eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal 0974-6242 2025-03-31 18 1 739 748 10.13005/bpj/3124 65097 article Vitarani Dwi Ananda Ningrum 1 Irine Dyah Widyastuti 1 Rizaldy Taslim Pinzon 2 Rochmy Istikharah 1 Nashrul Hanif Al-Hakim 1 Naning Ni’mawati 1 Department of Pharmacy, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug that can also be used to treat bipolar and other neurological disorders. Meanwhile, interindividual variability is known to significantly affect the clinical response to VPA use. This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the clinical response to VPA and prevalence of VPA adverse drug reactions (ADRs). An observational study with a prospective cross-sectional design was conducted by involving 87 outpatients from two private hospitals known for their excellence in neurology. The data on patients’ demographic characteristics, the treatment received, clinical response to VPA, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were obtained from the medical records and patient interview. The clinical response to VPA was also confirmed by the patients’ attending doctor, while the ADRs referred to the laboratory data on liver function and data from the medical records. A total of 84 patients (96.6%) receiving VPA showed the expected clinical response. There were no factors correlating with the effectiveness of VPA use (p>0.05). However, more than half of the patients experienced ADRs due to VPA use, including weight gain, hair loss, and hepatotoxicity. Although most of the patients have had their disorders controlled by VPA, an individualized approach is required to avoid the prevalence of ADRs, especially for patients with high-risk factors. https://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol18no1/effectiveness-and-adverse-drug-reaction-mechanisms-associated-with-valproic-acid-use-a-cross-sectional-prospective-study-in-indonesia/ Adverse drug reaction Cross-Sectional Effectiveness Indonesia Valproic acid