title: Topiramate in benzodiazepine withdrawal.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Policlinique Médicale Universitaire, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheseaux
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monnat
authors.forename: Daniele F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Zullino
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D000077236:Topiramate; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005632:Fructose