Neuroscience and Medicine

Volume 5, Issue 1 (March 2014)

ISSN Print: 2158-2912   ISSN Online: 2158-2947

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.67  Citations  

Profound Hypothermia Secondary to Clobazam Use in Epilepsy: A Novel Association

HTML  XML Download Download as PDF (Size: 210KB)  PP. 15-19  
DOI: 10.4236/nm.2014.51003    4,443 Downloads   6,464 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Clobazam, a 1-5 benzodiazepine, was introduced in the 1970s for the treatment of anxiety and agitation. Antiepileptic properties were recognized, and efficacy in a number of epilepsy syndromes was demonstrated in humans, with good tolerance. Recent reviews are generally favorable, with a relative minimum of medication-related side effects. However, a number of benzodiazepines have been associated with causing hypothermia. To date, this side effect has not been reported with clobazam. We report two cases of profound hypothermia associated with the use of this medication for the treatment of epilepsy. Both children had significant cerebral dysgenesis and were developmentally impaired, but neither had experienced hypothermia before. Temperature dysregulation was resolved with medication withdrawal after an extensive work-up for alternative causes. Hypothermia should be considered as a possible side effect of clobazam, although the exact mechanism is unknown. Appropriate monitoring of temperature is appropriate, and precautions should be offered by caregivers.

Share and Cite:

DiFazio, M. , Lavenstein, B. and Demarest, S. (2014) Profound Hypothermia Secondary to Clobazam Use in Epilepsy: A Novel Association. Neuroscience and Medicine, 5, 15-19. doi: 10.4236/nm.2014.51003.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.