title: Hyperammonemia associated with valproic acid use in elderly psychiatric patients.
abstract: Valproic acid (VPA) is associated with hyperammonemia; however, little is known about this phenomenon in the geriatric psychiatric population. Of 12 such patients prescribed VPA, 83.3% had elevated ammonia. This occurred in the absence of elevated liver enzymes, and there was no association of VPA serum-level to hyperammonemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. sh4s@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holroyd
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Overdyke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014635:Valproic Acid