[Seven cases of decreased serum valproic acid concentration during concomitant use of carbapenem antibiotics].
Valproic acid (VPA) is a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant drug for the treatment of various forms of epilepsy. Concomitant administration of VPA and carbapenem antibiotics such as panipenem/ betamipron and meropenem has been reported to decrease the serum level of VPA. We observed seven cases which showed a decrease in serum levels of VPA due to concomitant use of VPA and carbapenem from January 2002 to October 2006 in a 750-bed university hospital, the average decrease of 70.4% was observed. Carbapenem antibiotics administrated concomitantly with VPA were panipenem (1 case), meropenem (3 cases), and imipenem (2 cases), and in one other case imipenem and meropenem were used sequentially. We found the VPA serum levels were significantly decreased with meropenem (n=4) more than with other carbapenem antibiotics (n=4, 89.3% vs. 51.5% decrease, P=0.03). Clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction, pay attention to the failure of seizure control due to decreased serum VPA levels with concomitant use of carbapenem antibiotics, and monitor VPA serum levels for those cases.
Lee
Sang-Guk
SG
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Jeong-Ho
JH
Joo
Jin Yang
JY
Kwon
Oh Hun
OH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D000077731:Meropenem; D008875:Middle Aged; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015780:Carbapenems; D013845:Thienamycins; D014635:Valproic Acid; D015378:Imipenem; D000077731:Meropenem; C039536:panipenem