IC6&7: Seizures and Epilepsy Flashcards
What is seizures?
Transient occurrence of signs and symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in brain
What is epilepsy?
It is a conditions that is affected by
1. Min. 2 unprovoked seizures > 24 hours apart
2. 1 unprovoked and probability of further seizures similar to general recurrence risk after 2 unprovoked seizures for next 10 years
3. Diagnosis of epilepsy syndrome
What causes an acute seizure?
Recognizable stimulus such as metabolic disorders, toxic substance, infection, inflammation or structural issues
What is a remote seizure?
Seizure that occur longer than 1week following disorder known to increase the risk of epilepsy
What is an non-epileptic seizure?
Seizures that have s/s similar to that of epilepsy but there is no abnormal discharge
What is an unprovoked seizure?
Seizure not caused by anything clinical condition or beyond interval estimated for occurrence of acute symptomatic seizures
What are the 2 types of non-epileptic seizures?
- Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
- Psychological non-epileptic events
What are the common drugs that are related to lowering of seizures threshold?
- Antimicrobial - beta-lactam (high doses)
- Analgesics - Opioids, tramadol
- Antipsychotics - Clozapine
- Antidepressant - Bupropion
- Immunosuppressants - cyclosporine
- Simulants - Dextroamphetamine, metylphenidate
Describe the pathophysiology of seizures and epilepsy.
- Hyperexcitability: Increase depolarization due to imbalance of neurotransmitter, abnormal intra and extracellular substances, and ion channels
- Hypersynchronization: Hippocampal sclerosis (reorganization of local circuits, contribute to synchronization + promotion of epileptiform activity generation)
What are the key features of ILAE classifciation?
- Location of seizure in brain
- Awareness level
- Other features of seizure
What are the clinical presentation of focal onset seizures?
- Motor symptoms: Clonic twitching, speech arrest
- Sensory: GI discomfort, numbness, tingling, visual
- Autonomic: BP, pallor, HR
- Psychic: flashback, hallucinations, mood changes
What are the clinical presentation in generalized tonic clonic seizures?
- Limbs stiffening, jerking of face and limbs
- Breathing issues - labored, heavy
- Cyanosis
- Possible incontinences, biting of tongue and inner mouth
- Headaches, lethargic, confused, sleepy - After seizures
Generalized clonic seizures are ______ and ______ in naure and often occurs in _______.
- Asymmetrical
- Irregular
- Neonates, infants, young children
What are the clinical presentation of generalized tonic seizures?
Sudden loss of consciousness and rigid posture of entire body lasting 10 to 20 seconds
Generalized tonic seizures are common in ______.
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
Generalized myoclonic seizures involves _______.
rapid, brief contractions of bodily muscles on both side
List the clinical presentation of absence sizeures.
- Basic lapse in awareness for a few seconds
- EEG pattern “3 Hz spike wave”
What is the characteristic presentation of atonic seizures?
Collapse like “paper doll”
What is the scalp electroencephalography used for?
Diagnosis and seizures classification
What are the limitation of scalp electroencephalography?
- Not all patients will have abnormal EEG
- Normal EEG does not exclude possibility of epilepsy
- Unable to sense if seizures from deep down the brain
What is the use of a video EEG?
To assist in diagnosis of issues that cannot be solved by normal EEG
MRI with gadolinium helps to identify _____.
focal lesions
What are the biochemical and toxicology test used for?
- Rule out electrolytes abnormalities
- Measure serum prolactin
- Creatine kinase
List 4 psychosocial issues that seizures patients face?
- Social stigma
- Employment
- Driving prohibition
- Caregiver burden
Describe the first aid measurements that should be done when someone is having seizures.
- Lay person on floor with something soft under head, facing one side.
- Remove sharp objects, glasses and potential objects that can obstruct breathing
- Time seizure. If > 5mins, call 911
List 4 things that should not be done when someone is having a seizure.
- Restrict movement
- CPR
- Put anything in mouth
- Offer food/ water till alert
List 4 non-pharmacological methods used for seizures.
- Ketogenic diet
- Vagus nerve stimulator
- Responsive neurostimulator system
- Epilepsy surgery
Ketogenic diet is mainly used for seizure prevention in ______.
children
Vagus nerve stimulator is used only for _____ seizures.
intractable focal
Responsive neurostimulator system helps decrease _______ seizures.
partial onset
When is responsive neurostimulator used?
- PT with localized ≤ 2 epileptogenic foci
- Refractory to ≥ 2 antiepileptic medication
- Freq and disabling symptoms
What are the first generation ASM drugs indicated for focal onset epliepsy?
