J Clin Neurol.  2006 Dec;2(4):283-285. 10.3988/jcn.2006.2.4.283.

Downbeat, Positional, and Perverted Head-Shaking Nystagmus Associated with Lamotrigine Toxicity

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Korea. jmoonkim@cnu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract

Lamotrigine is an effective antiepileptic drug with few adverse effects. Nystagmus is one of the commonly observable signs of lamotrigine overdose, which may result from central nervous system involvement. However, the physiologic basis of lamotrigine-induced nystagmus is not fully understood. Here we report a patient who presented with lamotrigine-associated nystagmus that was probably related to cerebellar dysfunction.

Keyword

Lamotrigine toxicity; Downbeat nystagmus; Perverted head-shaking nystagmus

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System
Cerebellar Diseases
Humans

Figure

  • Figure 1 Brain MRI scan showing no evidence of Arnold-Chiari malformation or a discrete lesion in the nodulus or flocculus.


Reference

1. Alkawi A, Kattah JC, Wyman K. Downbeat nystagmus as a result of lamotrigine toxicity. Epilepsy Res. 2005. 63:85–88.
Article
2. O'Donnell J, Bateman DN. Lamotrigine overdose in an adult. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2000. 38:659–660.
3. Leigh RJ, Zee DS. The Neurology of Eye Movements. 2006. 4th edn. New York: Oxford University Press;274–280.
4. Zee DS, Yamazaki A, Butler PH, Gucer G. Effects of ablation of flocculus and paraflocculus on eye movements in primate. J Neurophysiol. 1981. 46:878–899.
Article
5. Fernandez C, Alzate R, Lindsay JR. Experimental observations on postural nystagmus. Lesions of the nodulus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1960. 69:94–114.
6. Kim JS, Ahn KW, Moon SY, Choi KD, Park SH, Koo JW. Isolated perverted head-shaking nystagmus in focal cerebellar infarction. Neurology. 2005. 64:575–576.
Article
7. Ito M, Nisimaru N, Yamamoto M. Specific patterns of neuronal connections involved in the control of the rabbit's vestibulo-ocular reflexes by the cerebellar flocculus. J Physiol. 1977. 265:833–854.
Article
Full Text Links
  • JCN
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr