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Antipsychotic medication and seizures: a review
Dawson Hedges1, Kreg Jeppson, Paul Whitehead
1Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. dawson_hedges@byu.edu
Drugs of Today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998)
|September 16, 2003
Summary
Both first- and second-generation antipsychotics can lower seizure threshold. Chlorpromazine and clozapine pose higher seizure risks, while other factors can also increase seizure induction chances.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychiatry
Background:
- Antipsychotic medications are widely used for psychiatric disorders.
- Both first-generation and second-generation antipsychotics have been implicated in lowering the seizure threshold.
- Understanding these risks is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the seizure-lowering effects of antipsychotic medications.
- To identify specific antipsychotics associated with increased or decreased seizure risk.
- To explore additional factors contributing to antipsychotic-induced seizures.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of published literature.
- Analysis of case reports and controlled studies.
- Comparative assessment of seizure risk across different antipsychotic classes.
Main Results:
- First-generation antipsychotics, particularly chlorpromazine, are associated with higher seizure risk.
- Among second-generation antipsychotics, clozapine shows the highest association with seizures.
- Molindone, haloperidol, fluphenazine, pimozide, and trifluoperazine appear to have lower risks.
- Risperidone is associated with a relatively low risk of seizure induction.
Conclusions:
- Antipsychotic medications significantly impact seizure threshold.
- Risk varies between specific agents and generations.
- Patient history, concomitant medications, and drug metabolism influence seizure risk.