J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1992; 4:454-457
Copyright © 1992 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Prolonged postictal encephalopathy in two patients with clozapine- induced seizures
LP Karper, SP Salloway, JP Seibyl and JH Krystal
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, West Haven VA Medical Center, CT 06516.
Two patients with prolonged postictal encephalopathy lasting 63 and 72
hours, respectively, following seizures with clozapine are reported.
Clozapine alters the EEG in a majority of patients treated, with seizure
frequency as high as 5-10% in doses above 600 mg/d. Prolonged postictal
encephalopathy following a clozapine-induced seizure has not been
previously reported but may be an important side effect of this medication.
Pharmacologic and clinical issues are discussed.
