PMID: 25767546Mar 15, 2015Paper

Beta-lactam antibiotics as a possible novel therapy for managing epilepsy and autism, a case report and review of literature

Iranian Journal of Child Neurology
Ahmad Ghanizadeh, Michael Berk

Abstract

Autism is a disorder of unknown etiology. There are few FDA approved medications for treating autism. Co-occurring autism and epilepsy is common, and glutamate antagonists improve some symptoms of autism. Ceftriaxone, a beta-lactam antibiotic, increases the expression of the glutamate transporter 1 which decreases extracellular glutamate levels. It is hypothesized that modulating astrocyte glutamate transporter expression by ceftriaxone or cefixime might improve some symptoms of autism. This case report of a child with autism and epilepsy suggests a decrease in seizures after taking cefixime.

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