title: The anticonvulsant effect of citalopram as an indirect evidence of serotonergic impairment in human epileptogenesis.
abstract: Some evidence would indicate that a serotonergic deficit may be involved in epileptogenesis. A preliminary trial of citalopram, a selective inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, was carried out. Citalopram 20mg/day was given to 11 non-depressed patients with poorly controlled epilepsy as an add on treatment with an open label design for 8-10 months. The median seizure frequency dropped by 55.6% in the whole group, with nine patients improving by at least 50%. No adverse reactions occurred with the exception of mild drowsiness. There were no changes of post-treatment as compared to pre-treatment AED serum concentrations. Although controlled studies are required to confirm the anticonvulsant effect of citalopram, these findings may be regarded as an indirect evidence of serotonergic impairment in human epileptogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Favale
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Audenino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cocito
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000502:physiology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D015283:Citalopram; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors