Valproate

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XV

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2. The discovery of valproate

   1. The discovery of valproate

      • Wolfgang Löscher

      Pages 1-3

3. The pharmacology of valproate

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-5

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   2. Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action

      • Wolfgang Löscher

      Pages 7-45

   3. Chemistry and biotransformation

      • Frank S. Abbott, M. Reza Anari

      Pages 47-75

   4. Absorption, distribution, and excretion

      • Danny D. Shen

      Pages 77-90

   5. Toxicity

      • Matthias Radatz, Heinz Nau

      Pages 91-128

4. Clinical use of valproate

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 129-129

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   2. Valproate in the treatment of epilepsies in children

      • N. Sarisjulis, Olivier Dulac

      Pages 131-151

   3. Treatment of epilepsies in adults

      • L. James Willmore

      Pages 153-166

   4. Valproate use in psychiatry: A focus on bipolar illness

      • Robert M. Post

      Pages 167-201

   5. Valproate in the treatment of headache

      • Stephen D. Silberstein

      Pages 203-221

   6. Adverse effects and interactions with other drugs

      • Dieter Schmidt

      Pages 223-264

   7. The future of valproate

      • Nathan B. Fountain, Fritz E. Dreifuss

      Pages 265-276

5. Back Matter

   Pages 277-285

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Since the fortuitous discovery of its anticonvulsant activIty in 1962, valproate has established itself worldwide as a major antiepileptic drug against several types of epileptic seizures. Clinical experience with valpro­ ate has continued to grow in recent years, including use of valproate for diseases other than epilepsy, for example in bipolar disorders and migraine. In this volume on valproate emphasis is placed on the scientific back­ ground leading to the discovery of val pro ate, its subsequent pharmacologi­ cal and toxicological characterization, and its clinical development into one of the most widely and successfully used anti epileptic drugs, a real mile­ stone in drug therapy. The current state of knowledge of valproate will be reviewed by experts in the field, including new hypotheses about its mecha­ nisms of action, its metabolism into pharmacologically active metabolites, its unique distribution characteristics, its unwanted hepatotoxic and terato­ genic adverse effects and its various clinical uses. Furthermore, the wide variety of available pharmaceutical formulations of valproate, including novel controlled-release formulations, will be outlined. The monograph is aimed at a broad readership, particularly neurologists, psychiatrists and basic scientists working in the field of epilepsy research. Because the monograph also deals with structure-activity relationships of valproate as well as of its metabolites and analogs, the book should also serve for rese­ archers working in medicinal chemistry, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry.

• bipolar disorder
• chemistry
• clinical trial
• development
• drug
• drugs
• epilepsy
• medicinal chemistry
• metabolism
• research
• therapy

• Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

  Wolfgang Löscher

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