Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

VALPROIC ACID, SODIUM SALT

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

Anticonvulsant; antiepileptic. Used in the treatment of various forms of epilepsy
including petit mal and in infantile spasms. Given as the acid or sodium salt. The action
of valproic acid may involve a modification of the behaviour of gamma- aminobutyric acid
(GABA) in the brain.

SYNONYMS

C8-H15-O2.Na, (CH3CH2CH2)2CHCO2Na, "acetic acid, dipropyl-, sodium salt", "acetic acid,
2-propyl-, sodium salt", "acetic acid, 2-propyl-, sodium salt", "dipropylacetic acid,
sodium salt", "di-n-propylacetic acid, sodium salt", "di-n-propylacetic acid, sodium
salt", "n-dipropylacetic acid, sodium salt", "n-dipropylacetic acid, sodium salt", "n-
DPA, sodium salt", "n-DPA, sodium salt", "2-propylpentanoic acid, sodium salt", "2-
propylpentanoic acid, sodium salt", "2-propylvaleric acid, sodium salt", "2-
propylvaleric acid, sodium salt", "sodium bispropylacetate", "sodium dipropylacetate",
"sodium alpha, alpha-dipropylacetate", "sodium n-dipropylacetate", "sodium n-
dipropylacetate", "sodium 2-propylacetate", "sodium 2-propylacetate", "sodium 2-
propylpentanoate", "sodium 2-propylpentanoate", 2-propylvalerate, 2-propylvalerate,
"sodium valproate", Convulex, Depakene, Depakine, Depekane, Epilim, Ergenyl, Eurekene, KW-
066, Labazene, "anticonvulsant/ antiepileptic", Valpro

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  Skin contact is not thought to produce harmful health effects (as classified using animal models). Systemic harm, however, has been identified following exposure of animals by at least one other route and the material may still produce health damage following entry through wounds, lesions or abrasions. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Solution of material in moisture on the skin, or perspiration, mayincrease irritant effects.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  There is some evidence that human exposure to the material may result in developmental toxicity. This evidence is based on animal studies where effects have been observed in the absence of marked maternal toxicity, or at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which are not secondary non-specific consequences of the other toxic effects.  Exposure to the material for prolonged periods may cause physical defects in the developing embryo (teratogenesis).  Several off-spring of eight pregnant women taking valproate as an antiepileptic drug were deformed -  two babies had facial abnormalities and one baby had a heart lesion.  Intraperitoneal administration to mice (340 mg/kg on days 6-18 of gestation) produced a 30% incidence of neural tube defect in the cranial region of embryos and a reduced head size.  When the free acid was given by gavage to rats, 600 mg/kg was maternally toxic and produced 100% embryonic resorption. At 400 mg/kg 52% of all embryos were resorbed and 49% of survivors were malformed. Defects included ectrodactyly, hydronephrosis, cardiovascular defects, hypoplastic  bladder, rib and vertebral defects. At 200 mg/kg, defects included hydronephrosis, cardiovascular abnormalities and rib defects (primarily wave ribs).