# Sodium Valproate in Nigeria

Sodium Valproate has 10 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 8 registration holders; 9 further listings have lapsed.

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/sodium-valproate/
- Drug class: Broad-spectrum antiepileptic and mood stabiliser (Epilepsy)
- Also known as: Valproate, Valproic acid, Epilim, Divalproex
- Prescription required: yes
- On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- Last updated: August 2026

## Price in Nigeria

Sodium Valproate prices in Nigeria vary by brand, strength, and where you buy it. Confirm the current price with a licensed pharmacy, and always check the product is NAFDAC-registered before you pay.

## What is Sodium Valproate?

Sodium valproate is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic — the one medicine that works across almost every seizure type, which is why it has been a mainstay of epilepsy treatment for fifty years. It raises levels of the calming neurotransmitter GABA in the brain and acts on sodium and calcium channels, and it is particularly valuable when the seizure type is mixed or unclear, or when absence and myoclonic seizures are involved, where carbamazepine would make things worse.

In Nigeria it is usually met as Epilim Chrono from Sanofi, or as one of the Indian-made controlled-release generics: Encorate Chrono, Valcontin, Racex. Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows ten active valproate registrations from eight companies, though only two of those are sodium valproate on its own — most are the controlled-release form, which pairs sodium valproate with valproic acid and is why the strength on the pack is sometimes printed as two figures. The Chrono or controlled-release presentations are taken twice daily, and a pack labelled 333mg plus 145mg is the standard way of writing an amount equivalent to 500mg of sodium valproate.

Valproate is also a first-rank mood stabiliser in bipolar disorder, and this dual role matters in practice: a person may be taking it from a psychiatrist rather than a neurologist, and the pregnancy warnings below apply just as absolutely.

## What is Sodium Valproate used for?

- Generalised tonic-clonic seizures
- Absence seizures — where it is a first-line choice
- Myoclonic seizures and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- Epilepsy with mixed or uncertain seizure types, where a broad-spectrum drug is safest
- Acute mania and maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder
- Migraine prevention, in selected patients under medical supervision

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: Treatment usually starts around 600mg per day in two divided doses and is increased in steps of 150mg to 300mg every three days until seizures are controlled, with a usual maintenance range of 1000mg to 2000mg per day. Controlled-release (Chrono) tablets are taken twice daily and should be swallowed whole, not crushed. Taking valproate with food reduces stomach upset. The maximum dose is set by weight and by response, and belongs to the prescriber.
- Children: Children are dosed by weight, commonly starting near 10 to 15mg per kg per day and increasing to a maintenance range of 20 to 30mg per kg per day in divided doses, under specialist supervision. Valproate is used with particular caution in children under three years, in whom the risk of serious liver injury is highest, and generally only when no alternative will do.
- Elderly: Older adults are more sensitive to the drowsiness and unsteadiness valproate causes, and clear the drug more slowly. Doses are started lower and increased more gradually, with attention to any tremor or confusion.

Never stop valproate suddenly — abrupt withdrawal can trigger prolonged seizures. Valproate is one of the few antiepileptics where the classic warning signs of serious harm are gastrointestinal: persistent vomiting, sudden loss of appetite, abdominal pain, drowsiness or the return of seizures on a previously effective dose can all signal liver injury or pancreatitis and need same-day medical attention, especially in the first six months.

## Side effects

Common: Nausea, vomiting and indigestion, particularly at the start; Weight gain and increased appetite — a frequent reason people want to stop; Tremor, usually of the hands; Hair thinning or a change in hair texture — often reversible; Drowsiness and, in some, low mood or apathy.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Serious liver injury — highest risk in children under three and in the first six months of treatment; Acute pancreatitis — severe abdominal pain radiating to the back, with vomiting; Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy — confusion, lethargy or unexplained drowsiness; Low platelet counts and bleeding problems; Severe skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome — rare.

When to see a doctor: Seek medical care the same day for persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusual drowsiness or confusion, unexplained bruising or bleeding, or a spreading rash. In a child under three these signs are urgent. Any woman taking valproate who becomes pregnant or plans to should contact her doctor immediately — but must not stop the medicine on her own.

## Warnings

Do not take if: PREGNANCY, and use in any woman able to become pregnant unless no other treatment works and a pregnancy-prevention plan is in place; Active liver disease, or a family history of severe drug-related liver injury; Known mitochondrial disorders caused by POLG gene mutations, and suspected mitochondrial disease in children under two; Urea cycle disorders; Acute porphyria.

