Epilepsy Flashcards
name some drugs that are known to induce seizures
antibiotics- penicillins, quinolones, cephalosporins
analgesics - tramadol
anti emetics
opiods- diamorphine
theophylinne
what investigations should you do if somebody has a seizure?
ECG
imaging if you think some sort of pathology has caused the seizure
differential for epilepsy- what can cause a collapse?
syncope TIA non epitleptic attack migraine hypoglycaemia parasomnias paroxysmal movement disorder
what is SUDEP
sudden unexpected death in epilepsey
need to tell patients about this
what is happening inside the brain during epilepsy?
too much excitation and too little inhibition- abnormal discharge of electrical activity, abnormal synchornisation of neuronal activity
interruption of normal brain activity
who is generalised epeilepsy more common in?
children and teenagers
in a gerneralised seizure, what types do you get/ what can you see?
absence- a pause myoclonic atonic (only paeds) tonic- all muscles contract at once tonic clonic- dips of contraction and relaxation
what is the best drug for epilepsy
sodium valporate
but cant give in young females
how long cant you drive for after first epileptic seizure
1 year ( 3 if in sleep)
must be off medication for 10 years if lorry driver
what is the alternative treatment for primary generalised epiplepy to sodium vaalproate
lamotrigine
what test can you do to tell you the type of epilepsy?
EEG
what is the treatment for focal onset epilepsy?
carbamazepine
or lamotrigine
how does sodium valproate work
enhances GABA synthesis
how does lamotrigine and carbamazepine work?
inhibits Na+ influx so inhibits excitataion
how does gabepentin and pregabalin work>
inhibit Ca2+ influx preventing neurotransmitter release into cleft
