Flunarizine and neuro-psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents

Abstract

This paper describes a 14-year-old boy presenting both extrapyramidal syndrome and a depressive episode after the initiation of flunarizine treatment for migraine. A detailed case history was obtained using traditional assessment and a semi-structured interview. A Medline search was done for information on adverse effects of flunarizine and co-morbidity between migraine and anxiety-depression symptoms. Some patients could have a predisposition to anxiety-depression as a global response. The intake of certain drugs, such as flunarizine, affecting central receptors, could precipitate the onset of depressive symptoms.

Keywords

Flunarizine - adverse effects - depression - extrapyramidal syndrome - children - adolescents