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Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
Seizures induced by desloratadine, a second-generation antihistamine: clinical observations
Caterina Cerminara1, Nadia El-Malhany, Denis Roberto
1Department of Neuroscience, Pediatric Neurology Unit, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy. caterinacerminara@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Some clinical experiences indicate that H1-antihistamines, especially first-generation H1-antagonists, occasionally provoke convulsions in healthy children as well as epileptic patients. Desloratadine is a frequently used second-generation antihistamine considered to be effective and safe for the treatment of allergic diseases. We describe four children who experienced epilepsy associated with the nonsedating H(1)-antagonist desloratadine and discuss the neurophysiologic role of the central histaminergic system in seizure susceptibility. In conclusion, we recommend caution in treating epileptic patients with the histamine H(1)-antagonists, including second- and third-generation drugs that are frequently referred because they are considered to be nonsedating antihistamines.
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