Acute Valproic Acid Overdose: Enhance Elimination with Multiple-Doses Activated Charcoal
Suda Vannaprasaht MD*, Somsak Tiamkao MD**, Dhavee Sirivongs MD**, Nawanant Piyavhatkul MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Multiple dose activated charcoal (MDAC) is used to enhance elimination of toxic substance in acute poisoning. However, its role in acute valproic acid (VA) overdose is controversial. The authors report a case of VA overdose that successfully recovered with MDAC treatment. The half-life of VA in the presented patient was decreased from 12 to 8 hours during MDAC administration. MDAC treatment in acute poisoning enhanced VA elimination four times than without treatment. MDAC should be considered for the treatment of acute VA intoxication.
Keywords : Valproic acid, Toxicity, Multiple dose activated charcoal, Hemodialysis
