Central nervous system manifestations of a valproic acid overdose responsive to naloxone.
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.
Alberto
G
G
Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 60612.
Erickson
T
T
Popiel
R
R
Narayanan
M
M
Hryhorczuk
D
D
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*
D002606:Charcoal; D009270:Naloxone; D013012:Sorbitol; D014635:Valproic Acid