Epilepsy: Putting knowledge into practice

Question 1

What drug can you use for certain seizures

Answer 1

Each seizure type responds better to certain types of drugs

Question 2

What are the issues if someone comes to see the doctor about a random blackout

Answer 2

What is the correct diagnosis 
Is it epilepsy? Is it cardiac?
What tests are needed?
What treatment?
What advice?

Question 3

What is convulsive syncope

Answer 3

brief loss of consciousness and upright posture due to global cerebral hypoxia

can be mistaken for a seizure/epilepsy

Question 4

What is a dissociative seizure

Answer 4

Seizures which are not epileptic, but have a more psychological cause.

Trunk is more likely to move than the limbs

Question 5

What are the causes of blackouts and ‘funny’ turns

Answer 5

Epilepsy
fainting
Cardiac causes
Attacks with Psychological causes
Rarities

Question 6

What are the initial treatment options for Generalised Epilepsy

What drug shouldn’t be used by women

Answer 6

Sodium Valproate
Lamotrigine
Levetiracetam

Sodium valproate shouldn’t be used by women because it can cause birth defects

Question 7

What anti epilepsy drug shouldn’t be used by women

Answer 7

sodium valproate

Question 8

What are the initial treatment options for Focal Epilepsy

Answer 8

Lamotrigine

Levetiracetam

Question 9

What is Status epilepticus

How do you treat it

Answer 9

A medical emergency

-IV Lorazepam

If doesn’t work:

+IV valproate or IV levetiracetam

If needed
-General anaesthesia

Question 10

Non pharmacological treatments of epilepsy

Answer 10

Resection of epileptic focus

Vagal nerve stimulation

Ketogenic diet in children