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Psychotic episodes during zonisamide treatment
T Miyamoto1, M Kohsaka, T Koyama
1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan. paf01635@nifty.ne.jp
Seizure
|February 11, 2000
Summary
Zonisamide (ZNS) treatment can cause psychotic episodes, especially in young epilepsy patients. Discontinue ZNS immediately if psychosis occurs, as it may contribute to these mental side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Mental side effects of zonisamide (ZNS) treatment have been documented.
- This study specifically investigates psychotic episodes associated with ZNS.
Observation:
- A retrospective survey of 74 epileptic patients treated with ZNS was conducted.
- 14 out of 74 patients experienced psychotic episodes during ZNS treatment.
Findings:
- The incidence of psychotic episodes during ZNS treatment was significantly higher than the prevalence of epileptic psychosis.
- Younger patients showed a higher risk of developing psychotic episodes.
- Obsessive-compulsive symptoms were noted in children with psychotic episodes.
Implications:
- Early termination of ZNS is recommended upon the onset of psychotic episodes.
- Restarting ZNS after psychotic episodes is not advised, even if seizures worsen.
- While causality is not definitively proven, ZNS appears to contribute to psychotic episodes, particularly in polytherapy.