OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify factors that contribute to the discontinuation of perampanel.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with epilepsy at the Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University Hospital. We evaluated the factors contributing to perampanel discontinuation as primary outcomes using Cox proportional hazards regression. Then, we explored the components contributing to the primary outcomes using logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were included, 44.9% of whom discontinued participation, 22.0% had intellectual disability, and 23.7% had a psychiatric disorder other than intellectual disability. Adverse effects occurred in 65% of the patients, 23.7% had psychiatric adverse effects (PAE), and 49.2% had common adverse effects (CAE). The effect of PER to suppress seizures was confirmed in 65.3% of them. Discontinuation was influenced by non-response (Hazard Ratio (HR) 6.70, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.42-13.1), the occurrence of PAE (HR 3.68, 95% CI 1.89-7.16), CAE (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.06-3.41), and comorbid psychiatric disorders (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.21-4.59). Moreover, comorbid intellectual disability correlated with a low risk of PAE (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04-0.89).
CONCLUSIONS: The discontinuation of perampanel is influenced by poor efficacy and the occurrence of common/psychiatric adverse effects. The discontinuation of perampanel is influenced by poor efficacy and the occurrence of common/psychiatric adverse effects. Consideration of factors contributing to perampanel discontinuation may assist in determining the indication for perampanel treatment.

BACKGROUND: About 70 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from epilepsy. Despite a large variety of old and new antiepileptic drugs on the market, about 30% of people with epilepsy do not become seizure-free with medical treatment. This is a major individual and public health burden. Most of these difficult-to-treat patients are having focal seizures. Zonisamide is effective against focal seizures in adults and children and, thus, a therapeutic option for such patients. Its safety profile needs special attention. Areas covered: Herein, the authors discuss the pharmacology, clinical efficacy and the adverse effects of zonisamide. The article is derived from clinical trial data, long-term studies, meta-analyses, review articles, text books, webpages, and official license information. Expert opinion: Zonisamide has proven to be efficacious in focal epilepsy in children and adults, although it is not more effective than carbamazepine or other antiepileptic drugs. It is also effective in generalized epilepsy and in several other conditions of the CNS. Its safety profile may prevent it from becoming a first-line drug for focal epilepsy or any other indication.

Postfinasteride syndrome (PFS) is a term recently coined to characterize a constellation of reported undesirable side effects described in postmarketing reports and small uncontrolled studies that developed during or after stopping finasteride treatment, and persisted after drug discontinuation. Symptoms included decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, sexual anhedonia, decreased sperm count, gynecomastia, skin changes, cognitive impairment, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The aim of this study is to review the existing medical literature for evidence-based research of permanent sexual dysfunction and mood changes during treatment with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors including finasteride and dutasteride.

The objective of this work was to review systematically the efficacy and tolerability of perampanel (PER) in residential patients of an epilepsy center.
We adopted an industry-independent noninterventional retrospective evaluation on the basis of the paper and electronic records complemented by personal information on the part of the treating neurologists. All patients (N=26, 15 females, mean age: 30, range 21-55years) started on PER from its introduction to the market in September 2012 until December 15th 2013 were included. Evaluation was carried out after 6, 12, and 24months of PER treatment. Changes in seizure frequency were calculated as the number of seizures during three months on PER compared to a three-month baseline period. The Clinical Global Impression Scale served as an instrument to record changes in seizure intensity beyond numerical values. Adverse effects were documented by means of the Liverpool Adverse Events Profile.
Most patients had structural or metabolic epilepsy, 2 patients suffered from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, 2 from other symptomatic generalized epilepsy. All patients had grade III drug-resistant epilepsy. All patients had additional cognitive deficits of different degree. The retention rates were 61.5% after 6months, 46.2% after 12months, and 42.3% after 24months. The responder rates were 11.5% after 6months, 23.1% after 12months, and 7.7% after 24months. Partial responders (positive CGI and/or seizure reduction <50%) included, the respective values were 26.9%, 38.5%, and 23.1%. Only 1 patient was seizure free at 12months (but not at 24months). A loss of efficacy in the second year of treatment was suspected but the decrease of the responder rate could also be ascribed to a number of different circumstances. Adverse effects in the psychiatric field like irritability, aggression, increased sensitivity, and suicidal ideation/behavior occurred in 50% of the patients. They were the main reason to discontinue PER.
After one year of treatment PER showed reasonable efficacy in a particularly difficult-to-treat population. Psychiatric adverse effects forced discontinuation in many cases.

The misuse of nootropics-any substance that may alter, improve, or augment cognitive performance, mainly through the stimulation or inhibition of certain neurotransmitters-may potentially be dangerous and deleterious to the human brain, and certain individuals with a history of mental or substance use disorders might be particularly vulnerable to their adverse effects. We describe four cases of probable nootropic-induced psychiatric adverse effects to illustrate this theory. To the best of our knowledge this has not been previously reported in the formal medical literature. We briefly describe the most common classes of nootropics, including their postulated or proven methods of actions, their desired effects, and their adverse side effects, and provide a brief discussion of the cases. Our objective is to raise awareness among physicians in general and psychiatrists and addiction specialists in particular of the potentially dangerous phenomenon of unsupervised nootropic use among young adults who may be especially vulnerable to nootropics\' negative effects.

Background. Topiramate (TPM) is a new antiepileptic drug that is used mainly in the treatment of refractory partial epileptic seizures. There are some studies reporting TPM\'s effectiveness in the treatment and maintenance of some psychiatric illnesses such as acute mania, some other affective disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and binge-eating disorder. On the other hand, it has been shown that TPM may cause mild to moderate cognitive impairment and is thought to be responsible for a series of neuro-psychiatric signs and symptoms. Some of the available articles that have mentioned the relationship of psychotic symptoms and topiramate usage are discussed. Objective. The present paper aims to discuss a case of psychotic exacerbation purported to occur after TPM administration and to review specifically the literature on TPM\'s potential for inducing psychotic symptoms. The patient presented here is thought to be an undiagnosed schizophrenia patient until his admission to our clinic (Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Medical School) with TPM-exacerbated psychotic symptoms. Conclusions. The current findings are still subject to controversy because of the presence of both individual case reports and case series on the association between appearance of psychotic symptoms and TPM usage.