Long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of magnesium valproate versus sodium valproate in acute seizures

Objectives: To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of magnesium valproate and sodium valproate as monotherapies in patients with epilepsy in China.

Methods: We recruited patients admitted with seizures over a two-year period. All patients underwent early neurological assessments, electroencephalogram testing, and neuroimaging. The treatments received at baseline and at one year of follow-up were compared.

Results: In total, 175 patients were included. The retention rates of the magnesium valproate and sodium valproate treatments were 73.1% and 64.2%, respectively. The main cause of discontinuation was the development of intolerable adverse events. The retention rate and total effective rate in the magnesium valproate group were significantly higher than those in the sodium valproate group (73.1% and 70.2% versus 64.2% and 47.2%, respectively). The safety endpoints included 120 patients (magnesium valproate: n = 67; sodium valproate: n = 53). The incidence of adverse events in the magnesium valproate group was significantly lower than that in the sodium valproate group (30% versus 51%).

Conclusions: Magnesium valproate treatment shows favorable safety and tolerability and is associated with markedly improved seizure control. Ideally, future large, prospective, randomized, and double-blind studies are needed to confirm these findings.