Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry, UAE University, Faculty of
Medicine & Health Sciences, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | Department of Pediatrics, UAE University, Faculty of
Medicine & Health Sciences, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Note: [] Correspondence: Aithala Gururaj, MD, DCH, MMed, FRCPCH, FRCPI,
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE
University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Tel.: +971 3 7039 413; Fax: +971 3
7672 022; E-mail: GururajA@uaeu.ac.ae
Abstract: Children with seizures may also have behavioral problems including
hyperactivity. The management of hyperactivity in these cases is complicated by
the fact that pharmacotherapeutic interventions may worsen the seizures. In
this study 10 children with epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder were treated with risperidone in an open label fashion. The dose was
titrated up from 0.5 mg to a maximum of 3 mg per day based on clinical efficacy
and tolerability. Clinical improvement was noted in all the 10 patients.
Tiredness was reported by one patient, and drowsiness by another, but none
experienced extra pyramidal side effects. Furthermore, there were no untoward
effects on the frequency or intensity of the seizures. Our findings suggest
that risperidone in combination with anticonvulsant medication is safe and
effective in treating children with seizures and hyperactivity. Controlled
studies are needed to determine long-term efficacy and safety of this drug in
this special population.
