actual epilepsy

Question 1

Treatment for generalised epilepsy

Answer 1

Sodium valproate (lamotrigine alternative)

Question 2

Risk factors for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Answer 2

Sleep deprivation

“flashing lights”

Question 3

When does primary generalised epilepsy present?

Answer 3

Often present in childhood or teens

Question 4

When does focal onset epilepsy present? and what causes it?

Answer 4

Onset at any age, due to underlying structural cause

Question 5

Treatment for focal onset epilepsy?

Answer 5

Carbamazepine or lamotrigine (sodium valproate works as well but not first choice bc side effects)

Question 6

Common type of focal onset epilepsy

Answer 6

Complex partial seizures with hippocampal sclerosis

Question 7

Anti-convulsant that causes hair loss/alopecia

Answer 7

Sodium valproate (also weight gain and fatigue)

Question 8

Can make primary generalised epilepsies worse

Answer 8

Carbamazepine

Question 9

This medication takes a long time to titrate up to

Answer 9

Lamotrigine

Question 10

Side effects of topiramate

Answer 10

Sedation and dysphasia
But also weight loss :) !!
Quite effective but not particularly well tolerated

Question 11

Medications less used as anticonvulsants but more popular for neuropathic pain

Answer 11

Gabapentin, pregabalin

Question 12

Anti-convulsants which induce hepatic enzymes

Answer 12

Carbamazepine, oxocarbazepine, phenobarbitol, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate

-can alter efficacy of the OCP

Question 13

Which pill can’t you take if on anti-convulsants

Answer 13

-shouldn’t take POP
Also:
-depo progesterone needs more frequent dosing
-progesterone implants not effective

Question 14

Morning after pill and anti-convulsants

Answer 14

Morning after pill no longer effective - dose needs increased

Question 15

Types of status epilepticus?

Answer 15

• generalised convulsive status epilepticus
• non convulsant status (conscious but in “altered state”)
• epilepsy partialis continuous (coontinual focal seizures, consciousness preserved)

Question 16

Metabolic disorders that could precipitate status epilepticus

Answer 16

Hyponatremia

Pyridoxine deficiency

Question 17

Treating absence seizures with carbamazepine could cause what?

Answer 17

Status epilepticus

Question 18

Things that could cause status epilepticus

Answer 18

hyponatraemia, pyridoxine deficiency
Infection
Head trauma
Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
Abrupt withdrawl of anti-convulsants Treating absence seizures with CBZ

Question 19

Why is convulsive status epilepticus bad?

Answer 19

Can cause
– respiratory insufficiency and hypoxia – hypotension
– hyperthermia
– rhabdomyolysis

Question 20

Examples of biochem disorders that could cause seizures

Answer 20

Hypocalcemia

Hypomagnesia