Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions
Anand K Sarma,1 Nabil Khandker,1 Lisa Kurczewski,2 Gretchen M Brophy2 1Department of Neurology, 2Departments of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science and Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Abstract: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic illnesses. Th...
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Dove Medical Press
2016-02-01
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| Series: | Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment |
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| author | Sarma A Khandker N Kurczewski L Brophy GM |
| author_facet | Sarma A Khandker N Kurczewski L Brophy GM |
| author_sort | Sarma A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anand K Sarma,1 Nabil Khandker,1 Lisa Kurczewski,2 Gretchen M Brophy2 1Department of Neurology, 2Departments of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science and Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Abstract: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic illnesses. This condition afflicts 2.9 million adults and children in the US, leading to an economic impact amounting to $15.5 billion. Despite the significant burden epilepsy places on the population, it is not very well understood. As this understanding continues to evolve, it is important for clinicians to stay up to date with the latest advances to provide the best care for patients. In the last 20 years, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved 15 new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), with many more currently in development. Other advances have been achieved in terms of diagnostic modalities like electroencephalography technology, treatment devices like vagal nerve and deep-brain stimulators, novel alternate routes of drug administration, and improvement in surgical techniques. Specific patient populations, such as the pregnant, elderly, those with HIV/AIDS, and those with psychiatric illness, present their own unique challenges, with AED side effects, drug interactions, and medical–psychiatric comorbidities adding to the conundrum. The purpose of this article is to review the latest literature guiding the management of acute epileptic seizures, focusing on the current challenges across different practice settings, and it discusses studies in various patient populations, including the pregnant, geriatric, those with HIV/AIDS, comatose, psychiatric, and “pseudoseizure” patients, and offers possible evidence-based solutions or the expert opinion of the authors. Also included is information on newer AEDs, routes of administration, and significant AED-related drug-interaction tables. This review has tried to address only some of these issues that any practitioner who deals with the acute management of seizures may encounter. The document also highlights the numerous avenues for new research that would help practitioners optimize epilepsy management. Keywords: epilepsy, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric, pseudoseizures, management |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c6b6473f23e9442fba6f33540c1df3c1 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1178-2021 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-02-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment |
| spelling | doaj-art-c6b6473f23e9442fba6f33540c1df3c12025-06-26T01:58:35ZengDove Medical PressNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment1178-20212016-02-01Volume 12Issue 146748525731Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutionsSarma AKhandker NKurczewski LBrophy GM0Department of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science and NeurosurgeryAnand K Sarma,1 Nabil Khandker,1 Lisa Kurczewski,2 Gretchen M Brophy2 1Department of Neurology, 2Departments of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Science and Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA Abstract: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic illnesses. This condition afflicts 2.9 million adults and children in the US, leading to an economic impact amounting to $15.5 billion. Despite the significant burden epilepsy places on the population, it is not very well understood. As this understanding continues to evolve, it is important for clinicians to stay up to date with the latest advances to provide the best care for patients. In the last 20 years, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved 15 new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), with many more currently in development. Other advances have been achieved in terms of diagnostic modalities like electroencephalography technology, treatment devices like vagal nerve and deep-brain stimulators, novel alternate routes of drug administration, and improvement in surgical techniques. Specific patient populations, such as the pregnant, elderly, those with HIV/AIDS, and those with psychiatric illness, present their own unique challenges, with AED side effects, drug interactions, and medical–psychiatric comorbidities adding to the conundrum. The purpose of this article is to review the latest literature guiding the management of acute epileptic seizures, focusing on the current challenges across different practice settings, and it discusses studies in various patient populations, including the pregnant, geriatric, those with HIV/AIDS, comatose, psychiatric, and “pseudoseizure” patients, and offers possible evidence-based solutions or the expert opinion of the authors. Also included is information on newer AEDs, routes of administration, and significant AED-related drug-interaction tables. This review has tried to address only some of these issues that any practitioner who deals with the acute management of seizures may encounter. The document also highlights the numerous avenues for new research that would help practitioners optimize epilepsy management. Keywords: epilepsy, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric, pseudoseizures, managementhttps://www.dovepress.com/medical-management-of-epileptic-seizures-challenges-and-solutions-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDTEpilepsypregnancyHIV/AIDSpsychiatricpseudo-seizuresmanagement. |
| spellingShingle | Sarma A Khandker N Kurczewski L Brophy GM Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment Epilepsy pregnancy HIV/AIDS psychiatric pseudo-seizures management. |
| title | Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions |
| title_full | Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions |
| title_fullStr | Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions |
| title_short | Medical management of epileptic seizures: challenges and solutions |
| title_sort | medical management of epileptic seizures challenges and solutions |
| topic | Epilepsy pregnancy HIV/AIDS psychiatric pseudo-seizures management. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/medical-management-of-epileptic-seizures-challenges-and-solutions-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDT |
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