title: Lack of potentiation of anticonvulsant effect by fluoxetine in drug-resistant epilepsy.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that fluoxetine may be a useful adjunct to antiepileptic therapy, we treated with fluoxetine (20-40 mg/day) nine patients suffering from medically intractable epilepsy with daily seizures. Five patients remained unchanged and four worsened. Worsening was more evident at 40 mg/day. One patient improved when receiving the lower dose (20 mg/day) and worsened with the higher dose (40 mg/day). These data suggest: (1) that fluoxetine is not effective as add-on antiepileptic treatment; (2) that caution should be exerted when using fluoxetine as an antidepressive treatment in epileptic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gigli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diomedi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldinetti
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marciani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girolami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005473:Fluoxetine