Valproic Acid Serum Test

Order this Valproic Acid Serum test to measure valproic acid level in the blood to monitor if the serum or blood plasma concentration has achieved desired therapeutic effect. Valproic acid is prescribed alone or with other medications to treat a seizure disorder known as epilepsy. Epilepsy is a nervous system disorder that triggers electrical signals in the brain to misfire and generate an uncontrolled surge of electrical activity in the brain. This surge of electrical activity leads to temporary communication problems between nerve cells, resulting in symptoms that range from mild (blinking or staring into space) to severe (losing consciousness or whole body shaking).

Additionally, valproic acid is used to treat people with bipolar disorder who experience frequent bouts of depression, manic episodes, and other abnormal moods. Furthermore, valproic acid is used to prevent migraine headaches but not to alleviate active migraines.

Valproic acid is classified as an anticonvulsant and works by increasing the amount of a specific natural substance in the brain. Therefore, maintaining the right therapeutic level of valproic acid is vital for successful treatment. A valproic acid dosage that is too low or too high can fail to relieve or even worsen an individual's symptoms.

Valproic acid may cause mild to severe side effects such as:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• headache
• diarrhea
• constipation
• loss of appetite
• sudden weight gain or loss
• back pain
• mood swings
• thought disorder
• tremors
• problems with walking or coordination
• involuntary eye movement
• blurry or double vision
• ringing in the ears
• hair loss
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• fever
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat
• vomiting