title: Safety of rapid intravenous valproate infusion in pediatric patients.
abstract: In order to investigate the safety of rapidly infused intravenous valproate in children with seizures, the drug was administered to 18 patients (age range, 1-16 years) at doses ranging from 7.5 to 41.5 mg/kg and rates of 1.5 to 11 mg/kg per minute. Forty-eight intravenous valproate doses were administered during 19 hospital admissions (range, 1-16 doses per admission). Only one adverse event was reported; a 9-year-old male experienced burning at the infusion site while receiving 660 mg intravenous valproate at 6 mg/kg per minute. The patient tolerated three subsequent infusions (one of 330 mg and two of 165 mg) at the same rate with no further discomfort. Electrocardiogram results, available for 18 admissions, revealed no arrhythmias, bradycardias, or hypotensive episodes. No abnormal laboratory results were reported. Rapid intravenous valproate infusion appears to be safe in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0211, USA. ldmorton@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: B Patrick
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Coots
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pellock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid