Epilepsy as a drug target Flashcards
What is an epileptic seizure
a sudden synchronous discharge of cerebral neurons causing symptoms or signs that are apparent either to the patient or the observer
What is epilepsy
ongoing susceptibility to recurrent epileptic seizures
How are seizures classified
how much of the brain is firing when it shouldn’t
What types of seizures are classified as generalized seizures
- tonic clonic
- absence
- myoclonic
What types of seizures are classified as focal
- aura
- motor
- simple vs complex
Sodium valproate is a common antiepileptic drug - what form of epilepsy is it used for and what is its mechanism of action
generalised tonic clonic seizures
increases GABA and blocks central Na+ channels
Carbamazepine is a common antiepileptic drug - what form of epilepsy is it used for and what is its mechanism of action
focal seizures
inhibits neuronal sodium channels
pheytoin is a common antiepileptic drug - what form of epilepsy is it used for and what is its mechanism of action
status epilepticus
generalised tonic clonic seizures
blocks sodium channels at inactive site
Pregabalin/gabapentin is a common antiepileptic drug - what form of epilepsy is it used for and what is its mechanism of action
focal seizures
inhibits voltage gated calcium channels
What is the difference between seizures and syncopes
Seizure: -
- sleep deprivation
- post-ictal confusion/prolonged recovery
- tongue biting
- cyanosis
Syncope:
- pain, heat
- rapid recovery
- no tongue biting
- pallor
What is status epilepticus
continuous seizure activity which has failed to self terminate leading to risk of neurological damage (>5mins)
Medical emergency
what is status epilepticus
What are the key characteristics of a Generalised tonic-clonic seizure
- tonic phase (10-20s) muscles contracted, ictal cry, respiratory impairment
- clonic phase (1min) - violent shaking and jerking
- postictal phase (1-2 hours) - confusion, unresponsiveness, muscle flaccidity
