VALPARIN XR IN THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY (А REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND A DESCRIPTION OF CLINICAL CASES)

Although epileptologists have a lot of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) at their disposal now and there are more than 10 novel AEDs; until the present time, two groups of drugs (valproic acid and carbamazepine, which were designed in the 1970s) have remained the gold standard for the treatment of epilepsy. These 2 AEDs are called traditional or standard and the European literature on epileptology describes them as first-choice anticonvulsants. Carbamazepine has a narrower spectrum of therapeutic action and may aggravate a few types of seizures. On the contrary, valproates are effective in all forms of epilepsy, both focal and generalized ones. The anticonvulsant properties of valproic acid were discovered in 1962. Now valproates are successfully used in various age groups of patients with different forms of epilepsy and types of seizures during both mono- and polytherapy in more than 100 countries of Europe and the world, by firmly holding the leading position. A lot of cheaper valproic acid generic drugs have emerged in clinical practice in the past decades. By and large, almost 20 valproates that have one common active ingredient (valproic acid) and are commonly used to treat epilepsy are now available on the global pharmaceutical market. The authors give the results of trials and describe their own experience with Valparin XR, an extended-release valproic acid drug. The results of the trials and clinical experience show the efficacy and good tolerability of Valparin XR in the treatment of epilepsy.