What drugs can give you a seizure?
The most common drugs screened for include:
- THC (marijuana)
- Opiates (heroin, opium, morphine, codeine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
What is the best medicine for seizures?
Treatments include:
- medicines called anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
- surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures
- a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures
- a special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures
What medications can cause seizures?
- pre-existing epileptiform EEG pattern
- frequent seizures
- childhood seizure syndrome
- mental retardation or major brain damage
- polytherapy
What illegal drugs cause seizures?
What illegal drugs can cause seizures? A wide variety of illicit drugs induce seizure, such as phencyclidine (PCP), inhalants, cocaine, and psychostimulants. Recently EDs in the United States and Europe have reported an increase in the number of patients presenting with toxic side effects from the inhalation of synthetic cannabinoid products ...
Can epilepsy medication make seizures worse?
Type of epilepsy. Not all medications work on all types of seizures. And, sometimes, an epilepsy medication can make seizures worse. If your doctor can't determine what type of seizures you have, you may be prescribed what's known as a "broad-spectrum" epilepsy medication.
What medications can trigger seizures?
Drugs that lower the seizure threshold....CategoryExamplesAnalgesicsOpioids (eg, meperidine, tramadol)Anticancer drugs*Busulfan Chlorambucil Cytarabine Doxorubicin Etoposide Fluorouracil Interferon alfa Methotrexate Mitoxantrone Nelarabine Platinum-based drugs (eg, cisplatin) Vinblastine Vincristine7 more rows
What is a serious side effect of antiepileptic medications?
In addition to the common side effects of antiepileptic drugs, like dizziness, drowsiness, and mental slowing; other side effects like weight gain, metabolic acidosis, nephrolithiasis, angle closure glaucoma, skin rash, hepatotoxicity, colitis, and movement and behavioral disorders, to name a few, have been brought to ...
What is the most common side effects of antiepileptic drugs?
The most common side effects include dizziness, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, vertigo, ataxia, blurred vision, and tremor.
What medications should epileptics avoid?
Epilepsy drugs known to have this effect include Carbatrol, Dilantin, phenobarbital, Mysoline, Trileptal, and Topamax.
What triggers epilepsy seizures?
Missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and menstruation are some of the most common triggers, but there are many more. Flashing lights can cause seizures in some people, but it's much less frequent than you might imagine.
What are warning signs of a seizure?
General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure can include:Staring.Jerking movements of the arms and legs.Stiffening of the body.Loss of consciousness.Breathing problems or stopping breathing.Loss of bowel or bladder control.Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.More items...
Can you still have seizures when on medication?
Overall, about 7 out of 10 people with epilepsy have no more seizures when they use medication. But this also means that the medication doesn't help enough in about 3 out of 10 people. They still have seizures regularly despite trying out different treatments.
What is the safest anti seizure medication?
"[Lamictal] seems to be the winner," Marson says. The second trial looked at 716 patients newly diagnosed with generalized epilepsy. It compared the older drug valproic acid (in the U.S., Depakote is the most popular member of this drug family) to Lamictal and Topamax.
Can keppra cause more seizures?
Most often levetiracetam was well tolerated, somnolence being the most frequently reported side effect (18% in adults and 7% in children). However, in 14 adults (18%) and 19 children (43%) levetiracetam was associated with an increase (>25%) in seizure frequency.
Do antiepileptic drugs cause brain damage?
The results demonstrate that the short-term use of antiepileptic drugs damages neurons in the immature brain and that the combined use of antiepileptic drugs exacerbates damage.
What medication stops a seizure immediately?
The names of benzodiazepines that are most commonly used as rescue medications include diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and midazolam. The availability of these medicines in different forms and how they are used may vary from country to country.
What causes seizures in adults with no history?
It's possible for an adult without a history of epilepsy to experience a seizure. Potential causes include central nervous system infections, brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries. The use or stopping of certain substances, including alcohol, may also trigger a seizure. The type of seizure depends on the cause.
What medication stops a seizure immediately?
The names of benzodiazepines that are most commonly used as rescue medications include diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and midazolam. The availability of these medicines in different forms and how they are used may vary from country to country.
What are warning signs of a seizure?
General symptoms or warning signs of a seizure can include:Staring.Jerking movements of the arms and legs.Stiffening of the body.Loss of consciousness.Breathing problems or stopping breathing.Loss of bowel or bladder control.Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.More items...
What causes seizures in adults for the first time?
Autoimmune-induced seizures in adults with no history. Seizures in adults with no seizure history can be caused by a number of factors ranging from high blood pressure, drug abuse and toxic exposures to brain injury, brain infection (encephalitis) and heart disease.
What is an antiepileptic drug?
What are antiepileptic drugs? Antiepileptic drugs aim to rebalance the chemo-electric activity in the brain, the dysfunction of which causes seizures. Antiepileptic drugs (AED) are medications given to control epileptic seizures and convulsions. Antiepileptic drugs do not cure epilepsy, but may reduce the frequency, duration, ...
How does glutamate blocker work?
Increasing the transmission of GABA between neurons. Glutamate blockers block the action of glutamate, a neurotransmitter that promotes the brain’s electrical activity by facilitating the flow of sodium, calcium, and potassium ions through a neuron . Much like a battery has a positive and negative charge, this ion balance maintains ...
How to report a drug problem to the FDA?
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Medically Reviewed on 6/29/2020.
Can you take monotherapy with epilepsy?
A patient may respond to a single antiepileptic drug (monotherapy), or may require a combination of drugs, depending on the type of epilepsy. Antiepileptic drug regimens are usually started using just one medication in a low dosage. The dosage is increased slowly to reach the maximum therapeutic effect with the fewest side effects.
Can antiepileptics cause liver damage?
The first-generation antiepileptic drugs can have severe side effects and are known to cause liver damage. People taking these AEDs require regular blood tests to monitor kidney and liver functions. Some antiepileptic drugs may also adversely interact with other drugs.
Can antiepileptics cure epilepsy?
Antiepileptic drugs do not cure epilepsy, but may reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of seizures. Most people must continue taking antiepileptic drugs for their entire lives. Seizures may also be caused by high fevers and psychological distress. Antiepileptic drugs are prescribed only for seizures from epilepsy and not for other kinds ...
Can epileptic seizures spread to other parts of the brain?
Localized epileptic seizures may or may not spread to other parts of the brain. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which may induce abnormal behavior and uncontrolled muscle movements in a person. A seizure may or may not be accompanied by convulsions.
Prescription Drugs and Seizures
Many prescription drugs can lead to seizures. In fact, prescription drugs are a leading cause of drug-induced seizures. These seizures can occur in people who have no history of epilepsy or seizures.
Over-the-Counter Drugs and Seizures
Over-the-counter drugs are also associated with seizures. In the California poison control study, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) made up 8.3 percent of the drug-induced seizure cases. Benadryl is commonly used for allergies and as a sleep aid.
Illicit Drugs and Seizures
Many illicit drugs are associated with seizures. In the California poison control study, amphetamines (such as methamphetamine) made up 6.9 percent of drug-induced seizure cases, while the drug MDMA (also known as ecstasy) made up 3.4 percent and cocaine made up 4.9 percent.
Staying Safe With Epilepsy
It’s important to stay safe when you have epilepsy or are taking antiepileptic drugs for seizures because other drugs or medications could make your seizures more likely to occur. Talk to your physician and pharmacist to check for potential drug interactions. Be aware of side effects when taking drugs such as antidepressants.
Building a Community
MyEpilepsyTeam is the social network for people with epilepsy. On MyEpilepsyTeam, more than 102,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with epilepsy.
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How do seizures occur?
How do alcohol related seizures occur? 1 Alcohol withdrawal – When a chronic drinker or alcoholic stops drinking. These mostly occur within the first 36 to 72 hours of stopping drinking. If these seizures occur often, and the alcohol abuse is over a long period of time (years) then degeneration of the brain may occur, leading to epilepsy and chronic seizures. 2 Alcohol toxicity – When someone has ingested large amounts of alcohol and the concentration in the bloodstream is poisonous to the body. 3 Excessive fluid and metabolic changes in the body – Drinking large amounts of alcohol will create an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes in the body and has a dehydrating effect. 4 Trauma – Head injuries that may occur from accidents or falls while drunk. 5 Vitamin or nutritional deficiencies – Chronic alcohol abuse will prevent the absorption of vitamins and is often associated with poor diet.
What are the effects of amphetamines on the brain?
Amphetamine is an addictive stimulant drug that strongly activates certain systems in the brain. There are many health effects associated with amphetamines. The effects on the central nervous system (CNS) that result from taking even small amounts of this drug includes increased wakefulness increased physical activity, decreased appetite, increased breathing rate, fever and euphoria. Other CNS effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, and aggressiveness. Fever and convulsions can result in death.
Can smoking cigarettes cause seizures?
There is no evidence to suggest that smoking cigarettes or cigars trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. However, some nicotine preparations, used to help people stop smoking, should be used with caution as they can have a side effect of convulsions.
Is recreational drug use safe?
No recreational drug is harmless. These drugs can be made up of many different substances of unknown quantity. They are illegal and there are no regulations to control quality. Like alcohol, each person will have different reactions to various drugs.
Can cocaine cause seizures?
Cocaine can provoke seizures in people who do not have a diagnosis of epilepsy, as well as making someone’s epilepsy worse. This is because cocaine can lower the seizure threshold, or cause other medical problems, which can lead to seizures. Seizures can also occur as an indirect result of taking cocaine such as lack of sleep, lack of food and not taking anti-epileptic medication as prescribed.
