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Akinetopsia from nefazodone toxicity.
1Beckman Vision Center, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0730, USA. horton@itsa.ucsf.edu
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|November 30, 1999
Summary
Nefazodone antidepressant toxicity can cause akinetopsia, a rare condition impairing motion perception. Patients experienced visual trails and freeze-frame images, which resolved upon dosage reduction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, like nefazodone, are widely prescribed antidepressants.
- Visual processing disorders, such as akinetopsia, are rare but can significantly impact quality of life.
Observation:
- Two cases of akinetopsia are reported in patients taking the antidepressant nefazodone.
- Patients described experiencing "freeze-frame" images and visual trails following moving objects.
Findings:
- Nefazodone toxicity was identified as the cause of akinetopsia in both cases.
- Symptoms included the inability to perceive motion smoothly, with persistence of multiple images and visual trails.
- Visual function normalized after nefazodone dosage was reduced or discontinued.
Implications:
- Nefazodone can selectively impair visual motion processing pathways, leading to akinetopsia.
- This highlights the importance of considering medication side effects in the diagnosis of visual disturbances.
- Further research into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying nefazodone-induced visual toxicity is warranted.