Oral Valproate Sodium as an Alternative to Benzodiazepine in the Treatment of Catatonia- A Case Report

Authors

  • Jacob C. Maier The University of Toledo School of Medicine
  • Daniel Rapport, MD The University of Toledo Medical Center
  • Alex McCormick, DO Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare
  • Chandani Lewis, MD The University of Toledo Medical Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol8-2020-450

Keywords:

catatonia, depakote, sodium valproate, schizophrenia

Abstract

Alternative therapies are necessary to treat catatonia in patients with comorbidities that are not amenable to therapy with benzodiazepines or ECT. This is a patient with schizophrenia with catatonic features and a history of polysubstance abuse. Consequently, he was not a candidate for treatment with benzodiazepines, so an alternative needed to be found. GABAergic medications have been used previously as alternatives to benzodiazepines and ECT. In this case we chose sodium valproate, due to its cross-reaction with GABAergic systems. There are five reported cases using sodium valproate. Three of which were treated with intravenous valproate, while the remaining two do not specify the route of administration. We present a case where oral sodium valproate was used successfully for both acute and long-term catatonic treatment. To our knowledge, no other report has looked at both acute and long-term treatment with sodium valproate. Oral sodium valproate can be considered for patients with substance use disorders like COPD, sleep apnea or myasthenia gravis in which benzodiazepines are contraindicated and where ECT is not an option for treatment.

Author Biographies

Jacob C. Maier, The University of Toledo School of Medicine

3000 Arlington Ave.

Toledo, OH 43614

Daniel Rapport, MD, The University of Toledo Medical Center

Department of Psychiatry

3000 Arlington Ave.

Toledo, OH 43614

Alex McCormick, DO, Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare

Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare

1756 Sagamore Rd

Northfield, OH 44067

Chandani Lewis, MD, The University of Toledo Medical Center

Department of Psychiatry

3000 Arlington Ave.

Toledo, OH 43614

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Published

2021-02-24

How to Cite

Maier, J., Rapport, D. ., McCormick, A., & Lewis, C. (2021). Oral Valproate Sodium as an Alternative to Benzodiazepine in the Treatment of Catatonia- A Case Report. Translation: The University of Toledo Journal of Medical Sciences, 8. https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol8-2020-450

Issue

Vol. 8 (2020): Volume 8, 2020

Section

Case Reports

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