Valproic acid is a leading mood stabilizer for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Its well-known teratogenicity limits its use in young women of childbearing age. According to toxicologic studies the teratogenicity of valproate stems from its free carboxylic group. Valnoctamide is an isomer and an analog of valpromide. Unlike valpromide, valnoctamide does not undergo a biotransformation to the corresponding free acid. It is also likely or at least possible that valnoctamide is anti-bipolar. In mice valnoctamide has been shown to be distinctly less teratogenic than valproate. An injection at day 8 of gestation produced only 1% exencephaly (as compared to 0-1% in control mice and 53% in valproate treated mice).