what treatment is given during a seizure

What to do when someone is having a seizure?

Many people feel helpless when witnessing someone suffering such a fit, but there are a few things you can do for the person affected ... If you know the person is having an epileptic seizure for the first time, you should generally call emergency care ...

How to help someone during a seizure?

How to help during a seizure. Protect the person from injury. Keep him or her from falling if you can, or try to guide the person gently to the floor. Try to move furniture or other objects that might injure the person during the seizure. If the person is having a seizure and is on the ground when you arrive, try to position the person on his ...

What should I do after a seizure?

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Do you go to hospital after a seizure?

Sure, theoretically anyone would say to go to the doctor, but actually they can not change the fact that you are having a seizure right now. And basically, if you don’t go to see a doctor after your seizure either in a small clinic or in a hospital nothing really bad will happen to you.

What is the treatment for a patient who is having a seizure?

Treatments include: medicines called anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures. a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures.

What is the most common treatment for seizures?

Medication. Most people with epilepsy can become seizure-free by taking one anti-seizure medication, which is also called anti-epileptic medication. Others may be able to decrease the frequency and intensity of their seizures by taking a combination of medications.

What is the first line treatment for seizure?

For generalised tonic-clonic seizures, sodium valproate is recommended as first-line treatment. If this is unsuitable, lamotrigine is recommended. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine can be considered as alternatives.

What can trigger a seizure?

12 most common seizure triggersMissing medication. The most common reason for a seizure is forgetting to take your anti-epileptic drugs (AED) or deliberately not taking it. ... Alcohol. ... Recreational drugs. ... Caffeine. ... Lack of sleep / tiredness. ... Stress / anxiety. ... Boredom. ... Dehydration.More items...•

Do seizures show up on MRI?

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy uses an MRI machine to analyze the molecular components of tissue in a particular area of the brain. This helps doctors differentiate a seizure from another condition, such as a metabolic disorder, tumor, or stroke.

What do nurses do during a seizure?

Maintain in lying position, flat surface; turn head to side during seizure activity; loosen clothing from neck or chest and abdominal areas; suction as needed; supervise supplemental oxygen or bag ventilation as needed postictally. Improve self-esteem.

What causes a seizure in adults?

It's possible for an adult without a history of epilepsy to experience a seizure. Potential causes include central nervous system infections, brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries. The use or stopping of certain substances, including alcohol, may also trigger a seizure. The type of seizure depends on the cause.

Is seizure the same as epilepsy?

A seizure is a single occurrence, whereas epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by two or more unprovoked seizures.

What to do if you have a seizure?

Knowing what NOT to do is important for keeping a person safe during or after a seizure. Never do any of the following things. Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements. Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.

How to stop a seizure from hurting?

This can prevent injury. Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head. Remove eyeglasses. Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make it hard to breathe. Time the seizure.

What happens if you have a seizure in water?

The person has another seizure soon after the first one. The person is hurt during the seizure. The seizure happens in water. The person has a health condition like diabetes, heart disease, or is pregnant.

How many people have a seizure in their lifetime?

Learn what you can do to keep that person safe until the seizure stops by itself. About 1 out of 10 people may have a seizure during his or her lifetime.

How long does it take for a seizure to end?

Most seizures end in a few minutes. These are general steps to help someone who is having any type seizure: Stay with the person until the seizure ends and he or she is fully awake. After it ends, help the person sit in a safe place.

What is the name of the seizure that causes a person to cry out?

First aid for generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. When most people think of a seizure, they think of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, also called a grand mal seizure. In this type of seizure, the person may cry out, fall, shake or jerk, and become unaware of what’s going on around them.

Do you call 911 for a seizure?

Seizures do not usually require emergency medical attention. Only call 911 if one or more of these are true: The person has never had a seizure before. The person has difficulty breathing or waking after the seizure. The seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. The person has another seizure soon after the first one.

What is the treatment for status epilepticus?

Status epilepticus: This is a persistent prolonged seizure that does not improve on its own, and often persists despite treatment. Phenytoin and phenobarbital are approved for treatment of status epilepticus, and levetiracetam and benzodiazepines are often used as well. 7.

What is rescue seizure medication?

PeopleImages / iStock / Getty Images. Rescue seizure medications are prescription medications used to stop a seizure while it is occur ring. Emergency treatment of seizures may be necessary in a number of situations, including status epilepticus, cluster seizures, and seizures during alcohol withdrawal.

What is benzodiazepine used for?

This oral benzodiazepine is used in managing anxiety disorders and muscle spasms. It is also used as a rescue seizure treatment in select circumstances, when a person can safely take it by mouth.

What is the effect of benzodiazepines on the brain?

Several of these medications are benzodiazepines, which inhibit the activity of the nervous system, including the brain, by binding to and regulating the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter. In addition to stopping seizures, rescue seizure medications also cause tiredness, dizziness, and slowed thinking.

