title: [Appropriate dosage for maintaining effective serum level at night after taking one dose of magnesium valproate with separate measurements of serum Mg++ concentration].
abstract: Gas chromatography was used for monitoring the serum valproate (VPA) levels in 33 epileptic adults. They were divided into 3 groups treated with Mg-VPA in dosage of 800 mg, 600 mg and 400mg respectively at 7 pm in an attempt to find out an appropriate dosage with which the effective serum level could be maintained in the night time for those patients with only nocturnal seizures. It was shown that from the beginning of the treatment with a dosing regimen of 800 mg as well as one week after the treatment with a dosing regimen of 600 mg at 7 pm each day, the serum VPA levels of more than 50 micrograms/ml throughout the night could be procurred. The serum Mg++ concentrations of 20 normal and 24 epileptic adults were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The serum Mg++ concentrations were found to be within normal values (2.0-3.0 mg%). The differences of the data obtained from these measurements between the normal and epileptic adults as well as those before and after the treatment were statistically insignificant.
authors.affiliation: Hunan Medical University, Changsha.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid; D008274:Magnesium