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. 2006 Apr;31(4):509-14.
doi: 10.1007/s11064-006-9045-7. Epub 2006 May 13.

Successful treatment of epilepsy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors: proposed mechanism

C Albano  1 , A Cupello, P Mainardi, S Scarrone, E Favale
Affiliations

Successful treatment of epilepsy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors: proposed mechanism

C Albano et al. Neurochem Res. 2006 Apr.

Abstract

The widely used antidepressants Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) have been tried with success as anticonvulsants in cases of nonsymptomatic epilepsy. This attempt was performed on the basis of experimental data suggesting the involvement of impairments of the serotonin system in the genesis of epilepsy. This overview summarizes the clinical data and presents biochemical and neurochemical evidences suggesting the mechanism of the therapeutic effects of SSRI in nonsymptomatic epilepsy. In particular, studies on blood-borne neutral amino acids and platelet serotonin transporter (SERT) in epileptics suggest: (a) That a decreased brain availability of tryptophan may be related to some types of epilepsy. (b) That reduction of the density of SERT may be a homeostatic reaction in the brain following epileptic seizures.

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