Abstract

Sodium valproate is a well-known antiepileptic agent with multiple mechanism of action such as sodium channel blockage, gamma-aminobutyric acid activity induction. Despite its’ well-described anxiolytic and mood stabilization effects, its’ mechanism of action on pathological gambling is not clear. However, it has been reported as an effective treatment option on pathological gambling in patients without Parkinson’s disease (PD). We presented a young man with the diagnosis of PD suffering from pathological gambling as an impulse control disorder due to anti-pakinsonian drugs, who did not respond to drug adjustments, but showed a complete improvement with sodium valproate, without any worsening in PD symptoms.

Key words: Parkinson’s disease, impulse control disorders, pathological gambling, sodium valproate.