FOCAL, SECONDARILY GENERALIZED SEIZURES D URING THERAPY WITH PAROXETINE

We report on a 73-year old man with major depression. During therapy w ith paroxetine, a potent serotonine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) the pati ent developed two secondary generalised seizures. After paroxetine was stopped and benzodiazepines were started the EEG showed a bio-electri c status epilepticus. The status ceased when therapy with valproic aci d was initiated. Cranial MRI showed multiple lacunar infarctions. We c onclude that patients receiving SSRI are prone to epileptic seizures, particulary if focal brain lesions are preexistent.