What is barbiturate used for?

This barbiturate medication interacts with GABA to control seizures. An oral formulation is used as maintenance therapy, and the IV form is used for emergency seizure control in a medical setting.

How many doses of a syringe can you take?

The recommended dose is a single intranasal spray of 5 mg or 10 mg into one nostril or 15 mg or 20 mg doses, which requires two nasal spray devices, one spray into each nostril. If necessary, a second dose can be used at least 4 hours after the initial dose.

Where are rescue medications used?

Rescue medications are often used in an emergency setting, such as in the hospital. In these situations, you can be monitored closely for side effects, such as slowed breathing, and you would have medical support as needed.

What are the drugs used to treat seizures?

Select drug class All drug classes barbiturates (1) benzodiazepines (5) vitamins (3) progestins (1) hydantoin anticonvulsants (6) succinimide anticonvulsants (4) barbiturate anticonvulsants (3) ...

What is a convulsion med?

Medications for Seizures (Convulsions) A seizure or convulsion can be a sudden, violent, uncontrollable contraction of a group of muscles. A seizure can also be more subtle, consisting of only a brief "loss of contact" or a few moments of what appears to be daydreaming.

Call 911

Seizures need emergency care unless you know the person has a history of seizures and can be treated for a brief seizure at home. Someone with a history of seizures who is having their typical seizure does not need emergency response. If it is a different type of seizure, or lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911.

2. Protect From Injury

Move sharp objects, such as glassware or furniture, away from the person.

How to stop a seizure in a child?

Remove glasses or other harmful objects in the area. Do not try to put anything in the child's mouth to try to stop the seizure; you may injure the child or yourself.

How to prevent a child from drowning?

If the child is in a boat or near the water they should always have a life jacket on. You should also restrain the child to prevent drowning.

Can a doctor tell if a child has a seizure?

During the first visit, many doctors cannot be sure if the event was a seizure or something else. Many seizure medications have side effects including damage to your child's liver or teeth. Many children will have only one, or very few, seizures in their lifetime. If medications are started:

Can you give a child Tylenol if they have a seizure?

After the seizure ends, place the child on one side and stay with the child until they are fully awake. If the child has a fever, acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may be given rectally. Do not try to give food, liquid, or medications by mouth to a child who has just had a seizure.

How long does a seizure last in a child?

A child who is still convulsing on arrival in hospital can be assumed to have had a seizure lasting at least 10 minutes and therefore will require emergency treatment. Some children may have already received rectal diazepam. In this phase of management the issues are whether diazepam is the treatment of choice and, if it is, should it be used more than once. Although the precise serum diazepam concentration required for a therapeutic effect is not known, concentrations of 150–336 ng/ml are associated with arrest of seizure activity. 24 These are achieved with a single dose of rectal diazepam, 20 22 which questions the notion that further doses would be of benefit in those whose seizure has not come under control—unless of course administration of the first dose has been unreliable or if a second episode has occurred. Few studies in children have looked specifically at the effectiveness of serial doses of diazepam when the first dose has failed to control the seizure. However, some information on this question can be learnt indirectly from a recent prospective study reported by Appleton et al. 25 Of 53 patients presenting with acute seizures to an emergency department, 28 responded to a single dose of rectal or intravenous diazepam (0.3–0.4 mg/kg). In the 25 who required a second dose, 17 also needed additional anticonvulsant drugs. This may have been because of the local protocol, but it does suggest that in those who do not respond to an initial dose of diazepam, the second dose is also likely to be ineffective. Therefore, if giving diazepam twice is questionable, is there a better alternative?

What is the goal of anticonvulsant treatment?

The goal of anticonvulsant treatment is the rapid termination of clinical and electrical seizure activity by the prompt administration of appropriate drugs in adequate doses, with attention to the possibility of complicating apnoea, hypoventilation, and other metabolic abnormalities.

What is refractory status epilepticus?

Refractory status epilepticus has been defined as a seizure that is unresponsive to an adequate dose of a first line parenteral anticonvulsant 28; or a seizure that is unresponsive to at least two doses of diazepam intravenously or rectally in succession followed by phenytoin/phenobarbitone or both (20 mg/kg) given over 30 minutes as an infusion, or failure to respond to the latter alone or in combination 15 28-30; or a seizure that continues for 60 to 90 minutes after the initiation of treatment. 1 This lack of consistency in definition is important when one considers the treatment and its consequences. Traditionally, for the most severe cases of status epilepticus induction of general anaesthesia has been recommended using a short acting barbiturate such as thiopentone (4–8 mg/kg bolus followed by infusion of up to 10 mg/kg/h) along with supportive endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. 15 29 An alternative, effective approach has been to use, if necessary, repeated bolus doses of intravenous phenobarbitone (10 mg/kg) every 30 minutes, without reference to a predetermined maximum level or dose, after one dose of intravenous diazepam has failed to control a seizure. 28 A number of questions arise—for example, at what point is induction of anaesthesia overexuberant? Is it really necessary to wait 60 to 90 minutes before deciding that standard anticonvulsants are ineffective? When is it inevitable that standard anticonvulsants are unlikely to work—after the second dose of diazepam, after the second drug, or after the third drug? Some of these issues have been addressed already. The main disadvantage of thiopentone relates to its high lipid solubility and slow metabolism, which results in a prolonged period of intensive care support before a child is completely awake and cooperative once treatment has been stopped. 29 Similarly, prolonged intensive care will be necessary when using the very high dose phenobarbitone strategy. 28

How effective is midazolam?

