Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Since the time of its introduction in 1985, mefloquine (Lariam) has been used extensively for malaria prophylaxis. The international Drug Safety Department of the manufacturer gathered all spontaneous adverse drug reactions reported in association with this drug from all available sources and monitored the literature on a world-wide basis. The serious neurologic and psychiatric adverse events reported in association with Lariam prophylaxis from the time of introduction until May 1991 were reviewed. During this time, 59 serious neurologic and psychiatric adverse reactions were reported as follows: 26 convulsions, 12 depressions, 20 psychotic episodes, and one toxic encephalopathy; none were fatal. While spontaneous reporting systems are biased by under-reporting, they provide useful instruments for analysis of clinical risks factors. The neurologic and psychiatric adverse events reported in association with mefloquine prophylaxis were of the same types as those reported with other quinine derivative antimalarials. The precise mechanism of serious neurologic and psychiatric reactions is unknown. The only patient population identified at this time as having an increased risk of developing these serious reactions to mefloquine are persons with a history of seizures or manic-depressive illness. Mefloquine prophylaxis should not be prescribed to such patients.
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PMID:Mefloquine prophylaxis: an overview of spontaneous reports of severe psychiatric reactions and convulsions. 159 72

There has been an increased incidence of malaria among Europeans returning from Africa and Asia. The relatively new antimalarial mefloquine (Lariam) has become extremely popular due to its efficacy in treating the wide-spread chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Mefloquine is used both for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria and is relatively well tolerated. However, since introduced in 1985, there have been over 100 reports of severe neurologic and psychiatric adverse effects associated with its use, including acute psychosis, affective disorders, acute confusional states and seizures. We describe a 39-year-old woman who developed acute psychosis after being given mefloquine prophylaxis. Adverse effects occur more often after therapeutic rather than prophylactic use, and those with a history of seizures or psychiatric illness are at increased risk of developing these reactions. Physicians should be aware of these possible side effects and prescribe mefloquine only when indicated.
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PMID:[Neuropsychiatric side effects of malarial prophylaxis with mefloquine (Lariam)]. 1095 70