Intravenous valproate in acute adolescent mania: a preliminary report.

This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous valproate in acute mania in adolescents. Five consecutive patients, meeting the study criteria, were treated with intravenous valproate. Of them, three significantly improved and one had no appreciable improvement. Two out of five patients experienced gastrointestinal and neurological side effects. This preliminary study suggests intravenous valproate is useful and safe to treat acute juvenile mania.