Interactions: Lamotrigine — valproate roughly doubles its level and sharply raises the risk of serious rash; lamotrigine doses must be halved and increased far more slowly; Carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital — complex two-way changes in blood levels; Aspirin — raises free valproate levels; Carbapenem antibiotics such as meropenem — can drop valproate levels sharply and cause breakthrough seizures; Warfarin and other anticoagulants — increased bleeding risk, compounded by valproate's effect on platelets; Alcohol — additive drowsiness and added liver strain.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ON THIS PAGE. Sodium valproate taken in pregnancy causes birth defects in roughly one in ten babies exposed, and lasting problems with learning, development and autism in around three to four in ten — far higher than any other common antiepileptic. Because of this, valproate should not be used in girls or in women who can become pregnant unless nothing else controls their epilepsy or bipolar illness, and then only with effective contraception and full counselling about the risk. If you are taking valproate and could become pregnant, ask your doctor about alternatives such as levetiracetam BEFORE you conceive. If you discover you are pregnant while taking it, contact your doctor immediately — but do not stop the tablets yourself, because an uncontrolled seizure is dangerous to both of you. Valproate passes into breast milk in small amounts and breastfeeding is generally considered compatible.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Epilim Chrono 500 mg Tablets (Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited, made in France); Encorate Chrono 500 (Ranbaxy Nigeria Limited, made in India); Encorate Chrono 200 (Ranbaxy Nigeria Limited, made in India); Valcontin 500 Tablet (Phillips Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria) Limited, made in India); Racex Tablets (Dony-Triumph and Company Nigeria Limited, made in India).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/sodium-valproate/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC number on the pack — Epilim Chrono 500mg carries 04-2456 in our copy of the register.
2. Registered generics include Encorate Chrono 500 (A4-0894) and 200 (A4-0895) from Ranbaxy, Valcontin 500 (A4-5954) from Phillips, and Racex (B4-4378).
3. Confirm the number with our NAFDAC checker before paying.
4. Check whether the pack says Chrono or controlled-release. The plain and controlled-release forms are dosed differently and are not casually interchangeable.
5. Buy from a registered pharmacy and keep the pack — with a medicine this consequential, being able to say exactly which product and batch you took matters.

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### Can I take sodium valproate if I might get pregnant?

Only if no other treatment controls your condition, and then only alongside effective contraception and a full discussion of the risks with your doctor. Valproate causes birth defects in about one in ten exposed pregnancies and developmental or learning problems in around three to four in ten — the highest risk of any common antiepileptic. Many regulators now require that women of childbearing age be moved to an alternative such as levetiracetam wherever possible. If this applies to you, raise it at your next appointment rather than waiting to be asked.

### I just found out I am pregnant and I take valproate. What do I do?

Contact your doctor immediately — today, not at your next routine appointment. But do not stop the tablets on your own. Stopping an antiepileptic abruptly can cause prolonged seizures that are dangerous to you and to the pregnancy, and by the time a pregnancy is discovered, much of the early exposure has already happened. Your doctor will weigh switching medicines, high-dose folic acid, and extra scanning. This is a situation for urgent advice, not panic and not silence.

### What is the difference between Epilim and Epilim Chrono?

Chrono is the controlled-release version. It releases valproate steadily rather than in a burst, which gives more even blood levels, fewer peak-related side effects such as nausea and tremor, and twice-daily instead of three-times-daily dosing. Most valproate registered in Nigeria is the Chrono or equivalent controlled-release form. Chrono tablets must be swallowed whole — crushing or splitting them destroys the controlled release.

### Why does the pack say 333mg and 145mg instead of 500mg?

Because some controlled-release valproate products contain two related substances — sodium valproate and valproic acid — which together are equivalent to 500mg of sodium valproate. Epilim Chrono 500 and Valcontin 500 are labelled this way in the NAFDAC register. It is not a different or weaker product; it is the standard way this formulation is described. If a pharmacist offers you a pack labelled with the split figures when your prescription says 500mg, that is normally the correct product, but confirm it with them.

### Does sodium valproate cause weight gain?

Yes, commonly — increased appetite and weight gain are among the most frequent reasons people ask to change from valproate, and the effect can be substantial. It is worth raising with your doctor rather than stopping the drug, since options include dietary support, a dose review, or a switch to a different antiepileptic. In women, valproate is also associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and menstrual irregularity, which is another reason for a conversation rather than silent endurance.

### How much is Epilim in Nigeria?

Epilim Chrono, the Sanofi original, is the most expensive valproate on the Nigerian market; the Indian-made controlled-release generics Encorate Chrono, Valcontin and Racex cost considerably less. With only five companies holding active registrations, availability can be patchy outside major cities and prices vary accordingly. Check the price section of this page for current sampled figures and ask several pharmacies before settling.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)