Prolonged postictal encephalopathy in two patients with clozapine-induced seizures.
Two patients with prolonged postictal encephalopathy lasting 63 and 72 hours, respectively, following seizures with clozapine are reported. Clozapine alters the EEG in a majority of patients treated, with seizure frequency as high as 5-10% in doses above 600 mg/d. Prolonged postictal encephalopathy following a clozapine-induced seizure has not been previously reported but may be an important side effect of this medication. Pharmacologic and clinical issues are discussed.
Karper
L P
LP
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, West Haven VA Medical Center, CT 06516.
Salloway
S P
SP
Seibyl
J P
JP
Krystal
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
D003024:Clozapine