Topiramate in benzodiazepine withdrawal.
There is an increasing interest in anticonvulsants for the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. The new anticonvulsant compound topiramate seems to be an especially promising drug for this indication. It acts, among others, as an AMPA antagonist, which may be responsible in part for its anticonvulsant efficacy, but may also modulate the withdrawal-induced activation of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus, which are related to some behavioural effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal. A case is presented of a rapid benzodiazepine-withdrawal treated successfully with topiramate.
Cheseaux
Michel
M
Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Monnat
Martine
M
Zullino
Daniele F
DF
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077236:Topiramate
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D000077236:Topiramate; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005632:Fructose