Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are associated with reduced  severity of ictal hypoxemia in medically refractory partial  epilepsy.
Ictal respiratory dysfunction occurs in patients with epilepsy and may contribute to sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Fluoxetine reverses respiratory arrest in a mouse model of epilepsy, suggesting that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce ictal respiratory dysfunction. Video–electroencephalography (EEG) and pulse oximetry data from 496 seizures in 73 consecutive patients with partial epilepsy was reviewed, including 87 seizures in 16 patients taking SSRIs (SSRI+) and 409 seizures in 57 patients not taking SSRIs (SSRI)). The proportion of ictal-related oxygen desaturation <85% with partial seizures without secondary convulsions in SSRI+ patients was reduced relative to SSRI) patients (p = 0.011). There was no statistically significant difference in ictal oxygen desaturation for secondarily generalized convulsions. SSRIs are associated with reduced likelihood of ictal oxygen desaturation in patients with partial seizures.
Bateman
Lisa M
LM
Department of Neurology, Division of Biostatistics, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Li
Chin-Shang
CS
Lin
Tzu-Chun
TC
Seyal
Masud
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013686:Telemetry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors