En cours de traitement ou à l'arrêt... les accidents convulsifs liés aux médicaments : à propos de 70 observations

During a five year period (1988-1992) 70 cases of seizures were collected by the Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Center of Clermont-Ferrand (3.58% of total collected cases). 31 cases (22 M and 9 F) occurred after a drug withdrawal. Benzodiazepines--either alone or in association--were the most often involved. Mean age was 48.8 +/- 2.6 years in this group and additional factors (alcohol abuse and/or association of drugs that lower the seizure threshold) were associated in 26 cases. 39 cases (14 M and 25 F) occurred on the course of various treatments. The most frequently involved drugs were neuropsychiatric, antiinfectious (especially beta-lactam antibiotics, fluorquinolones and isoniazid) and theophylline. Mean age was 56.5 +/- 3.8 years and additional different factors (high dosages, antecedents of epilepsy, underlying diseases) were present in 22 observations.