Pharmacopsychiatry 2010; 43(6): 233-234
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1254092
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Allopurinol for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia and Epilepsy: A Case Report

C.-S. Liang1 , F.-W. Yang1 , K.-T. Chiang1 , P.-S. Ho1
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Beitou Armed Forces Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R. O. C.
Further Information

Publication History

received 09.01.2010 revised 22.03.2010

accepted 24.03.2010

Publication Date:
18 May 2010 (online)

Zoom Image

Although allopurinol is conventionally used to treat hyperuricemia, available evidence supports its potential benefit as an adjunctive medication not only for schizophrenia [3] but also for epilepsy [9]. Schizophrenic patients are prone to seizures because of comorbid substance abuse, long-term exposure to psychotropic agents that may lower their seizure threshold, or frequent episodes of head injury [5]. Similarly, individuals with epilepsy have a ∼2.5 times higher risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia [8]. Although the relationship between schizophrenia and epilepsy remains controversial, both conditions share several common features, such as ventricular enlargement, temporal lobe pathology, neuropsychology, and genetic factors [2]. However, few reports focus on therapeutic strategies for schizophrenic patients with epilepsy. Here, we present a case of treatment-resistant schizophrenia presenting with post-traumatic epilepsy as a sequel of subdural hemorrhage (SDH). The patient's positive symptoms and seizure attacks were significantly improved after allopurinol augmentation.