title: Central nervous system manifestations of a valproic acid overdose responsive to naloxone.
abstract: We report the case of a 22-year-old man who presented with a depressed level of consciousness after ingesting valproic acid. He responded to IV naloxone; over a nine-hour period, his serum valproic acid level decreased from 180.4 to 59.2 micrograms/ml with multiple-dose charcoal therapy. We recommend the use of both agents in the treatment of valproic acid overdose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 60612.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alberto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popiel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hryhorczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002606:Charcoal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003243:Consciousness / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D002606:Charcoal; D009270:Naloxone; D013012:Sorbitol; D014635:Valproic Acid