Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators

Antiepileptic 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...

Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents

Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents

Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

Antiepileptic 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...

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Electrophysiologic evidence of loss of consciousness in cattle during slaughter with and without stunning: a systematic review and methodological overview.

Frontiers in veterinary science·2026

Same author

Migraine with prolonged aphasic aura associated with a CACNA1A mutation: A case report and narrative review.

Headache·2023

Same author

Pregnancy and Stress: Thinking Beyond Seizure Control in Women With Epilepsy.

Neurology·2023

Same author

Recognizing seizure clusters in the community: The path to uniformity and individualization in nomenclature and definition.

Epilepsia·2022

Same author

Epilepsy-related stigma and attitudes: Systematic review of screening instruments and interventions - Report by the International League Against Epilepsy Task Force on Stigma in Epilepsy.

Epilepsia·2022

Same author

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City - A distinct response from the epilepsy experience.

Epilepsy & behavior : E&B·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

Olanzapine-associated myoclonus.

Jennifer Block Rosen¹, Mark J Milstein, Sheryl R Haut

¹Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.

Epilepsy Research

|December 27, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Olanzapine, an antipsychotic, can rarely cause seizures and myoclonus. This case shows generalized myoclonus developing after long-term, low-dose olanzapine use, resolving upon discontinuation.

More Related Videos

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

Published on: August 18, 2008

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic used for various psychiatric conditions.
While generally well-tolerated, olanzapine carries a small risk of seizures and myoclonus.
Long-term effects of low-dose olanzapine on seizure threshold are not well-documented.

Observation:

A patient on stable, low-dose olanzapine for over seven years developed generalized myoclonus.
No recent changes in medication dosage or other precipitating factors were noted.
The myoclonic jerks were a new and significant adverse event.

Findings:

This report details the first instance of generalized myoclonus specifically induced by long-term, low-dose olanzapine therapy.
Discontinuation of olanzapine led to the complete resolution of myoclonic jerks within 48 hours.
The findings suggest a potential delayed-onset proconvulsant effect of olanzapine.

Implications:

Clinicians should be aware of the potential for olanzapine to induce myoclonus, even after prolonged treatment.
This case highlights the importance of considering medication side effects in new-onset neurological symptoms.
Further research may be warranted to explore the long-term neurological risks associated with atypical antipsychotics.