For many people, sodium valproate is a highly effective medicine that can control seizures or stabilise mood when other treatments have been unsuccessful. Because of its effectiveness, it has become one of the most widely recognised anti-seizure medicines used around the world.

Like all medicines, sodium valproate has both benefits and risks. While it has transformed the lives of many people, research has also shown that it can cause serious harm if taken during pregnancy, and ongoing studies continue to explore its wider effects on health. As scientific knowledge has developed, prescribing guidance and medicine safety measures have evolved to help ensure that the medicine is used as safely as possible.

Today, sodium valproate remains an important treatment for some people, particularly when alternative medicines are less effective or unsuitable. Decisions about whether to prescribe sodium valproate should always be based on an individual assessment of the potential benefits and risks, supported by informed discussions between patients and their healthcare professionals.

This Knowledge Hub explores sodium valproate from a balanced, evidence-based perspective. The following pages explain how the medicine works, the conditions it is used to treat, what treatment may involve, current medicine safety guidance, the science behind its effects, and the latest understanding of long-term health.