Valproic Acid (Oral Route)

Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

1. Black, tarry stools
2. bleeding gums
3. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
4. blood in the urine or stools
5. confusion
6. cough
7. crying
8. delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
9. diarrhea
10. difficult or labored breathing
11. dysphoria
12. false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
13. false or unusual sense of well-being
14. feeling of unreality
15. fever
16. general feeling of discomfort or illness
17. headache
18. hoarseness
19. joint pain
20. loss of appetite
21. lower back or side pain
22. mental depression
23. muscle aches and pains
24. nausea
25. nervousness
26. painful or difficult urination
27. pinpoint red spots on the skin
28. poor insight and judgment
29. problems with memory or speech
30. quick to react or overreact emotionally
31. rapid weight gain
32. rapidly changing moods
33. runny nose
34. sense of detachment from self or body
35. shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
36. shivering
37. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
38. sore throat
39. sweating
40. tightness in the chest
41. tingling of the hands or feet
42. trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
43. trouble recognizing objects
44. trouble sleeping
45. trouble thinking and planning
46. trouble walking
47. unusual bleeding or bruising
48. unusual tiredness or weakness
49. unusual weight gain or loss
50. vomiting

Less common

1. Abnormal dreams
2. absence of or decrease in body movement
3. anxiety
4. bloody nose
5. bloody or cloudy urine
6. blurred vision
7. burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
8. change in personality
9. change in walking and balance
10. changes in patterns and rhythms of speech
11. chest pain
12. clumsiness or unsteadiness
13. cold sweats
14. constipation
15. dark urine
16. deep or fast breathing with dizziness
17. degenerative disease of the joint
18. difficulty with moving
19. discouragement
20. dizziness
21. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
22. dry mouth
23. excessive muscle tone
24. fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
25. fear
26. feeling of warmth or heat
27. feeling sad or empty
28. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
29. frequent urge to urinate
30. heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
31. increased need to urinate
32. indigestion
33. irritability
34. lack of appetite
35. lack of coordination
36. large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
37. leg cramps
38. lip smacking or puckering
39. loss of bladder control
40. loss of interest or pleasure
41. loss of strength or energy
42. multiple swollen and inflamed skin lesions
43. muscle pain or stiffness
44. muscle tension or tightness
45. normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected
46. numbness of the feet, hands and around mouth
47. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
48. passing urine more often
49. pounding in the ears
50. puffing of the cheeks
51. rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue
52. rapid weight gain
53. restlessness
54. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
55. shakiness and unsteady walk
56. slurred speech
57. small red or purple spots on the skin
58. sweating
59. swollen joints
60. tiredness
61. trouble with concentrating
62. trouble with speaking
63. twitching
64. uncontrolled chewing movements
65. uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs
66. unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
67. vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
68. yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

1. Aggression
2. bladder pain
3. blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
4. blisters on the skin
5. bone pain, tenderness, or aching
6. chest discomfort
7. cloudy urine
8. decrease in height
9. decreased urine output
10. difficulty swallowing
11. feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
12. feeling that others can hear your thoughts
13. feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
14. hives, itching, skin rash
15. increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
16. increased thirst
17. irritability
18. joint or muscle pain
19. loss of balance control
20. loss of consciousness
21. mask-like face
22. pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs
23. pain or swelling in the arms or legs without any injury
24. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
25. red skin lesions, often with a purple center
26. red, irritated eyes
27. redness or other discoloration of the skin
28. seizures
29. severe mood or mental changes
30. severe sunburn
31. shuffling walk
32. slow heartbeat
33. slowed movements
34. slurred speech
35. sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
36. stiffness of the arms and legs
37. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
38. swollen or painful glands
39. tic-like (jerky) movements of the head, face, mouth, and neck
40. unusual behavior

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

1. Change in consciousness
2. fainting
3. loss of consciousness
4. slow or irregular heartbeat

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

1. Belching
2. body aches or pain
3. change in vision
4. congestion
5. continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
6. hair loss or thinning of the hair
7. hearing loss
8. heartburn
9. impaired vision
10. lack or loss of strength
11. loss of memory
12. problems with memory
13. seeing double
14. tender, swollen glands in the neck
15. uncontrolled eye movements
16. voice changes
17. weight gain
18. weight loss

Less common

1. Absent, missed, or irregular menstrual periods
2. burning, dry, or itching eyes
3. change in taste or bad unusual or unpleasant (after) taste
4. coin-shaped lesions on the skin
5. cough producing mucus
6. cramps
7. dandruff
8. discharge or excessive tearing
9. dry skin
10. earache
11. excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
12. eye pain
13. feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
14. full feeling
15. heavy bleeding
16. increased appetite
17. itching of the vagina or genital area
18. loss of bowel control
19. neck pain
20. oily skin
21. pain
22. pain during sexual intercourse
23. pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
24. passing gas
25. rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
26. redness or swelling in the ear
27. redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
28. redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
29. sensation of spinning
30. sneezing
31. stiff neck
32. stopping of menstrual bleeding
33. thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

Incidence not known

1. Breast enlargement
2. changes in hair color or texture
3. discoloration of the fingernails or toenails
4. increased hair growth, especially on the face
5. unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

• Precautions

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.