Carbamazepine
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Sodium Valproate
What are the second generation drugs indicated for focal onset epilepsy?
Lamotrigine
Levetiracetam
Topiramate
What are the medications indicated for generalised tonic clonic seizures?
Carbamazepine
Sodium Valproate
Lamotrigine
Topiramate
1st generation ASM have _____ protein binding and ____ water solubility.
high, poor
How are 1st generation ASM cleared?
Hepatically
1st generation ASM have _____ DDIs.
multiple
How are first generation ASM administrated?
Oral (Good F)
Newer generation ASM have _____ water solubility due to ____ protein binding
better, poorer
Which of the newer generation is not renally cleared?
Lamotrigine
Which of the newer ASM have multiple DDIs?
Lamotrigine, Topiramate
______ is both an inducer and inhibitor.
Topiramate
Which of the ASM are not inducers nor inhibitors?
Gabapentin, pregabalin
Most of the drugs are inducers except _____.
sodium valproate
List the 5 drugs classes that have interaction with ASM.
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Immunosuppressive therapy
- Chemotherapeutics
- Antiretroviral
What are some DDI effects associated with ASM?
- Women: reproductive hormones, sexual functions, OC
- Men: Sexual function, fertility
- Bone health
- Vascular risk
When is correction need for phenytoin?
Albumin < 40g/L
What happens when a patient is give more than 400mg of phenytoin?
Bioavailability decreases
Phenytoin follows ____ order kinetics.
zero
What happens when phenytoin concentration is increased?
Clearance decreases
Valproate can be displaced by ______ compounds
Endogenous compounds (Uremia, hyperbilirubinemia)
Valproate exhibits _______ protein binding with therapeutic range.
saturable
When valproate concentration is increased, protein binding ______.
decreases
Carbamazepine undergoes _____ metabolism.
autoinduction
List the dose and plasma concentrated side effects of ASM.
CNS
GI (N/V - carbamazepine, valproate)
Psychiatric (behavioral disturbance - levetiracetam)
Cognition (speech - topiramate)
What are some idiopathic and hypersensitvity related adverse effect
Blood dyscrasia
Hepatotoxicity (1st gen except phenobarbital)
Pancreatitis (sodium valproate)
Lupus like reaction
Exfoliative Dermatitis
TEN/SJS
Which of the ASM should be avoided in patients are tested positive for HLB-B*1502?
Carbamazepine
What is a chronic adverse effect of phenytoin?
Gingival hyperplasia
Hirsutism
Peripheral neuropathy (at high dose)
Osteomalacia
Which ASM drugs will have osteomalacia as a chronic side effect?
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- Carbamazepine
What is a chronic adverse effect of sodium valproate?
Alopecia
What is one chronic adverse effect present in all ASM?
Suicidal ideation
Topiramate may cause _____ and ______ as chronic side effects.
anorexia, decrease weight
What are two chronic side effects of sodium valproate?
- Increase weight
- Alopecia
List four indications for TDM in patients on ASM?
- Establish individual therapeutic range
- Assess lack of efficacy
- Assess potential toxicity
- Assess loss of efficacy
When can ASM treatment be stopped?
- No seizures after minimum of 2 years
- Low frequency or increased risk: after 2 years
Seizures are considered resolved once patient is free from seizure for ___ years and medication for ___ years.
10, 5
What are the ASM drugs that can be used in women of pregnancy age or pregnant women?
Levetiracetam and Lamotrigine
What is the ASM contraindicated in woman?
Valproate
What is the medication that may lower lamotrigine?
Oral contraceptive
ASM can be used in women who are ______.
breastfeeding
Man treated on valproate are at increased risk of children having _______ disorder.
neurodevelopmental
What is status epilepticus?
Failure of mechanism responsible for seizures termination or initiation of mechanism leading to abnormal prolonged seizures, which can have long term consequences depending on duration and type of seizures.
What should be done for status epilepticus in phase 1?
- Stabilise airway, breathing, circulation
- Time seizure
- Check vital signs (oxygen, ECG, glucose)
What are the medications given to adult if blood glucose is less than 60mg/dl?
IV Thiamine + D50W
What are the medication given to children at phase 1?
IV D25W
IV D12.5W (<2years)
What is the drug of choice for status epilepticus at phase 2?
Benzodiazepine (Diazepam, Lorazepam, midazolam)
What medication can be given at phase 3 for status epilepticus?
Phenytoin, valproic, levetiracetam