Valproic Acid: Update on Its Mechanisms of Action

Valproic acid (VPA; 2‐propylpentanoic acid or dipropylacetic acid) was synthesized by Burton in 1882 and shown to have anticonvulsant properties by Meunier et al. in 1963. VPA was licensed for use as an anticonvulsant in the United States in 1978. It is used primarily for the treatment of generalized seizures.