Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Seizures

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Seizures 

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain.

Insight:

• Symptoms include temporary confusion, a staring spell, uncontrollable jerking movement, loss of consciousness or awareness, fear, and anxiety.
• Types include focal seizures with impaired awareness; generalized seizures without loss of consciousness; and generalized seizures, including absence seizures, tonic seizures, atonic seizures, clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, and tonic-clonic seizures
• Causes may include high fever, lack of sleep, flashing lights, low blood sodium, head trauma, autoimmune disorders, stroke, brain tumor, alcohol misuse, and viral infections.
• Treatment options may include carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, gabapentin, topiramate, phenobarbital and zonisamide.

Sources:

• Seizures - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic
• seizure - Google Search