Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:47
Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats
Published on: November 8, 2018
[Status epilepticus and gatifloxacin]
S Koussa1, S Hage Chahine, A Zoghbi
1Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de France, Université Saint-Joseph, Beyrouth, Liban. koussalam@hotmail.com
Revue Neurologique
|February 17, 2007
Summary
Quinolone antibiotics like gatifloxacin can induce seizures, particularly in elderly patients with a history of epilepsy. Oral administration of gatifloxacin in normal doses led to status epilepticus in two elderly women.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- The epileptogenic potential of quinolone antibiotics varies between different drugs.
- Gatifloxacin has been rarely associated with epileptic seizures, primarily via the intravenous route.
Observation:
- Two elderly female patients experienced generalized status epilepticus after oral administration of standard doses of gatifloxacin.
- A history of convulsions was the sole identified risk factor in both patients.
- Brain MRI scans were normal; EEG in one patient revealed continuous bilateral frontal discharges.
Findings:
- Oral gatifloxacin, even at normal doses, can precipitate severe epileptic events like status epilepticus.
- Elderly individuals with a prior history of seizures are at increased risk.
Implications:
- Caution is advised when prescribing quinolones, including gatifloxacin, to elderly patients.
- Particular vigilance is necessary for elderly patients with a history of epilepsy due to the risk of induced seizures.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:28Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
01:20Seizures l: Introduction
Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...