Treatment FAQ

when to start treatment w/ unprovoked seizures

by Prof. Frances Satterfield DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Guidelines on when to treat a first seizure found that starting seizure medications
seizure medications
Terminology. Anticonvulsants are more accurately called antiepileptic drugs (abbreviated "AEDs"), and are often referred to as antiseizure drugs because they provide symptomatic treatment only and have not been demonstrated to alter the course of epilepsy.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Anticonvulsant
after the first seizure can lessen the risk for more seizures in the first 2 years. The report also found: When an adult has an unprovoked seizure, the risk for more seizures without treatment in the next 2 years can range 21 to 45%.

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How is an unprovoked seizure treated in children?

Treatment of a first unprovoked seizure is often not necessary in childhood, especially if the seizure is part of a benign self-limited syndrome, such as benign Rolandic epilepsy of childhood. Treatment with an AED reduces the risk of seizure recurrence after a single unprovoked seizure.

Does immediate antiepileptic drug therapy reduce recurrence risk of seizure disorders?

Immediate antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, as compared with delay of treatment pending a second seizure, is likely to reduce recurrence risk within the first 2 years (Level B) but may not improve quality of life (Level C).

How effective is AED therapy for unprovoked seizures?

For adults presenting with an unprovoked first seizure, immediate AED therapy as compared with no treatment is likely to reduce absolute risk by about 35% for a seizure recurrence within the subsequent 2 years (1 Class I study, 4 Class II studies) but might not affect QOL (1 Class II study).

What is the prevalence of unprovoked seizures in the US?

Unprovoked seizures are common, affecting approximately 4% of the population by age 80. Only approximately 30% to 40% of patients with a first seizure will have a second unprovoked seizure (ie, epilepsy). Treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should not be initiated unless the diagnosis of a sei … Single Unprovoked Seizures

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Do you treat provoked seizures?

These types of seizure may be treated with psychotherapy and psychiatric medications. Provoked seizures are single seizures that may occur as the result of trauma, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low blood sodium, high fever, or alcohol or drug abuse.

What is a first unprovoked seizure?

“Unprovoked seizure” means the seizure wasn't caused by a specific event, like a head injury or infection. We know that watching your child have a seizure can be terrifying. But keep in mind, less than half of children who have one unprovoked seizure will develop epilepsy.

When should I start taking Keppra?

The medication is started at bedtime. Then in weekly intervals, increase the dose by 250 mg on a twice a day schedule. Thus, the second week would be 250 mg morning and night; the third week, 250 mg morning and 500 mg bedtime; and the fourth week 500 mg morning and night.

What is the difference between a provoked and unprovoked seizure?

A provoked seizure has a direct cause such as a head injury, an infection or low blood sugar. An unprovoked seizure does not have an immediate cause. A child must have two or more unprovoked seizures before epilepsy will be considered or have one seizure and an underlying condition with a high risk of more seizures.

What causes unprovoked seizures in patient?

Traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, drug withdrawal, infarction, and metabolic insults are the commonest causes. The incidence of single unprovoked seizures is 23-61 per 100,000 person-years.

Does Keppra stop seizures completely?

A retrospective study looking at 231 children with epilepsy found that Keppra was able to reduce seizure occurrence by more than 90% in 65% of the participants. About 17% of those patients reported side effects that included irritability, hyperactivity, drowsiness, restlessness, and behavioral disorders.

What type of seizures does Keppra treat?

Keppra is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of partial onset seizures, tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonic seizures. Keppra may be used alone or with other medications.

How long does it take Keppra to stop seizures?

Measure liquid forms carefully. Do not stop this medication abruptly in order to prevent withdrawal seizures. This medication should take effect within 1 to 2 hours; however, effects may not be visibly obvious and therefore laboratory tests may need to be done to evaluate whether the medication is working.

What happens if you have no seizure history?

WASHINGTON -- When an adult with no seizure history has one that can't be attributed to a definite cause such as head trauma or hypoglycemia, the situation "poses difficult diagnostic and treatment questions," according to a new joint guideline from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Epilepsy Society (AES).

How many people have seizures in their lifetime?

Overall, about 10% of adults experience a seizure at some point during their lives, including those with known triggers; some 4% of all adults experience two or more unprovoked seizures, qualifying them for a diagnosis of epilepsy. Krumholz estimated that about 150,000 adults experience a first unprovoked seizure in the U.S. each year.

To treat, or not to treat?

From the Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

Footnotes

Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the editorial.

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