Epilepsy Flashcards Preview

Neurology > Epilepsy > Flashcards

Flashcards in Epilepsy Deck (30)
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1
Q

What is ictus?

A

any acute event, refers to the epilepsy attack itself

2
Q

Aetiology of epilepsy?

A
trauma
hypoxia
pyrexia
mass lesion in skull
drugs
CNS infections
vascular abnormalities
3
Q

what are the main neurotransmitters involved in epilepsy?

A

GABA (inhibitory) and glutamate (excitatory)

4
Q

in simple partial seizure, does patient remain conscious or lose consciousness?

A

remains

5
Q

what are deja vu and jamais vu examples of

A

complex partial seizures

6
Q

treatment of absence seizures?

A

pals –> sodium valproate and ethosuxamide

7
Q

side effects of sodium valproate?

A

gerry little side effects
10% will have hair loss
reduces efficacy of COCP

8
Q

Childhood onset
Patient stares
May go pale
may be noticed by teacher in school?

A

absence seizure

9
Q

what happens during tonic phase of a seixzure?

A
Rigid
Epileptic cry 
Tongue biting 
Incontinence 
Hypoxia
10
Q

how long does tonic phase last?

A

10-60 seconds

11
Q

what happens during clonic phase

A
  • Convulsions
  • Eye rolling
  • Tachycardia
  • No breathing
12
Q

status epileptics is a seizure lasting ?

A

over 30 minutes

13
Q

when would you do a CT scan?

A

if you think its a stroke
focal signs
head injury with seizure

14
Q

driving - how long can you not drive for after seizure ?

A

6 months

15
Q

if you have a seizure, how long can you not drive a HGV?

A

5 years

16
Q

how long seizure free before driving a car?

A

12 months, or 3 years during sleep

17
Q

how long do you have to be seizure free for and off medication to drive a HGV?

A

10 years

18
Q

what is encephalitis?

A

inflammation of the brain parenchyma

19
Q

most common cause of encephalitis?

A

herpes simplex virus

20
Q

does sodium valproate cause weight gain or weight loss?

A

weight gain

21
Q

what can they do to the efficacy of the pill?

A

reduce

22
Q

precipitants of status epilepticus?

A
Severe metabolic disorders
 hyponatraemia, pyridoxine deficiency
Infection
Head trauma
Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
Abrupt withdrawl of anti-convulsants Treating absence seizures with CBZ
23
Q

management of status epilepticus?

A
ABC 
Emergency blood tests +/- CT 
Anti convulsants ( Phenytoin (check levels)
Keppra
valproate
Benzodiazepines)
24
Q

side effects of ethosuxamide?

A

diziness, nausea, anorexia

25
Q

1st line for focal/partial seizures?

A

carbamazepine

26
Q

side effects of carbamazepine?

A

diziness, GI disturbance, water retention, SKIN RASH

27
Q

main side effect of digoxin?

A

blurred vision

28
Q

which drug causes gum hypertrophy?

A

phenytoin, which is also teratogenic and causes arrhythmias

29
Q

method of action of lamotrigine?

A

inhibits sodium channels

30
Q

side effects of lamotrigine?

A

han (nausea, diziness, ataxia)