Epilepsy Flashcards
What is ictus?
any acute event, refers to the epilepsy attack itself
Aetiology of epilepsy?
trauma hypoxia pyrexia mass lesion in skull drugs CNS infections vascular abnormalities
what are the main neurotransmitters involved in epilepsy?
GABA (inhibitory) and glutamate (excitatory)
in simple partial seizure, does patient remain conscious or lose consciousness?
remains
what are deja vu and jamais vu examples of
complex partial seizures
treatment of absence seizures?
pals –> sodium valproate and ethosuxamide
side effects of sodium valproate?
gerry little side effects
10% will have hair loss
reduces efficacy of COCP
Childhood onset
Patient stares
May go pale
may be noticed by teacher in school?
absence seizure
what happens during tonic phase of a seixzure?
Rigid Epileptic cry Tongue biting Incontinence Hypoxia
how long does tonic phase last?
10-60 seconds
what happens during clonic phase
- Convulsions
- Eye rolling
- Tachycardia
- No breathing
status epileptics is a seizure lasting ?
over 30 minutes
when would you do a CT scan?
if you think its a stroke
focal signs
head injury with seizure
driving - how long can you not drive for after seizure ?
6 months
if you have a seizure, how long can you not drive a HGV?
5 years
how long seizure free before driving a car?
12 months, or 3 years during sleep
how long do you have to be seizure free for and off medication to drive a HGV?
10 years
what is encephalitis?
inflammation of the brain parenchyma
most common cause of encephalitis?
herpes simplex virus
does sodium valproate cause weight gain or weight loss?
weight gain
what can they do to the efficacy of the pill?
reduce
precipitants of status epilepticus?
Severe metabolic disorders hyponatraemia, pyridoxine deficiency Infection Head trauma Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage Abrupt withdrawl of anti-convulsants Treating absence seizures with CBZ
management of status epilepticus?
ABC Emergency blood tests +/- CT Anti convulsants ( Phenytoin (check levels) Keppra valproate Benzodiazepines)
side effects of ethosuxamide?
diziness, nausea, anorexia
1st line for focal/partial seizures?
carbamazepine
side effects of carbamazepine?
diziness, GI disturbance, water retention, SKIN RASH
main side effect of digoxin?
blurred vision
which drug causes gum hypertrophy?
phenytoin, which is also teratogenic and causes arrhythmias
method of action of lamotrigine?
inhibits sodium channels
side effects of lamotrigine?
han (nausea, diziness, ataxia)
