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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Avicenna J Med 2019; 9(03): 119-121
DOI: 10.4103/ajm.AJM_7_19
CASE REPORT

Focal seizure as a manifestation of serotonin syndrome: case report

Eyad Almallouhi
Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
,
Mohamad Rahwan
Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
,
Helen Dainton
Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
,
Leonardo Bonilha
Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
› Author Affiliations Financial support and sponsorship Nil.
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Abstract

Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition. Seizure is one of the complications of serotonin syndrome that may delay diagnosis and complicate management. We report a patient who had a focal seizure with abnormal electroencephalogram in the setting of serotonin syndrome with no prior history of epilepsy or seizure-provoking factors (fever, electrolyte abnormalities, specific medication combinations, and specific medication overdosing). Recognition of seizure as a symptom of serotonin syndrome is important for early treatment and avoidance of long-term consequences. Treatment of serotonin syndrome is mostly supportive. However, a short course of antiepileptics may be needed if these patients develop seizures.

Keywords

Cortical excitement - electroencephalography - focal slowing - seizure - serotonin syndrome


Publication History

Article published online:
09 August 2021

© 2019. Syrian American Medical Society. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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