INDS 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Valproate, Tiagabine, Seizure Types

• School: McGill University
• Department: Interndisciplinary Studies
• Course: INDS 212
• Professor: Fraser Moore

Document Summary

Antiepileptic drug: a drug which decreases frequency and/or severity of seizures in people with epilepsy, treats symptom of seizures, not underlying epileptic condition, goal maximize qol by minimizing seizures and adverse drug effects, currently no anti-epileptogenic drugs available. Just under 60% of all people with epilepsy can become seizure free with drug therapy. In another 20% the seizures can be drastically reduced. Interactions/other med conditions: some patients have syndromes that cause them to take many meds. Current pharmacotherapy: ~ 20% epileptic patients, seizures are refractory to currently available aeds. Choosing an antoepileptic drug there are about 60 types to choose from: seizure type: some drugs can be effective only in some seizure types, and are detrimental to other seizures, also: efficacy, expected adverse effects, cost. Increase dose gradually until seizures are controlled or adverse effects become unacceptable: multiple-drug therapy may be required (ideally, you want to avoid multi-drug therapy, achieve steady-state kinetics, monitor plasma drug levels, avoid sudden withdrawal.