The Effect of Constipation on Valproic Acid Dosage in a 17-Year-Old

Madan Cohen, Jennifer E.; Moshe, Solomon L.

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2008.10.008

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 40, Issue 2 , Pages 126-127, February 2009

The Effect of Constipation on Valproic Acid Dosage in a 17-Year-Old

Jennifer E. Madan Cohen, MD
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Epilepsy Management Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Madan Cohen; 282 Washington Street; Department of Neurology, 2A; Connecticut Children's Medical Center; Hartford, CT 06106.
Solomon L. Moshe, MD
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Epilepsy Management Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York

Received 30 June 2008; accepted 13 October 2008.

Although valproic acid absorption measurements have been reported for animal models, there have been no reports that correlate this to clinical experience with a patient. Reported here is the case of a patient who required twice the dose of valproic acid after colostomy for chronic constipation. The increased dosage required may have been due to rapid intestinal transit time or to bypass of the left colon. This case highlights the importance of gastrointestinal function in patients on valproic acid therapy.