Blood valproic acid levels were decreased in
patients with
traumatic brain injury who had been using
valproic acid to control irritability and
aggression, and the symptoms worsened coincident with the
administration of
meropenem, a
carbapenem-based
antibiotic. Two weeks after the discontinuation of
meropenem,
valproic acid levels were restored to an effective
therapeutic concentration. Therefore, when
valproic acid and
carbapenem-based
antibiotics are used together,
blood valproic acid levels may decrease due to
drug interaction, and irritability symptoms may worsen. Thus, close
monitoring of
serum valproic acid levels is required.