J Clin Neurol.  2007 Jun;3(2):93-95. 10.3988/jcn.2007.3.2.93.

A Case of Lamotrigine-Induced Excessive Involuntary Eye Blinking

• Kim DG
• Oh SH
• Kim OJ

• KMID: 1851019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2007.3.2.93

Abstract

A wide variety of movement disorders can be induced by the administration of antiepileptic drugs. A 44-year-old female was admitted with involuntary excessive eye blinking that manifested 5 months after beginning the administration of lamotrigine for control of complex partial and secondarily generalized seizures. The involuntary eye blinking persisted while taking lamotrigine, and disappeared 1 month after the cessation of lamotrigine. The development of atypical involuntary eye blinking in this case may have resulted from the inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitters by lamotrigine, which led to secondary dysfunction of the dopaminergic system.

Keyword

Lamotrigine; Eye Blinking; Side Effect

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anticonvulsants
Blinking*
Female
Humans
Movement Disorders
Neurotransmitter Agents
Seizures
Anticonvulsants
Neurotransmitter Agents

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Electroencephalography study shows no epileptiform discharges during eye blinking. On simultaneous electromyography (EMG) attached to surface electrodes on both eyelid muscles, the frequency of eyeblinking after cessation of lamotrigine was normalized to 0.5 times/second (B) compared with on medication of lamotrigine (1.7 times/second) (A)

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