Convulsions, epileptic

Leucas lavandulifolia J.Sm, Labiatae trop Asi St Afr leaves convulsions, epileptic seizures coughing decoction or infusion 35... 

Anticonvulsants or antiepileptics are agents that prevent epileptic seizures or modulate the convulsant episodes eflcited by seizure activity. Certain of these agents, eg, the BZs, are also hypnotics, anxiolytics, and sedatives, reinforcing the possibiUty of a common focus of action at the molecular level (1). 

Neuronal excitotoxicity AEA levels are elevated in the hippocampus of mice treated with kainic acid. 2-AG levels are elevated in rats treated with pilocarpine These are two animal models of epileptic seizures, where the endocannabinoids play an anti-convulsant and protective function Inhibitors of cellular re-uptake... 

Human once 260 M (convulsions, cerebral edema, cerebral herniation, sustained epileptic state) Boereboom et al. 1998 Technical... 

Similarly, convulsive seizures and a sustained epileptic state persisted after stomach contents were pumped and activated charcoal and anticonvulsive medication were administered in a 43-year-old man who ingested approximately 260 mg/kg endosulfan (Boereboom et al. 1998). At 4 days after exposure, the man was pronounced brain dead, and autopsy revealed cerebral hernia from massive cerebral edema. Eight additional accidental and/or intentional cases of acute poisoning with endosulfan resulting in adverse neurological effects have been reported in more recent studies, six by Blanco-Coronado et al. (1992), one by Lo et al. (1995), and one by Pradhan et al. (1997) two out of the eight resulted in death. Tonic-clonic convulsions were seen in the Blanco-Coronado et al. (1992) cases, whereas Lo et al. (1995) reported the development of muscle fasciculations and episodes of convulsions in their case. In the case reported by Pradhan et al. (1997), the patient had consumed about 75 mL of hquid endosulfan (35% w/v). In this case, in addition to tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonic jerks, the patient developed... 

All such animal procedures suffer from the obvious and basic problem that laboratory animals do not behave like humans and that humans cannot reliably interpret their reactions and behaviour. Thus we know that Parkinson s disease is caused by a degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal tract but its lesion in animals does not produce any condition which resembles human Parkinsonism, except in primates, even though there are functional tests (e.g. rotational movements) which readily establish that loss of dopamine function and also respond to its augmentation (Chapter 15). By contrast, there are many ways, e.g. electrical stimulation and the administration of certain chemicals, to induce convulsions in animals and a number of effective antiepileptic drugs have been introduced as a result of their ability to control such activity. Indeed there are some tests, as well as animals with varied spontaneous seizures, that are even predictive of particular forms of epilepsy. But then convulsions are a very basic form of activity common to most species and epileptic seizures that are characterised by behavioural rather than motor symptoms are more difficult to reproduce in animals. 

Epileptic seizures affect 0.5% of the population, are more common in the young and, except for partial seizures, often decrease with age. Convulsions associated with metabolic disturbances are not considered to be epileptic. 

Extensive brain damage or lesions are certainly not essential for convulsions. These merely require appropriate conditions. Everyone is capable of having a convulsion, indeed their induction has been a common treatment for depression. The convulsive threshold of an epileptic, or more precisely that of some of their neurons, is just lower than normal. 

Convulsions Convulsions may increase in some epileptics receiving diethylpropion. Seizures Use sibutramine cautiously in patients with a history of seizures discontinue in any patient who develops seizures. 

Parenteral Adjunct in status epilepticus and severe recurrent convulsive seizures. Rectal For selected, refractory patients on stable regimens of anti-epileptic agents who require intermittent use of diazepam to control bouts of increased seizure activity. 

In experiments done many years ago on epileptic patients who were undergoing brain surgery, small brain biopsies were taken at operation. The concentration of anti-convulsant drug was measured in both the brain tissue and in the plasma from simultaneously-withdrawn venous blood. For the drugs phenobarbitone and phenytoin, a linear correlation was observed between plasma and brain concentrations. This suggested that plasma concentrations of anti-convulsants could reflect brain concentrations, and therefore, presumably concentrations at the receptor sites within the brain substance. 

