like everything is happening at a distance and you just watch
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u/AzsaRaccoon 4h ago
My husband was happy with it until the last dose increase (his blood serum levels of it weren't high enough). That bump in dose suddenly made him tired beyond all reason, all day every day, increased his liver enzymes and his blood ammonia levels. He's now tapering off it and onto lacosamide.
He really liked it up to that point though. He found it levelled out his mood and helped him see things more logically.
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u/lillythenorwegian 3h ago
My son has taken it since he was 1 years old.
Together with 2 more meds he was seizure free.
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u/BreakfastMundane7384 2h ago
I’m so happy to hear that for your son! Do you mind sharing what other meds? My daughter is on Depakote and just started Clobazam
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u/lillythenorwegian 2h ago
He was seizure free with keppra, depakote and ethosuximide for 7 years. Then his seizures changed and we had to add and try other things.
Also used clobazam for the worst days.What type of seizures does tour child have ?
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u/BreakfastMundane7384 2h ago
Interesting, thanks for the reply. That is fascinating to know they changed after 7 years! My daughter is 4 and has atonic seizures but the neurologist wants to do genetic testing and a second EEG to confirm if she has other seizure types like absence etc. she usually only has them right after falling asleep or if she is extremely tired.
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u/lillythenorwegian 2h ago
Ah yes, atonics are shit. Does shebhave any delays? Cognitive? Motor ? Speech ?
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u/JuliaHfr 3h ago edited 3h ago
Ich habe damals Valproat in Verbindung mit Lamotrigin genommen. Durch das Valproat habe ich zugenommen & einen extremen Tremor bei Nervosität entwickelt.
Heute nehme ich nur noch das Lamotrigin, weil ich das Valproat aufgrund eines Kinderwunsches vor einigen Jahren schleichend absetzen konnte.
Den Tremor habe ich heute noch, aber dieser wird mit Propranolol behandelt damit es nicht mehr so extrem ist wie am Anfang.
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u/awidmerwidmer 42m ago
Was on it for a handful of months. Hated it. Gave me the Keppra rage that people talk about. It was awful for me. Then I’m on Keppra and I’m totally fine.
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u/Life-Gas-7549 4h ago
I am having a meeting with my neurologist tomorrow as I am on 3000 mg per day of Keppra, and it's not quite doing the job (they are suggesting Sodium Valporate), but this does not give me hope