The primary purpose of this research is to determine whether Valproate alone, and in combination with Quetiapine, lowers confusion and agitation in persons with severe Corona Virus Disease (COVID)19 pneumonia during weaning from the breathing machine (ventilator). Though Valproate and Quetiapine are often given to persons with severe confusion with agitation, the purpose of this small research study is specifically for: a) persons infected with COVID 2019 on a ventilator whose agitation is not responding to the usual medications (like dexmedetomidine), and b) to reduce the time persons are treated with dexmedetomidine, which requires continuous close monitoring in an ICU.
This is a pilot feasibility study involving a randomized, single-blind, controlled comparison scheme examining the efficacy and safety of standard of care (n=10) combined with valproate alone, and in combination with quetiapine (N=10) , in order to reduce the magnitude of agitation associated with COVID 19 delirium as assessed by the RASS scale when weaning from a ventilator, and reduce need for dexmedetomidine as assessed by number of doses of dexmedetomidine administered.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Valproate sodium (enteral or intravenous) will be administered at a dosage of 10 to 15 mg/kg/day. The dosage may be increased by 5 to 10 mg/kg/week to achieve optimal clinical response. Ordinarily, optimal clinical response is achieved at daily doses below 60 mg/kg/day.
Enteral quetiapine dosing on Day 3: 25 mg to 50 mg twice daily. Increase in increments of 50 mg/day to 100 mg/day divided two on Days 4 and 5 to range of 50-400 mg/day by Day 7. Further adjustments can be made in increments of 25-50 mg twice a day, in intervals of not less than 2 days. Recommended dose range is 150-750 mg/day.
Standard of Care is a combination of IV dexmedetomidine (D), midazolam (M), ketamine (K) and propofol (P), at the discretion of treating physician.
Change from baseline RASS score of +3 or greater
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) score ranges from +4 (combative) to 0 (alert \& calm) to -5 (unarousable).
Time frame: Baseline, Day 7
Total dose of dexmedetomidine administered
Total dose of dexmedetomidine administered will be reported from baseline RASS score of +3 or greater.
Time frame: Day 7
Incidence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events
Incidence of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events will include: * QTc duration \> 470 msecs. * Increase in Liver Function Tests to a Grade 3 or higher using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) v5.0. * Suicidality reported as having a score of moderate or high risk using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screening (C-SSRS). C-SSRS is a calculated risk assessment tool that scores suicidality from no risk to high risk.
Time frame: Day 7
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