Chemicals and Drugs

Valproic Acid

A fatty acid with anticonvulsant and anti-manic properties that is used in the treatment of EPILEPSY and BIPOLAR DISORDER. The mechanisms of its therapeutic actions are not well understood. It may act by increasing GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID levels in the brain or by altering the properties of VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A fatty acid with anticonvulsant and anti-manic properties that is used in the treatment of EPILEPSY and BIPOLAR DISORDER. The mechanisms of its therapeutic actions are not well understood. It may act by increasing GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID levels in the brain or by altering the properties of VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C8H16O2
Molecular Weight
144.21 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
99-66-1
IUPAC Name
2-propylpentanoic acid
InChIKey
NIJJYAXOARWZEE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
CCCC(CCC)C(=O)O
MeSH Unique ID
D014635
Source
PubChem CID 3121

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

Synonyms

20 entry terms
  • 2-Propylpentanoic Acid
  • Divalproex
  • 2 Propylpentanoic Acid
  • Calcium Valproate
  • Convulsofin
  • Depakene
  • Depakine
  • Depakote
  • Dipropyl Acetate
  • Divalproex Sodium
  • Ergenyl
  • Magnesium Valproate
  • Propylisopropylacetic Acid
  • Semisodium Valproate
  • Sodium Valproate
  • Valproate
  • Valproate Calcium
  • Valproate Sodium
  • Valproic Acid, Sodium Salt (2:1)
  • Vupral

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

25 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

1991; was VALPROATE 1979-1990; was DIPROPYL ACETATE see under VALERATES 1975-1978

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Valerates (1966-1974)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D02w.241w.081.944w.509.900w
  2. D10w.251w.400w.895w.593.900w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QV 85

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Valproic Acid. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D014635. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D014635
  2. Valproic Acid. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valproate
  3. Valproic Acid. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q240642
  4. Valproic Acid. In: PubChem Compound. CID 3121. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3121