title: Olanzapine-induced clinical seizure: a case report.
abstract: Atypical antipsychotics are known to be associated with electroencephalogram abnormalities. Olanzapine can lower seizure threshold and induce epileptiform discharges. However in patients on olanzapine for the treatment of a primary psychiatric disorder, clinical seizure is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 25-year-old man with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia with obsessive-compulsive disorder of 8 years' duration who developed new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizure with exposure to olanzapine. Electroencephalogram showed epileptiform discharges; results of computed tomographic scan and metabolic investigations were normal. His antipsychotic was changed to haloperidol, and the patient showed a significant improvement in psychotic symptoms with no recurrence of seizures and did not require anticonvulsant therapy. Olanzapine has a profile similar to that of clozapine and shares its seizure-inducing potential. Typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol might be a safer option for such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Rishikesh V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Behere
authors.forename: Divakaran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anjith
authors.forename: Naren P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Ganesan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venkatasubramanian
authors.forename: Bangalore N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Gangadhar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine