Abstract

Sodium valproate (Epilim - Reckitt-Labaz) and clonazepam (Rivotril - Roche) are two anti-epileptic drugs recently promoted in this country. Sodium valproate has been used elsewhere in Europe for several years. So far they have been employed predominantly for patients whose epilepsy is not controlled with conventional drugs. Sodium valproate and clonazepam are chemically unrelated. Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine, while the structure of sodium valproate is novel for an anticonvulsant. Sodium valproate appears to raise the concentration in the brain of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring inhibitory transmitter.¹