Ninety patients ( mean age : 35.00 years ) with BPD and currently in an acute manic state were randomly assigned to one of three study conditions : oral loading ( 20 mg/kg oral single-dose SV on the first day , then 10-15 mg/kg SV daily , divided dose ) , intravenous loading ( 20 mg/kg SV intravenous injection on the first day , then 10-15 mg/kg orally , divided dose ) , or oral maintenance administration ( 15-20 mg/kg SV daily from the beginning ) over the first 7 days of treatment .