Topiramate-induced psychosis in two members of the one family: a case report

Ricardo Jorge Paixão José , Alastair Cairns and Christopher Babbs

Department of Medicine, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD, UK

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Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:195doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-195


Published:	6 June 2008

Abstract

Introduction

The use of topiramate has increased in recent years. It is now used by various specialties to treat a wide range of medical conditions. A small number of case reports describe psychosis as an adverse event of topiramate but most are in patients being treated for epilepsy and none describe a family history of this side effect.

Case presentation

We present a case report of topiramate-induced psychosis in a patient with familial essential tremor, whose sister also developed this same adverse effect.

Conclusion

Physicians need to be aware of psychosis as a rare but debilitating side effect of this drug. Several predictors have been identified and a careful history, including family history, needs to be obtained prior to initiation of therapy to stratify the risk.