title: γ-Hydroxybutyric acid-induced electrographic seizures.
abstract: We describe a case of absence-like electrographic seizures during NREM sleep in a patient who was taking sodium oxybate, a sodium salt of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). An overnight full montage electroencephalography (EEG) study revealed numerous frontally predominant rhythmic 1.5-2 Hz sharp waves and spike-wave activity during stage N2 and N3 sleep at the peak dose time for sodium oxybate, resembling atypical absence-like electrographic seizures. The patient was later weaned off sodium oxybate, and a repeat study did not show any such electrographic seizures. Absence-like seizures induced by GHB had previously been described in experimental animal models. We present the first reported human case of absence-like electrographic seizure associated with sodium oxybate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Brendan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lucey
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Duntley
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Rachel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Darken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; C111420:4-hydroxybutyric acid; D012978:Sodium Oxybate
keywords: narcolepsy; pharmacology; seizure