Intramuscular midazolam is also rapidly effective: in 36 of 38 patients undergoing seizures, seven of whom were children, seizures were controlled with a mean of 1 minute and 53 seconds. 34 The two patients whose seizures continued despite intramuscular midazolam responded to another benzodiazepine given intravenously.

Is epilepticus a fever?

In many parts of the world status epilepticus in childhood is often associated with fever, although there is wide variation in the proportion of patients who have this symptom ...

Is it right to see head injury as the major cause of status epilepticus?

What is right for a practice seeing head injury as the major cause of status epilepticus may not be appropriate for those dealing with central nervous system infection as the leading cause. The clinical context, cost, and logistics of delivering effective treatment and care are also important.

Can a seizure stop with a barbiturate?

If persistent convulsive activity causes hypoventilation necessitating endotracheal intubation, seizure activity can be stopped temporarily with a high dose of a short acting barbiturate or midazolam , and patient ventilation dysynchrony can be abolished with a neuromuscular blocking agent.

What to do if your child has a seizure?

List medications, vitamins and supplements your child takes. Write down questions to ask your doctor.

What is the first step after a febrile seizure?

Your doctor will carefully review your child's medical history and developmental history to exclude other risk factors for epilepsy. In normally developing children, identifying the cause of your child's fever is the first step after a febrile seizure.

What test is used to diagnose febrile seizures?

To diagnose the cause of a complex febrile seizure, your doctor may also recommend an electroencephalogram (EEG), a test that measures brain activity. Your doctor may also recommend an MRI to check your child's brain if your child has: Signs and symptoms of increased pressure in the skull.

How long does a seizure last in a child?

Your child has repeated seizures. Your child's seizure lasted less than five minutes but your child isn't improving quickly.

How to help a child with a febrile seizure?

If your child has a febrile seizure, stay calm and follow these steps: Place your child on his or her side on a soft, flat surface where he or she won't fall. Start timing the seizure. Stay close to watch and comfort your child. Remove hard or sharp objects near your child. Loosen tight or restrictive clothing.

How to stop a child from vomiting after a seizure?

If your child has another febrile seizure: Don't restrain your child, but do place him or her on a safe surface, such as the floor. Place your child on his or her side, keeping the face to the side and the lower arm extended under the head, to prevent your child from inhaling vomit if vomiting occurs.

Do you need to test for a febrile seizure?

Simple febrile seizures. Children who are current with their vaccinations who have a first simple febrile seizure don't need testing. Your doctor can diagnose the febrile seizure based on history.

What to do if a seizure lasts longer than normal?

If the seizure lasts longer than the person’s typical seizure, call for additional assistance. If your loved one has seizures know when to give 'as needed' or rescue treatments, if prescribed, and when to call for emergency help. Your loved one’s doctor can assist in educating your family about how to best help in the event ...

How to help someone recover from a seizure?

Do your best to remain calm, it will help others stay calm too. Talk calmly and reassuringly to the person during and after the seizure – it will help as they recover from the seizure.

What happens when the chest muscles tighten during the tonic phase of a seizure?

As this part of a seizure ends, the muscles will relax and breathing will resume normally. Rescue breathing or CPR is generally not needed during these seizure-induced changes in a person’s breathing.

How long does a seizure last?

A seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer. One seizure occurs right after another without the person regaining consciousness or coming to between seizures. Seizures occur closer together than usual for that person. Breathing becomes difficult or the person appears to be choking. The seizure occurs in water.

What is the first line of response when a person has a seizure?

The first line of response when a person has a seizure is to provide general care and comfort and to keep the person safe. For most seizures basic seizure first aid is all that may be needed, while more serious seizures may require a greater degree of care.

Can a seizure cause a loss of consciousness?

Some may start with minor symptoms, but lead to a loss of consciousness or fall. Other seizures may be brief and end in seconds. Injury can occur during or after a seizure, requiring additional medical assistance. If you are concerned about an injury having taken place call 911 immediately.

Can a seizure be scary?

Seizures can be frightening for the person having one, as well as for others. People may feel embarrassed or confused about what happened during the seizure. Keep this in mind as the person wakes up.

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