Comparative steady state serum levels of valproic acid administered as two different formulations — Deprakine® and Orfiril®

Plain tablets of sodium valproate (VPA), a useful antiepileptic drug, are bitter tasting and produce gastric irritation which leads to poor patient compliance. We have studied the steady state serum levels of VPA which can be produced in epileptic patients before and after a 1 week treatment with a plain tablet (Deprakine) versus an enteric coated tablet (Orfiril). The latter drug produced in most patients a higher drug fasting blood level than the uncoated preparation (22%). The enteric coated tablets appeared also better tolerated.