title: Olanzapine-related repetitive focal seizures with lingual dystonia.
abstract: Olanzapine-related seizures have rarely been reported despite associated proconvulsant risk factors described in the literature: myoclonic status, increased frequency of seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, as well as fatal status epilepticus. We present a psychiatric patient who developed repetitive focal motor seizures and lingual dystonia when olanzapine was added for psychomotor agitation and aggressiveness. Olanzapine was immediately suspended and the seizures progressively disappeared. A control EEG showed no paroxysmal discharges. Olanzapine shares some pharmacological similarities with clozapine, a neuroleptic with a high risk of dose-dependent seizures. This adverse effect should be taken into account, and olanzapine should be used with caution if concomitant circumstances decrease the seizure threshold. [Published with video sequence online].
authors.affiliation: SS Annunziata Hospital of Chieti- Neurology, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anzellotti
authors.affiliation: SS Annunziata Hospital of Chieti- Neurology, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.affiliation: SS Annunziata Hospital of Chieti- Neurology, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frazzini
authors.affiliation: SS Annunziata Hospital of Chieti- Neurology, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onofrj
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D020938:Epilepsy, Partial, Motor / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine
keywords: EEG; focal motor seizure; lingual dystonia; olanzapine; seizure; side effect