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Myoclonic seizures with lithium
1Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.
Myoclonus has been infrequently observed in patients receiving lithium therapy, and associated electroencephalographic (EEG) changes have not been well described. We report two women, ages 35 and 48, who, after the initiation of lithium carbonate therapy, had several generalized tonic-clonic seizures followed by myoclonic seizures. In both, myoclonus was associated with repetitive sharp waves on the EEG. Although the epileptogenicity of lithium remains controversial, the occurrence of myoclonic seizures associated with lithium treatment suggests a proconvulsant effect of lithium in susceptible individuals.
Myoclonus has been infrequently observed in patients receiving lithium therapy, and associated electroencephalographic (EEG) changes have not been well described. We report two women, ages 35 and 48, who, after the initiation of lithium carbonate therapy, had several generalized tonic-clonic seizures followed by myoclonic seizures. In both, myoclonus was associated with repetitive sharp waves on the EEG. Although the epileptogenicity of lithium remains controversial, the occurrence of myoclonic seizures associated with lithium treatment suggests a proconvulsant effect of lithium in susceptible individuals.