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Hong E, Gu SM, Kim JM, Yoon KS, Lee JM, Kim YH, Suh SK, Lee D, Eom H, Yun J, Cha HJ. The designer benzodiazepine, flubromazepam, induces reward-enhancing and cardiotoxic effects in rodents. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2022; 11:644-653. [DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfac039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The use of many benzodiazepines is controlled worldwide due to their high likelihood of abuse and potential adverse effects. Flubromazepam—a designer benzodiazepine—is a long-acting gamma-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor agonist. There is currently a lack of scientific evidence regarding the potential for flubromazepam dependence or other adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the dependence potential, and cardiotoxicity via confirmation of the QT and RR intervals which are the factors on the electrical properties of the heart of flubromazepam in rodents. Using a conditioned place preference test, we discovered that mice treated intraperitoneally with flubromazepam (0.1 mg/kg) exhibited a significant preference for the flubromazepam-paired compartment, suggesting a potential for flubromazepam dependence. In addition, we observed several cardiotoxic effects of flubromazepam; 100-μM flubromazepam reduced cell viability, increased RR intervals but not QT intervals in the electrocardiography measurements, and considerably inhibited potassium channels in a human ether-à-go-go-related gene assay. Collectively, these findings suggest that flubromazepam may have adverse effects on psychological and cardiovascular health, laying the foundation for further efforts to list flubromazepam as a controlled substance at both national and international levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunchong Hong
- College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University, 194-31 Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Mi Gu
- College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University, 194-31 Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Mook Kim
- Pharmacological Research Division , National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Sik Yoon
- Pharmacological Research Division , National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Moo Lee
- Pharmacological Research Division , National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Pharmacological Research Division , National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Kyung Suh
- Pharmacological Research Division , National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohyun Lee
- Laboratory Animal Center , Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyeong-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejong Eom
- Laboratory Animal Center , Osong Medical Innovation Foundation, 123 Osongsaengmyeong-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesuk Yun
- College of Pharmacy , Chungbuk National University, 194-31 Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Cha
- Deputy Director General for Narcotics Safety Planning , Pharmaceutical Safety Bureau, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28159, Republic of Korea
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with severe epilepsy are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias. Although antiseizure medications (ASMs) may have indirect protective effects against cardiovascular events by reducing seizure frequency and hence sudden death in epilepsy, some of them exert cardiotoxic effects. AREAS COVERED Patients with epilepsy, mainly those with severe forms, are at higher risk of cardiac disease because their heart can have structural alterations and electrical instability as a consequence of repeated seizures. Some ASMs have direct protective effects through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypotensive, and lipid-reducing properties. Antiseizure medications can also have toxic cardiac effects including both long-term consequences, such as the increased risk of atherogenesis and subsequent cardiovascular disease due to the influence on lipid profile and pro-inflammatory milieu, and immediate effects as the increased risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias due to the influence on ion channels. Sodium channel blocking ASMs may also affect cardiac sodium channels and this effect is particularly observed in subjects with genetic mutations in cardiac ion channels. Fenfluramine cause valvulopathies in obese subjects and this effect need to be evaluated in epilepsy patients. EXPERT OPINION For the selection of treatment, cardiotoxic effects of ASMs should be considered; cardiac monitoring of treatment is advisable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Zaccara
- Department of Eidemiology, Regional Health Agency of Tuscany, Firenze, Italy
| | - Simona Lattanzi
- Neurological Clinic, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Brigo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (Sabes-asdaa), Merano-Meran, Italy
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Khalil M, Shukralla AA, Kilbride R, Mullins G, Widdess-Walsh P, Delanty N, El-Naggar H. Ictal asystole during long-term video-EEG; semiology, localization, and intervention. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 15:100416. [PMID: 33437961 PMCID: PMC7786025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2020.100416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ictal arrhythmias are disturbances of cardiac conduction that occur during clinical or electrographic seizures. Ictal asystole (IA) is rare, and its incidence can range from 0.3–0.4% in patients with epilepsy who were monitored by video-EEG (van der Lende et al., 2015). We report on ten patients (six males and four females) with an age ranging from 31 to 70 years old) who were monitored in our video-EEG (VEEG) unit over the last eight years. These patients were selected based on the history of documented ictal asystole during inpatient VEEG monitoring). In our series the mean latency from the seizure onset to the onset of ictal asystole was 22 seconds and the mean duration of the IA was 15.8 seconds. During the asystolic phase the seizures may clinically continue or syncopal signs may supervene. In our case series all the patients had either left or right temporal lobe epilepsy, six of which were lesional. We found two patterns of ictal semiology in our series. The first group of patients included five patients who experienced a rapid onset of IA in their seizure and the second group where the latency of ictal asystole was relatively late. All our cohort had a permanent pacemaker following the diagnosis, six of these patients have been event free since placement.
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