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Types of Seizures and Symptoms

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/types-of-seizures-their-symptoms

Generalized Seizures

(Produced by the entire brain)

Symptoms

1. "Grand Mal" or Generalized tonic-clonic Unconsciousness, convulsions, muscle rigidity

2. Absence Brief loss of consciousness

3. Myoclonic Sporadic (isolated), jerking movements

4. Clonic Repetitive, jerking movements

5. onic uscle stiffness, rigidity

!. Atonic !oss of muscle tone

artial Seizures

(Produced by a small area of the

brain)

Symptoms

1. Simple(a"areness is

retained)

a# Simple Motor

b# Simple Sensory

c# Simple syc#olo$ical

a# $erking, muscle rigidity, spasms, head%turning

b# Unusual sensations affecting either the vision, hearing, smell taste,

or touch

c# emory or emotional disturbances

2. Comple%

(&mpairment of a"areness)

'utomatisms such as lip smacking, che"ing, fidgeting, "alking and

other repetitive, involuntary but coordinated movements

3. artial seizure &it#secondary $eneralization

Symptoms that are initially associated "ith a preservation of

consciousness that then evolves into a loss of consciousness and

convulsions#

Medication

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/medications-treat-seizures

e$retol or Carbatrol 'carbamazepine(

irst choice for partial, generalied tonic%clonic and mi*ed seiures

+ommon adverse effects include fatigue, vision changes, nausea, diiness,

rash#

)arontin 'et#osu%imide(

Used to treat absence seiures

'dverse effects include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and "eight loss#

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/types-of-seizures-their-symptomshttp://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/medications-treat-seizureshttp://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/medications-treat-seizureshttp://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/types-of-seizures-their-symptoms

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*elbatol '+elbamate(

reats partial and some generalied seiures- is used rarely and only "hen no

other medications have been effective#

Side effects include decreased appetite, "eight loss, inability to sleep, headache,

and depression# 'lthough rare, the drug may cause bone marro" or liver failure#

herefore, the use of the drug is limited and patients taking it must have blood cell

counts and liver tests regularly during therapy#

Gabitril 'tia$abine(

Used "ith other epilepsy drugs to treat partial and some generalied seiures

+ommon side effects include diiness, fatigue, "eakness, irritability, an*iety,

and confusion#

,eppra 'leetiracetam(

Primary therapy for generalied seiures- it is combined "ith other epilepsy drugs

to treat partial seiures#

Side effects include tiredness, "eakness, and behavioral changes#

amictal 'lamotri$ine(

reats partial and some generalied seiures

.as fe" side effects, but rarely people report diiness, insomnia, or rash#

yrica 'pre$abalin(

Used to treat partial seiures, but is used more often to treat neuropathic pain#

Side effects include diiness, sleepiness (somnolence), dry mouth, peripheral

edema, blurred vision, "eight gain, and difficulty "ith concentration/attention#

/eurontin 'Gabapentin(

Used "ith other epilepsy drugs to treat partial and some generalied seiures

e" lasting side effects- during the first "eeks of treatment you may e*perience

tiredness and diiness#

0ilantin '#enytoin(

+ontrols partial seiures and generalied tonic%clonic seiures- also can be given

by vein (intravenously) in the hospital to rapidly control active seiures, although if the

drug is being delivered by &0, +ereby* (fosphenytoin) is usually used#

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Side effects include diiness, fatigue, slurred speech, acne, rash, and increased

hair (hirsutism)# 1ver the long term, the drug can cause bone thinning#

opama% 'oprimate(

Used "ith other drugs to treat partial or generalied tonic%clonic seiures Side effects include sleepiness, diiness, speech problems, nervousness,

memory problems, visions problems, "eight loss#

rileptal'o%carbazepine(

reats partial seiures

ost common side effects are tiredness, diiness, headache, blurred vision, or

double vision#

0epaene 0epaote 'alproate alproic acid(

Used to treat partial, absence, and generalied tonic%clonic seiures

+ommon side effects include diiness, nausea, vomiting, tremor, hair loss,

"eight gain, depression in adults, irritability in children, reduced attention, a decrease in

thinking speed# 1ver the long term, the drug can cause bone thinning, s"elling of the

ankles, irregular menstrual periods# ore rare and dangerous effects include hearing

loss, liver damage, decreased platelets (clotting cells), and pancreas problems#

)one$ran'zonisamide(

Used "ith other drugs to treat partial seiures

'dverse effects include dro"siness, diiness, unsteady gait, kidney stones,

abdominal discomfort, headache, and rash#

alium 'diazepam( Atian 'lorazepam( and similar tranuilizers suc# as

,lonopin'clonazepam(

2ffective in short%term treatment of all seiures- used often in the emergency

room to stop a seiure, particularly status epilepticus

olerance develops in most "ithin a fe" "eeks, so the same dose has less effect

over time#

0alium can also be given as rectal suppository#

Side effects include tiredness, unsteady "alking, nausea, depression, and loss of

appetite# &n children, they can cause drooling and hyperactivity#

*ycompa 'perampanel(

he drug is approved to treat partial onset seiures in those age 34 and older#

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he label carries a "arning of potential serious events including irritability,

aggression, anger, an*iety, paranoia, euphoric mood, agitation, and changes in mental

status#

%tellar 67 'o%carbazepine(

his drug is approved to treat partial seiures in those aged 5 and older# 1*tellar

6R is a once%daily medicine used "ith other medications to control seiures#

+ommon side effects include diiness, sleepiness, headache, vomiting, double

vision, and balance problems#

Aptiom 'eslicarbazepine acetate(

'ptiom is used as adjunctive treatment (meaning it7s taken in addition to other

drugs) of partial%onset seiures# he most common side effects include diiness, nausea, headache, vomiting,

fatigue, vertigo, ata*ia, blurred vision, and tremor#

reatment should be initiated at 899 mg once daily# 'fter one "eek, dosage may

be increased to the recommended maintenance dosage of :99mg once daily# Some

patients may benefit from the ma*imum recommended maintenance dosage of 3,499

mg once daily, although this dosage is associated "ith an increase in adverse reactions#

8MA 'lacosamide(

his drug is approved to treat partial%onset seiures in adults "ith epilepsy# 0&P' can be used alone or "ith other drugs#

he drug comes as tablets, an oral solution, or injection#

Side effects include diiness, headache, and nausea#