Zonisamide discontinuation due to psychiatric and cognitive adverse events: a case-control study.

Objectives: Zonisamide (ZNS) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) that has been associated with psychiatric adverse events (PAE) and cognitive adverse events (CAE); controlled studies evaluating these adverse events are limited. Our objectives were to 1) determine the incidence of PAE and CAE leading to the discontinuation of ZNS and 2) identify risk factors for PAE and CAE associated with the discontinuation of ZNS.

Methods: All patients exposed to ZNS at MINCEP Epilepsy Care between March 2000 and September 2008 were identified.

Discontinuation of levetiracetam because of behavioral side effects: a case-control study.

Background: Levetiracetam (LEV) is a recently approved anticonvulsant with proven efficacy and safety in the treatment of partial seizures. LEV may cause behavioral abnormalities that can be severe and require discontinuation of this drug. Risk factors for discontinuing LEV have not been established.

Predictors of postoperative memory function after left anterior temporal lobectomy.

Patients who undergo left anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for intractable epilepsy are at risk of postoperative memory decline. This study attempts to identify the best predictors of memory after ATL using preoperative tests. Thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent left ATL with preoperative and postoperative neuropsychological testing were retrospectively identified.

A single-blind, crossover comparison of the pharmacokinetics and cognitive effects of a new diazepam rectal gel with intravenous diazepam.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics and cognitive effects of a new diazepam (DZP) rectal gel (Diastat) with intravenously administered DZP.

Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled in a single-blind, randomized, double-dummy, two-period, crossover study. Subjects received either 15 mg of DZP rectal gel or 7.

Memory performance on the intracarotid amobarbital procedure as a predicator of seizure focus.

The intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP) was performed on 56 patients with intractable complex-partial epilepsy who were candidates for temporal lobectomy. Seizure focus was lateralized to one hemisphere, as determined by surface EEG recordings and MRI evidence of temporal lobe disease. IAP memory items were presented following injection of 125 mg of sodium amytal into the internal carotid artery.