The effect of carnitine on the metabolism of valproic acid in epileptic patients.
The half-life of valproic acid (VPA) was studied in 8 epileptic and severely mental retarded patients before and after one month of carnitine supplementation. Serum carnitine concentration was significantly decreased and VPA half-life was prolonged especially in adult patients before carnitine supplementation. After the treatment with carnitine, serum carnitine concentration was increased, and prolonged half-lives of VPA were corrected near to the normal range (from 12.2 +/- 4.2 hr to 9.7 +/- 2.2 hr; p < 0.05). Controlled state of epilepsy was unchanged during the short period of observation.
Sakemi
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, Akita University School of Medicine.
Hayasaka
K
K
Tahara
M
M
Sanada
Y
Y
Takada
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014635:Valproic Acid; D002331:Carnitine