Anti-seizure

Question 1

Old antiepileptics

Answer 1

Carbamazepine, diazepam, ethusuximide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid

Question 2

New antiepileptics

Answer 2

gabapentin, tiagabine, lamotrigine, topiramate, levetiracetam, vigabatrin, oxcarbazepine, zonisamide, pregabalin

Question 3

Seizure is

Answer 3

a transient alteration of behavior due to disordered, synchronous, rhythmic firing of brain neurons, can be nonepileptic (normal brain by electric shock/chemical convulsants) or epileptic (occurs without evident provocation), disorder of brain function with periodic unpredictable occurrence of seizures, specific treatment

Question 4

Partial seizures

Answer 4

Begin focally, respond best to Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Valproic acid, they are of two types: simple (preservation of consciousness and duration of 20-60 seconds), complex (imparted consciousness and duration of 30-120 seconds)

Question 5

Generalized seizures

Answer 5

both hemispheres with impaired consciousness: absences when the patient is staring and stops any ongoing activity for less than 30 seconds (Ethusuximide, Valproic acid, Clonazepam); myoclonic (shock like contraction of muscles, only a group or whole body, for less than one second, treatment includes valproic acid or clonazepam); tonic-clonic seizures (60-120 seconds, treatment includes Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid)

Question 6

Single, first seizure

Answer 6

avoid typical precipitants (alcohol, sleep deprivation, stress).

Question 7

More than one seizure (abnormal MRI, CT, EEG)

Answer 7

anticonvulsant therapy should be administered

Question 8

Before introducing long term medication the discussion should be

Answer 8

risk of seizure recurrence, risk of adverse effects, benefits of avoiding another seizure; lifestyle precautions (Read more)

Question 9

Medically refractory epilepsy

Answer 9

in case of failure to respond to three antiepileptic drugs, responds sometimes to immunotherapy (against autoantibodies developed to specific neutral antigen)

Question 10

Treatment in status epilepticus

Answer 10

general therapy measures: removing objects from oral cavity, oxygen, 60 ml glucose 40% iv in case of hypoglycemia or to decrease temperature in case of fever, read more

Question 11

after a seizure free period

Answer 11

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