Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Valproate semisodium overdose
Introduction
Overdose Information
General
Overdosage with valproate may result in somnolence, heart block, and deep coma. Fatalities
have been reported; however patients have recovered from valproate levels as high as
2120 μg/mL. Return to top
Treatment
In overdose situations, the fraction of drug not bound to protein is high and hemodialysis
or tandem hemodialysis plus hemoperfusion may result in significant removal of drug. The
benefit of gastric lavage or emesis will vary with the time since ingestion. General supportive
measures should be applied with particular attention to the maintenance of adequate urinary
output.
Naloxone has been reported to reverse the CNS depressant effects of valproate
overdosage. Because naloxone could theoretically also reverse the antiepileptic effects of
valproate, it should be used with caution in patients with epilepsy. Return to top
Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]