You are called to the Emergency Department where a known epileptic is having recurrent grand mal seizures. A friend, who has come with him, says he knows he has not taken any of his anti-convulsant medication for at least a week, as he has been travelling and he had left the drugs behind. 

Epilepsy (or epilepsies, since markedly different clinical entities exist) is a common neurological abnormality affecting about 1% of the human population. Epilepsy is a chronic, usually life-long disorder characterized by recurrent seizures or convulsions and usually, episodes of unconsciousness and/or amnesia. Table 32.1 illustrates the major types of epileptic seizures. Patients often exhibit more than one type. In most instances, the cause of the seizure disorder is not known (idiopathic epilepsy), although trauma during birth is suspected of being one cause. 

Anti-epileptic. An agent that combats the convulsions or seizures of epilepsy. 

Epilepsy is an example of excessive neural signaling in the central nervous system. Relative cellular and extracellular space (ECS) volume has been demonstrated to play an important role in the propensity for epileptic seizures. For example, reducing ECS volume by exposure to hypotonic medium produces hyperexcitability and enhanced epileptiform activity, whereas hyperosmolar medium reduces excitability. The hypothesis that AQP4-dependent water transport in astrocytes might modulate intrinsic brain excitability was tested by seizure susceptibility in response to the GABAa antagonist convulsant pentylenetetrazol... 

Sedation is uncommon and instead many patients will find that these drugs may impair sleep, which is why the dose is best taken in the morning. There is also little effect on psychomotor function. Occasional patients have a small reduction in heart rate but otherwise effects on the cardiovascular system are rare. Epileptic convulsions can occur but are rare and much less common than with tricyclic antidepressants. There is some evidence for potentiation of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced seizures. Sexual dysfunction is reported, principally delayed ejaculation and anorgasmia. 

RDX Can cause convulsions resembling epileptic seisures Proper ventilation will reduce inhalation hazard... 

Prostaglandin therapy can cause electroencephalo-graphic abnormalities (105). Convulsions, which occur occasionally, are a particular risk in epileptic patients (5,104,105). The combination of prostaglandins and oxytocin can be complicated by tonic-clonic seizures (106). 

Brandenburg H, Jahoda MG, Wladimiroff JW, Los FJ, Lindhout D. Convulsions in epileptic women after administration of prostaglandin E2 derivative. Lancet 1990 336(8723) 1138. 

Bradford H. F. and Dodd P. R. (1975). Convulsions and activation of epileptic foci induced by monosodium glutamate and related compounds. Biochem. Pharmacol. 26 253-254. 

Benzodiazepines are used to treat insomnia and for the acute treatment of epileptic seizures, convulsive disorders, and spastic disorders such as cerebral palsy,... 

Poisoning has occured through the accidental administration of camphor liniment to young children by mistake for castor oil. The symptoms are nausea, vomiting, colic disturbed vision, delirium, mental confusion and epileptic convulsions. Recovery is the rule. But in rare cases death may occur from respiratory failure (126-128). 

It has been said that the medicine will ward off asthmatic and epileptic convulsions, but there would appear to be no reliable confirmation of this. The claim may have originated with Culpeper, who writes, concerning Heartsease "The spirit of it is excellently good for the convulsions in children, as also for falling sickness, and a gallant remedy for the inflammations of the lungs and breast, pleurisy, scabs, itch, etc."... 

Another possibility is that endogenous epileptogenic compounds may be produced in the brain of the epileptic patient. Both tetrahydroisoquinolines and beta-carbolines have been detected in the human brain, as has the tryptophan analogue quinolinic acid, which all have convulsant and excitotoxic properties. The enzymes that synthesize quinolinic acid have also been identified in human brain tissue. 

The many compounds found in formulations of toxaphene vary widely in their toxicides. One of the most toxic is 8-octachlorobomane, shown above. Toxaphene produces convulsions of an epileptic type in exposed mammals. 

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