De Novo Myoclonic Status Epilepticus After Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Clinical Neuropharmacology
Pedro Vicente Ferreira NavesLuis Otavio Caboclo

Abstract

Myoclonic status epilepticus (MSE) in patients without epilepsy, or de novo MSE, is a rare condition associated with several acute symptomatic etiologies, including drugs and toxins. We describe a 94-year-old woman with Alzheimer dementia and long use of mirtazapine 30 mg/d and alprazolam 1 mg/d who developed MSE approximately 24 hours after abrupt discontinuation of alprazolam. The patient was taking sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim for urinary tract infection, diagnosed 2 weeks before admission. She had no history of seizures. Routine laboratory examinations were normal and head computed tomography showed no acute injuries. She received a loading dose of 1000 mg of intravenous valproate (VPA). Continuous electroencephalogram monitoring revealed very frequent generalized spikes and polyspikes in a markedly slowed background activity. Intravenous VPA 500 mg thrice a day and alprazolam 0.5 mg twice a day were prescribed, and antibiotic was switched to piperacillin/tazobactam. Myoclonic jerks ceased completely and electroencephalogram showed no epileptiform discharges 2 days after VPA treatment onset, with recovery of baseline neurological status. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of de novo MSE related to abru...Continue Reading

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