What is epilepsy?
-sudden excessive high frequency neuronal discharge
-highly synchronous discharges (not random)
-may be loss of consciousness
-behavioral changes related to sire of discharge.
risk factors of sezuires
-disturbed water/electrolyte levels
-disturbed glucose levels
-raised body temperature
-sleep disturbance
-toxicity
-heredity
-tumors
diagnosis of epilepsy
-seizures must be recurrent and spontaneous
-EEG records abnormal electrical charges
types of generalized seizures
types of focal seizures
-simple focal ( retains awareness)
-complex focal ( altered awareness, confusion)
-secondarily generalized seizures ( focal seizure that lead to tonic-clonic seizure)
what is status epilepticus ?
tonic-clonic seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, person doesn’t regain consciousness in between
how do seizures arise?
dynamic between excitation and inhibition is disturbed ( loss of inhibition)
how do seizures stop without intervention?
how do antiepileptics work?
Drugs that reduce glutamate release
-lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, sodium valproate ( Na- channel block)
-gabapentin, pregabalin ( Ca- channel block)
-levetiracetam (reducing vesicle fusion)
Drugs acting at GABA synapses
Non- pharmacological treatment of epilepsy
sodium valproate (indication, monitoring, precautions)
-can be used for all forms of epilepsy
-monitor liver function before therapy and during first months
-measure full blood count and ensure no undue potential bleeding before starting
-highly teratogenic ( contraception needed)
-vitamin D supplementation
carbamazepine (indication, monitoring, precautions)
-focal and secondary generalized tonic-clonic
-primary generalized tonic-clonic
-monitor plasma concentration for optimum response 4-12 mg/L measured after 1-2 weeks
-blood counts and hepatic and renal function test
-increased risk of stevens-jonson syndrome
-vitamin D supplementation
lamotrigine (indications, monitoring, precautions)
levetiracetam (indications, monitoring, precautions )
-used for monotherapy of focal seizures
-monitor plasma concentrations during pregnancy
-can cause depressions and suicidal ideation emerge
-increased risk of somnolence or other CNS side effects
what are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
Cardinal: -tremor
-bradykinesia
-rigidity
-postural instability
Other symptoms: mental changes,
constipation, sexual dysfunction, urinary problems, sleep disturbances, pain, impulsive behavior
what is the pathology of Parkinson’s disease?
what are treatment options for parkinson
-L- dopa: replace dopamine
-AADC inhibitors: increase availability
- MAO-B inhibitors: decrease breakdown eg. entacapone, rasagiline, selegiline
- D2 agonists: rotigotine (patch), apomorphine (in advanced PD)
-glutamate antagonists (amantadine) reduce dyskinesia cause by levodopa
Levadopa therapy
what are the risk factors of PD?
treatment for Alzheimer’s disease
-acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (increases acetylcholine)
(donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine)
-NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine)
(reduces glutamate because it creates oxidative stress which breaks down proteins and nucleic acid so it contributes to cell death)
-new drug: lecanemab (reduce αβ)
what are the symptoms of dementia
cognitive: memory loss, lack of concetration, disorientated, speech difficulties
non-cognitive: agitation, aggression, distress, psychosis
diagnosis for dementia
-Alzheimer’s: >60, memory loss
-vascular: screened for depression, psychomotor retardation
-lewy body: visual hallucinations and parkinson symptoms
-frontotemporal: <65, semantic, non-fluent