Use of Fluoxetine to Augment the Inter-Ictal Hypercapnic Ventilatory Response in Patients with Epilepsy: A Pilot
Rup K Sainju1, Deidre N Dragon1, Harold B Winnike2
1Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Background:
Severe peri-ictal respiratory dysfunction is a potential biomarker for high SUDEP risk and correlates with an attenuated hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). Prior studies suggest a potential role for selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors in modifying the HCVR, but this approach has not been studied in the epilepsy population.
Objectives:
To assess the feasibility of using fluoxetine to augment HCVR in epilepsy patients.
Methods And Material:
An inter-ictal HCVR was measured using a CO2 rebreathing technique in patients with epilepsy aged 18-75 years. Eligible participants were randomized to fluoxetine or placebo, and the HCVR was repeated at the end of week 4. Primary outcomes were recruitment and retention rate.
Results:
Of the 30 subjects enrolled, 22 were randomized (mean: 3.8 subjects/3 months), with a retention rate of 100% in fluoxetine and 95% in placebo.
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate feasibility for a larger definitive future study to assess the efficacy of fluoxetine in augmenting HCVR.
More Related Videos
09:07Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
04:51Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:24Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists