Clinical Neuropharmacology

OBJECTIVE: In this case report, we discuss the rare manifestation of prolonged neuromuscular blockade in a patient with history of small cell lung cancer and undiagnosed Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) who had previously received succinylcholine for general anesthesia without incident but subsequently exhibited prolonged neuromuscular blockade during a laparoscopic procedure. We aimed to emphasize the importance of reversal agent safety and precision as well as vigilant perioperative and postoperative care...

OBJECTIVE: Depressive disorders constitute a series of debilitating diseases. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of agomelatine (AG) combined with aerobic exercise (AE) on patients with moderate-severe depression (MSD) and the changes of the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level in patients after treatment as well as its significance. METHODS: A total of 178 MSD patients were randomly assigned to the AG group (N = 90) and AG + AE group (N = 88). The severity of depressive disorders and anhedonia was assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory, and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale scores...

BACKGROUND: Intravenous application of amantadine sulfate induces a rapid improvement of motor behavior in patients with Parkinson disease. OBJECTIVES: To determine efficacy of daily infusion of 200 mg amantadine sulfate on scored motor symptoms and performance of standardized movement sequences with components of low and high cognitive efforts. METHODS: Thirty-one participants received infusions of amantadine sulfate in addition to their previous stable drug regimens on 3 consecutive days...

OBJECTIVES: Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone that is used for bacterial infections involving different systems. In some cases, ciprofloxacin was reported to induce myoclonus. METHODS: We performed a chart review of 3 patients with myoclonus secondary to ciprofloxacin and reviewed the literature for similar cases. Written consent for publication was obtained from each patient, and their identities were concealed for ethical reasons. RESULTS: We describe 3 cases of myoclonus secondary to ciprofloxacin, 2 males and a female aged 61, 26, and 48 years, respectively...

OBJECTIVES: Reboxetine is a potent and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that was effective in combination with citalopram for resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study aims to assess its effectiveness and tolerability in combination with fluoxetine in treating OCD. METHODS: In this 2-center, placebo-controlled, and double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 76 patients with OCD were assigned into 2 parallel groups to receive fluoxetine (up to 80 mg/d) plus placebo (F + P) or fluoxetine (up to 80 mg/d) plus reboxetine (F + R) (10 mg twice daily) for 10 weeks...

In persons with narcolepsy type 1, sudden withdrawal of antidepressants can cause status cataplecticus. We describe a 77-year-old female patient with long-standing history of narcolepsy type 1 complaining of recurrent short sudden episodes of whole-body paralysis, with preserved consciousness and memory. Episodes started an hour after her family invited her to celebrate Mother's Day. One week prior, patient had abruptly discontinued duloxetine. Cataplectic episodes resolved within 24 hours after resumption of duloxetine and treatment of hypokalemia...

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of obesity in drug-naive first-episode (DNFE) patients with schizophrenia and its association with metabolic parameters, psychopathological symptoms, and cognitive function. METHODS: We collected general information on 411 DNFE schizophrenia patients and divided them into obese and nonobese groups according to body mass index (BMI). Glucolipid metabolic parameters of patients were collected. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was performed for assessing patients' psychopathological symptoms...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine how amantadine was used in a movement disorders clinic and how effective it was. METHODS: A chart review over a 2-month period in 2022 of all patients in a movement disorders clinic who had ever taken amantadine was undertaken. RESULTS: One hundred six charts were included. Amantadine was initiated primarily for tremor and secondly for l-dopa-induced dyskinesias (LIDs). Sixty-two percent of tremor patients improved and tolerated amantadine; 74% of those with LID improved and tolerated the drug...

BACKGROUND: Obsessions, compulsions, and stereotypes are common psychopathological manifestations of obsessive-compulsive, psychotic, and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). These nosological entities may be present in comorbidity, with relevant clinical difficulties in the differential diagnosis process. Moreover, ASDs are a complex group of disorders, with a childhood onset, which also persist into adulthood and present heterogeneous symptom patterns that could be confused with psychotic disorders...

OBJECTIVES: The use of medications in management of disease is an integral part of treatment to patients in both the inpatient and outpatient setting; however, these medications often have risk of adverse effects associated with their benefits of use. Adverse cutaneous reactions are one of the most frequent types of adverse drug reactions. Two major phenotypes of cutaneous adverse drug reactions are toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic drug with a well-documented profile of adverse effects for physicians to be aware of; however, SJS/TEN is not known to be included in that profile...

OBJECTIVES: The mechanism of inflammation of the immune system, for example, such circulatory markers as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV), has been shown in many studies to be associated with schizophrenia. In addition, it has been shown that the cannabidiol component reduces the activation of the acquired immune system. This study examined the differences in the levels of NLR and MPV among schizophrenia patients with cannabis use versus those without...

OBJECTIVE: Medication overuse headache (MOH) in chronic migraineurs may be a cause or consequence of the overuse of symptomatic medications for headache attacks. It is highly prevalent in tertiary centers. We compared the efficacy of 3 anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies with traditional pharmacological agents in patients with chronic migraine (CM) and MOH. METHODS: A randomized, cross-sectional, prospective, and open trial with real-world comparison groups was carried out...

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine whether zinc supplementation affects botulinum toxin's effect and longevity and to establish a transition from the molecular to the clinical aspect. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review in which we included all published studies on PubMed and Embase using the combination of the following terms: "zinc" AND (botox OR botulinum OR onabotulinumtoxinA OR abobotulinumtoxinA OR incobotulinumtoxinA). RESULTS: From the 260 yielded articles, 3 randomized control trials and 1 case report were retained...

OBJECTIVE: P-glycoprotein plays a role in drug resistance of epileptic patients by limiting gastrointestinal absorption and brain access to antiseizure medications. This study aimed to evaluate the association between ABCB1 polymorphisms and drug resistance in epileptic pediatric patients. METHODS: Three hundred seventy-seven epileptic pediatric patients were treated with antiseizure medications and subsequently divided into the drug-responsive group (n = 256, 68%) and drug-resistant group (n = 121, 32%)...

OBJECTIVES: Over the time of the pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has surprised us with a growing list of atypical presentations, one of which is persistent hiccups that last more than 48 hours. The aim of this review is to investigate the characteristics of COVID-19 patients presenting with persistent hiccups and explore treatments used to control persistent hiccups in such cases. METHODS: This scoping review was performed utilizing the methodological approach proposed by Arksey and O'Malley...

Cabergoline is a dopamine 2 receptor agonist used as first-line treatment of pituitary prolactinomas. Here, we describe the case of a 32-year-old woman with a pituitary prolactinoma who was treated with cabergoline for 1 year, during which time she developed delusions. We also discuss the use of aripiprazole to mitigate the psychotic symptoms, while maintaining the efficacy of cabergoline treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Oral cenesthopathy is an uncomfortable and bizarre oral sensation without corresponding organic findings. Although some treatment options, including antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, have been reported to be effective, the condition remains refractory. Here, we report a case of oral cenesthopathy treated with brexpiprazole, a recently approved D2 partial agonist. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 57-year-old woman presented with a complained of softened incisors...

OBJECTIVE: Research points to exercise having a positive effect in fighting relapse and use of drugs of abuse. Through conducting this research, differences have been observed in the effects of exercise on drug abuse between sexes. Many of the studies found that exercise tends to cause a more profound effect in blocking drug relapse or reinstatement in males when compared with females. METHODS: Our hypothesis is that these differences in response to drugs of abuse after an exercise regimen could in part be attributed to variations in testosterone levels between males and females...

OBJECTIVES: Cladribine is a selective and oral immunological reconstitution treatment, approved in Europe for very active multiple sclerosis (MS) with relapses. Aims were to assess the safety and effectiveness of cladribine in real-world setting, during treatment follow-up. METHODS: This was a multicentric, longitudinal, observational study with retrospective and prospective data collection of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. This interim analysis reports data from July 1, 2018 (study onset), to March 31, 2021...

OBJECTIVES: Medical cannabis (MC) has recently garnered interest as a potential treatment for neurologic diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). A retrospective chart review was conducted to explore the impact of MC on the symptomatic treatment of patients with PD. METHODS: Patients with PD treated with MC in the normal course of clinical practice were included (n = 69). Data collected from patient charts included MC ratio/formulation changes, PD symptom changes after initiation of MC, and adverse events (AEs) from MC use...