Lack of potentiation of anticonvulsant effect by fluoxetine in drug-resistant epilepsy

To test the hypothesis that fluoxetine may be a useful adjunct to antiepileptic therapy, we treated with fluoxetine (20-40 mg/day) nine patients suffering from medically intractable epilepsy with daily seizures. Five patients remained unchanged and four worsened. Worsening was more evident at 40 mg/day. One patient improved when receiving the lower dose (20 mg/day) and worsened with the higher dose (40 mg/day). These data suggest: (1) that fluoxetine is not effective as add-on antiepileptic treatment; (2) that caution should be exerted when using fluoxetine as an antidepressive treatment in epileptic patients

Changes in nocturnal sleep and day time somnolence after CBZ administration [MODIFICAZIONI DEL SONNO NOTTURNO E DELLA SONNOLENZA DIURNA DOPO SOMMINISTRAZIONE DI CARBAMAZEPINA]

Despite a large clinical use, very little is known about sleep changes caused by carbamazepine (CBZ) administration in epileptic patients. Night sleep organisation and daytime somnolence have been studied in 7 temporal lobe epileptic patients and in 6 healthy controls in basal condition and after 400 mg of CBZ. Only patients have also been recorded after one month daily treatment with CBZ-CR 800 mg. In basal condition the epileptic patients do not differ from the control group. After the first CBZ administration, both groups present a reduction and fragmentation of REM sleep, and an increased daytime somnolence. After chronic use, sleep alteration tend to return to baseline. Finally, CBZ does not cause alterations of sleep microstructure

Lack of potentiation of anticonvulsant effect by fluoxetine in drug-resistant epilepsy

To test the hypothesis that fluoxetine may be a useful adjunct to antiepileptic therapy, we treated with fluoxetine (20-40 mg/day) nine patients suffering from medically intractable epilepsy with daily seizures. Five patients remained unchanged and four worsened. Worsening was more evident at 40 mg/day. One patient improved when receiving the lower dose (20 mg/day) and worsened with the higher dose (40 mg/day). These data suggest: (1) that fluoxetine is not effective as add-on antiepileptic treatment; (2) that caution should be exerted when using fluoxetine as an antidepressive treatment in epileptic patients