Seizure Medicines: A Case Study

Treatment for epilepsy is often focused on controlling the seizures with the least amount of medication as possible. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the class used to accomplish this. Some of the AEDs that are used most often are Clonazepam, Diazepam, Divalproex, Gabapentin, and Phenytoin. The most common side effects of these medications include nausea, vomiting, sedation, fatigue, and lethargy. (Kwan,1; Benbadis, 3-5; Huethers,637)

In most cases the reactions are mild and if they do occur then first-hand you should consult the medicine box/bottle/DOMAR where it will state any possible side effects on the leaflet or possibly on the main label ir you see on some pain medication ‘’Caution-May make sleepy do not operate heavy machinery’’ etc.

Possible side effects: “dry mouth, sedation, blurred vision (disturbance of accommodation, increased intra-ocular pressure), constipation, nausea, difficulty with micturition; cardiovascular side-effects (such as ECG changes, arrhythmias, postural hypotension, tachycardia, syncope, particularly with high doses); sweating, tremor, rashes and hypersensitivity reactions (including urticaria, photosensitivity), behavioural disturbances (particularly children), hypomania or mania, confusion or delirium (particularly elderly), headache, interference with sexual function, blood sugar changes; increased appetite and weight gain (occasionally weight loss); endocrine side-effects such as testicular enlargement, gynaecomastia, galactorrhoea; also convulsions (see also Cautions), movement disorders and dyskinesias, dysarthria, paraesthesia, taste disturbances, tinnitus, fever, agranulocytosis, leucopenia, eosinophilia, purpura, thrombocytopenia, hyponatraemia

Some of the immediate physical complaints include constantly feeling cold, bloodshot eyes with dark circles, finger calluses, dizziness, weakness, lackluster hair, moodiness, insomnia, no menstruation, swollen glands, weight loss, sore throat, or dry skin. Some of the long-term effects include extreme weight loss, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, malnutrition, loss of tooth enamel,

British seizures were humiliating to Americans because they were much stronger than France. The British added impressment to these incitements. The Royal Navy seized British civilians and forced them into service. They also seized suspicious Royal Navy deserters from American merchant ships. Impressment was upsetting to American

Some of the side effects are: Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, weight gain, premature menopause and hair loss.

Bouchard et al. (2011) assert that there are no assessments regarding the amount of ATS being produced and the amount of ATS lab seizures stays low. Estimates for ATS use and seizure data suggest that there is an annual surplus of between 1733 kg and 8624 kg of ATS available to be exported from Canada (Bouchard et al., 2011). Bouchard et al. (2011) contend that this indicates that somewhere between 38% and 75% of ATS produced in Canada is exported. Organized crime groups have greatly increased synthetic drug export to foreign countries, such as the United States, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, by transforming legally acquired substances from pharmacies (Morselli et al., 2016). Morselli et al. (2016) state that 62 percent of illicit drug

This means that it will cause your heart to beat slower, with less force against your blood vessels. Common side effects are lethargy and fatigue. Some of

This drug is used as an antidepressant. Anxiety, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth, diarrhea, and weight gain or loss are common effects of the medications and with aging. But serious effects such as fever; seizures, tremors, chest pain, hepatic necrosis, renal failure, abnormal bleeding, and infection should be cautioned. The dosage of this medication should not be prescribed more than 40 mg daily. Monitoring for mental changes when taking this medication is needed. It should be cautioned to watch for a change in behavior from depression into a mental illness. If this occurs medical attention is needed. Nurses should also assess elderly patients taking diuretics for signs of suggesting syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic

Parents may have anxiety surrounding the nighttime seizures and may want to treat these. However, a study done by Dr. Ruta Samaitiene suggested that behavior problems increase when children are treated with antiepileptic drugs. Treated patients showed increase in anxiousness or depression, attention problems, and aggressive behavior (Samaitiene, 2012). The study also showed that the longer a patient is treated for their BECTS, the worse their behavior issues may be. For example, those on medication longer showed marked decrease in their math grades in school (Samaitiene,

patient would have to have two or more seizures. For some people they not only have

As I mentioned the short term effects can be confusion, sedation, being unconscious, and coma. Some other things that can happen can be dry mouth, a heavy feeling in your limbs, nausea, itchiness, and foggy mental functioning. The long term

There are also more serious side effects which can include enlargement of the ovaries, increased risk of certain types of cancer and hyperstimulation syndrome which has a whole series of symptoms of its own, including abdominal bloating, weight gain which can be upwards of 2 pounds per day, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, dry skin

Anticonvulsants have an edge with rapid-cycling and mixed mood states (e.g. depression with racing thoughts). Except for gabapentin (Neurontin) and lamotrigine (Lamictal), they require blood tests. Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is monitored with blood levels; also CBC, platelets and liver function tests. Valproate (Depakote) requires CBC, platelet count and liver function tests; blood levels may be helpful. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) requires caution because of its association with a rare but dangerous skin rash (exfoliative dermatitis); risk can be minimized by starting with low doses and increasing gradually. Use lower doses with medications that slow lamotrigine metabolism (e.g. valproate). Gabapentin is generally safe and does not require blood tests.

Other side effects include cloudy urine, proteinuria, irregular heartbeats, and chest pain. Angioedema involving the extremities, face, lips, mucous membranes, tongue, glottis or larynx has been seen in patients treated with ACE inhibitors, including captopril (Capoten, 2014). If these effects happen nurses should be ready to administer epinephrine to reduce swelling. Other adverse effect according to Karch (2014) include, “CV: Tachycardia, angina pectoris, heart failure, MI, Raynouds syndrome, hypotension in salt-or volume depleted patients.”