Antiepileptic drug-induced visual hallucinations in a child

The neurologic signs and symptoms of carbamazepine and phenytoin toxicity, such as ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus, are well known. The psychiatric manifestations of toxicity, such as psychosis and hallucinations, however, are less widely recognized. This study reports the case of a 9-year-old male with seizures who developed intermittent complex visual hallucinations after therapy with antiepileptic drugs was begun. This study considered seizures, migraine, underlying psychiatric diathesis, and drug toxicity as possible etiologies but after extensive investigation concluded that his symptoms were most likely a drug side effect.