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Acute valproate ingestion induces symptomatic methemoglobinemia
1Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Anesthesia, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 9, 1998
Abstract:
A wide variety of clinical outcomes have been described after acute valproate ingestion. We report for the first time the development of symptomatic methemoglobinemia after an acute ingestion of divalproex sodium (Depakote), resulting in serum concentrations 10 times greater than the therapeutic range. The methemoglobinemia was readily reversed with the administration of methylene blue. Valproate elimination was enhanced by the continuous infusion of activated charcoal. The patient recovered without permanent sequelae.