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Valproic Acid is a medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and in some cases schizophrenia.  Valproic Acid is a unique drug in that it is believed to be a GABA(a) agonist stimulating the GABA(a) receptor.  The half-life is 8-15 hours.  Some of the side effects of Valproic Acid are dyspepsia, which is chronic, recurrent abdominal pain, wight gain, dysphoria or fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, hair loss, and the usual headaches and nausea, which it seems all drugs may cause.  Valproic Acid should is rarely used with overweight patients because it causes weight gain.

Because so many people come in to drug and alcohol treatment with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, migraine headaches and even sometimes schizophrenia, this seems like the perfect medication for them.  Drug and alcohol treatment combined with psychoactive drugs like Valproic Acid can help a person focus on treatment because symptoms of their other psychological disorders are lessened.  Medication should always be used in conjunction with therapy and/or counseling to maximize the effectiveness of addiction treatment.  There are no quick solutions (like a pill) that can completely eradicate the disease of alcoholism and addiction.