Pathophysiology Of Epilepsy

Main Question Post: Week 5: Discussion – Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a central nervous system ailment, whereby the nerve cell bustle in the brain becomes disrupted triggering seizures or epochs of uncommon conduct, sensations and with the infrequently loss of consciousness (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). Seizure symptoms could differ extensively; selected individuals with epilepsy solely gaze vacuously for few seconds with seizure, while others recurrently twitch their legs or arms (Arcangelo & Perterson, 2013). Given that epilepsy triggered by the aberrant bustle in the brain cells, seizures can distress any process that the brain coordinates, furthermore the signs and symptoms of seizure bustle comprise staring spell, the irrepressible juddering

movements of legs and the arms, consciousness, and loss of consciousness (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013). According to Arcangelo and Peterson (2013), approximately 1 in 26 individual in the United States would develop seizure ailment and virtually 10 percent of individuals might have solely uncalled for seizure, a solely seizure activity do not qualify epilepsy diagnosis, a minimum of two uncalled for seizure activity are usually obligatory or prerequisite for an epilepsy diagnosis
Medications Utilized For Epilepsy Treatments
Generally, arrays of individuals with epilepsy could be seizure unburden from being compliance with one anti-epileptic medication, whilst others might have the ability to lessen the rate of occurrence and intensity of the seizure by consuming a mixture of medications.

Few of the utmost utilized medications for seizure comprise the Levetiracetam, precise mechanism of interaction with epilepsy is unknown, nonetheless, the drug trusses to a synaptic vesicle glycoprotein, and impedes presynaptic calcium channels, decreasing neurotransmitter discharge and functioning as neuromodulator being deemed to inhibit impulse transmission athwart the synapse (Zheng, 2015). Another form of seizure is the Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant that functions to lessen nerve impulses that trigger seizures, Carbamazepine impact vitamin K metabolism, and could steer bleeding (U.S National Library of Medicine, 2012). Carbamazepine is the utmost widespread antiepileptic drug utilized in the United States, the mainstream side effect known to comprise of dizziness, ataxia, drowsiness, blurred vision, and nausea (U.S National Library of Medicine, 2012). According to the U.S National Library of Medicine (2012), gravely and dreadful blood dyscrasias ancillary to bone marrow suppression befalls related to carbamazepine (U.S National Library of Medicine, 2012). Phenytoin is one of the eldest medication scripts for seizure, provided in an oral or intravenous format with a therapeutic extent by 10-20mcg/ml, the

side effects comprise bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypotension (Drug.com, 2017).
Medication Therapy vs Age
According to Arcangelo and Peterson (2013), it is essential to understand that dosage and side effects related to any medication, including the anti-seizure drugs are critical amidst the aging populace. Italiano and Perucca (2013), indicated that the aging populace might have mild reasoning impairments or disproportion issues related to the anti-epileptic drugs intention toward the brain, triggering dizziness, sleepiness and magnification of the impairment the aging populace undergo daily. Hence, it is imperative that prior to writing a script for this populace adequate understanding of the medication, dosage and side effect must be discussed in detail at the level that can be comprehended for compliance and efficacy.

References
Arcangelo, V.

P., & Peterson, A. M. (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Drugs.com. (2017). Phenytoin (Dilantin) Uses, Dosage, Side Effects - Drugs.com. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from https://www.drugs.com/phenytoin.html

Italiano, D., & Perucca, E. (2013). Clinical pharmacokinetics of new-generation antiepileptic drugs at the extremes of age: an update. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 52(8), 627-645. doi:10.1007/s40262-013-0067-4

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2012). Carbamazepine: MedlinePlus Drug Information. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682237.html

Zheng, F., Du, C., & Wang, X. (2015). Levetiracetam for the treatment of status epilepticus. Journal of Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 15(10), 1113-1115.

doi:10.1586/14737175.2015.1088785