Very little unmetabolized parent drug is excreted in the urine. Elimination of valproic acid and its metabolites occurs principally in the urine, with minor amounts in the feces and expired air. See Warnings regarding statement on fatal hepatic dysfunction. As sole or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of simple or complex absence seizures, including petit mal, and is useful in primary generalized seizures with tonic-clonic manifestations. Valproic acid may also be used adjunctively in patients with multiple seizure types which include either absence or tonic-clonic seizures.
Complex absence is the term used when other signs are also present.
Contraindications Patients with hepatic disease or significant dysfunction. Hypersensitivity to valproic acid. Warnings Hepatic failure resulting in fatalities has occurred in patients receiving valproic acid. These incidences usually have occurred during the first 6 months of treatment with valproic acid. These patients typically had other medical conditions such as congenital metabolic disorders, mental retardation or organic brain disease, in addition to severe seizure disorders.