title: Treatment of childhood epilepsy with rectal valproate: case reports and pharmacokinetic study.
abstract: Two children with status epilepticus were treated successfully by the rectal administration of valproate (VPA), and complete seizure control was obtained in one patient without severe side effects. In addition, there was no essential difference in pharmacokinetics between rectal and oral administration of VPA as determined by computerized simulation of plasma concentration data of VPA after rectal administration in two healthy adults or an epileptic child. Although these findings suggest that the early absorption of VPA within 30 minutes of rectal administration is slightly more rapid than that of oral administration, rectal VPA seems to be unsuitable for the first choice in the treatment of status epilepticus, since it has not so immediate effects as intravenous administration of DZP.
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014635:Valproic Acid