Ambroxol-induced focal epileptic seizure

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2014 May-Jun;37(3):84-7. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000031.

Abstract

It is well known that in epileptic patients some compounds and different drugs used for the treatment of comorbidities can facilitate or provoke seizures, this evidence regarding a wide spectrum of pharmacological categories. The potential facilitating factors usually include direct toxic effects or pharmacological interactions of either active ingredients or excipients. We report the case of a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy who experienced focal epileptic seizures, easily and constantly reproducible, after each administration of a cough syrup. This is, to our knowledge, the first electroencephalogram-documented case of focal epileptic seizures induced by cough syrup containing ambroxol as active ingredient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Ambroxol / adverse effects*
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Antitussive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Resistance
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electroencephalography / drug effects
  • Epilepsies, Partial / chemically induced*
  • Epilepsies, Partial / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nonprescription Drugs / adverse effects*
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antitussive Agents
  • Nonprescription Drugs
  • Ambroxol