Frequency of Sodium Valproate-Induced Hair Loss and Curly Hair

Sodium valproate has been widely used by man as an antiepileptic drug. Hair loss and curly hair is a rare side effect of sodium valproate. We have conducted a prospective clinical study in the Department of Neurology in Shafa Hospital, Kerman, Iran for ten years (1994-2004). All 211 epileptic patients in our study were given sodium valproate as a single drug treatment. During the course of therapy, all patients were strictly monitored every 3 months. Six cases (3.5% of valproate user population) of hair loss and curling of hair were found between sodium valproate users. Three cases were female and three were male. This side effect observed at least 3 months after its first initial drug therapy. The estimated frequency of curly hair along with hair loss in our study is lower than previously-reported frequencies (6-12%).