Valproic acid (VPA)是一個用途廣泛的抗癲癇藥物，一般而言其耐受性不錯，不過仍有少數患者長期使用可能產生嚴重副作用，包括肝毒性或高血氨症腦病變(hyperammonemic encephalopathy)，而急性中毒也會產生類似之症狀。本文將敘述一位42歲VPA中毒的女性患者，入院後發生意識狀態改變和高氨血症，給予L-carnitine及支持性療法，而後病患意識逐漸改善，且血氨降至正常而出院。藉由回顧文獻發現L-carnitine用於VPA中毒之療效及安全性研究是缺乏的，不過相關之案例報告顯示對於急性VPA中毒之患者且伴隨嚴重症狀者，給予L-carnitine是合理的治療。
 

Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic medication. It is usually well tolerated, but some serious side effects may occur in some patients receiving VPA chronically, including hepatotoxicity and hyperammonemic encephalopathy. Acute VPA intoxication also has the similar symptom. We report a 42-year-old female with acute VPA intoxication. In the hospital, she was conscious change and hyperammonemia. After L-carnitine and supportive therapy, her conscious level gradually improved and serum ammonia level reduced to normal range. Published evidence of efficacy and safety of L-carnitine as antidote for acute Valproic acid intoxication is limited. Base on the available evidence, it is reasonable to consider L-carnitine for patients with acute intoxication of valproic acid who have severe symptom.