epilepsy Flashcards
presentation of primary generalise epilepsy
often presents in childhood
early morning jerks
generalised seizures
flashing ligths
absence
associated with tongue biting, incontinence, groaning, irregular breathing
presentation of focal onset epilepsy
underlying structural cause
can be tonic or tonic clonic
hallucinations
memory flashbacks
deja vu
doing strange things in autopilot
management of primary generalised epilepsy
1st line: sodium valproate
2nd line: lamotrigine (first line if reproductive age) or carbamazepine
management of focal onset epilepsy
1st line: carbamazepine or lamotrigine
2nd line: sodium valproate
important side effects of carbamazepine in focal onset epilepsy
agranulocytosis
also: aplastic anaemia, drug interactions
side effects of sodium valproate
teratogenic
liver damage
hepatitis
hair loss
tremor
lamotrigine side effects
stevens-johnson syndrome (skin rash)
leukopenia
what is status epilepticus
recurrent epileptic seizures without full recovery of consciousness
who can get status epilepticus
severe metabolic disorders
infections
head trauma
subarrachnoid haemorrhage
abrupt withdrawal of anti-convulstants
absence seizures management
first line: ethosuximide
second line: sodium valproate in men, lamotrigine or levetiracetam in females
myoclonic
brief
rapid muscle jerks
can you breast feed while on anti-epileptics
yes
where do focal seizures start
in the temporal lobe
what can focal seizures affect
speech
memory
emotions
atonic seizures
drop attacks
characterised by brief lapses in muscle tine
dont usually last more than 3 minutes
