[Antiepileptic therapy with valproinic acid. Correlations of side effects and serum levels of valproinic acid].

The side effects and possible side effects of the therapy with valproic acid were documented in 66 outpatients with epilepsy over a period of one year. The serum levels of valproic acid were measured gaschromatographically over the same period. The majority of the patients received a combined medication. The occurrence of side effects or possible side effects of valproic acid led to a dosage reduction of discontinuation of the compound in 25% of the patients. Patients complaining of tiredness showed significantly higher serum valproic acid levels than patients without clinical side effects. The other comparisons between the serum valproic acid levels in the case of clinical side effects and changes in laboratory findings and the serum levels of patients without side effects or changes in laboratory findings did not indicate a definite difference.