Dipropylacetic acid plasma levels; diurnal fluctuations during chronic treatment with dipropylacetamide.

Diurnal variation in dipropylacetic acid (DPA) plasma levels was investigated in 47 and 42 epileptic patients, chronically treated with sodium dipropylacetate and dipropylacetamide (DPM), respectively, taken alone or in addition to other antiepilepic drugs. Fluctuation in DPA plasma levels was significantly less in patients receiving dipropylacetamide. The slow absorption and the more prolonged plasma half-life of dipropylacetamide accounted for these findings. Although the importance of diurnal fluctuations in DPA levels has not yet been established, possible clinical implications are discussed.