RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 What to do when patients with epilepsy cannot take their usual oral medications
JF Practical Neurology
JO Pract Neurol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 66
OP 70
DO 10.1136/practneurol-2016-001437
VO 17
IS 1
A1 Bank, Anna M
A1 Lee, Jong Woo
A1 Krause, Patricia
A1 Berkowitz, Aaron L
YR 2017
UL http://pn.bmj.com/content/17/1/66.abstract
AB When people with epilepsy are hospitalised for medical or surgical conditions, they may be unable to take their home antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Such ‘nil by mouth’ people with epilepsy require alternative AED regimens to prevent breakthrough seizures. Here, we describe several strategies for maintaining seizure control in patients with epilepsy who have medical or surgical contraindications to their home oral regimens. These strategies include using non-pill oral formulations, using an intravenous formulation of the patient's home AED(s), using a benzodiazepine bridge and/or using alternative intravenous AED(s) when there are no intravenous formulations.