Types of seizure medicine + introduction, interactions and side effects

First of all, you should know that seizures do not occur only because of epilepsy and may have various reasons.... Epilepsy is one of the diseases of the brain and nerves, and epileptic attacks are known as seizures.... Epileptic attacks occur due to abnormal and excessive activity of brain membrane cells.... Unfortunately, epilepsy does not have different types of epilepsy.. Medicines are prescribed to control the disease and prevent epileptic attacks.... It can only be prepared with a doctor's prescription... In this article from Dr. Kihani Fard's website, we intend to introduce you to the various types of anticonvulsant drugs, so stay with us until the end.... Introducing the types of anticonvulsant drugs and the types of anticonvulsant and anticonvulsant drugs.. Seizures in 70% of patients with epilepsy. Other medications used by the patient, side effects, seizures in sleep, etc., prescribes the appropriate epilepsy medication for the patient... Be careful that the dosage of the anticonvulsant medication for each patient must be determined exactly by the patient and with the patient's opinion... Epilepsy patients usually have problems with changing the dosage of medications... Of course, every time the doctor performs a brain scan, he finds out how the effects of the medications were for this person and whether the patient needs to change the dosage of his medications or not.. Anxiety.... Phenobarbital in tablet form and should be swallowed with sufficient amount of water... Be careful that this medicine is taken exactly according to the doctor's instructions... Do not stop taking the medicine or change the dose of the medicine Before your doctor prescribes phenobarbital for you, give him a list of all the medications you are taking... Phenobarbital interacts with the following drugs: - Some drugs to treat HIV infection - Other barbiturates - Alcohol or drugs containing alcohol - Antihistamines - Primidone - Voriconazole - Painkillers including pentazocine, buprenorphine, butorphanol, nalbuphine, tramadol and propoxyphene.. - Sleeping pills - Muscle relaxants - Antidepressants, anxiety or mental health conditions - Steroid drugs such as prednisone and cortisone ### Side effects of Phenobarbital Some of the side effects of phenobarbital are more common as an epilepsy drug and are not alarming, but if they are severe or persist, tell your doctor: - Drowsiness - Headache - Dizziness - Excitement or increased activity (especially in children) - Nausea - Vomiting Some other side effects of this drug are more serious. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: - Slowing of breathing or difficulty in breathing - Swelling of the eyes, lips or cheeks - Confusion - Hives - Blistering or flaking of the skin - Fever 2 .... sodium valproate Sodium valproate is included in the category of epilepsy drugs and is taken by doctor's prescription... This medicine is available in the form of tablets, capsules and liquid... There is also an injectable form of this medicine that must be injected in medical centers... The use of this medicine is prohibited for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Also, if you are planning to become pregnant, you should not use this medicine. slowly and gradually increase the dose of the drug... ### drug interactions of sodium valproate Some of the most important drug interactions of sodium valproate as an anticonvulsant are as follows: - Medicines for the treatment of HIV and AIDS, such as ritonavir Medicines to prevent blood clotting, such as warfarin Antibiotics such as erythromycin - Other epilepsy drugs such as carbamazepine - Aspirin - Cimetidine, stomach ulcer drug - Medicines for depression or other mental health problems such as venlafaxine, quetiapine and diazepam Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine - Antimalarial drugs such as mefloquine and chloroquine ### side effects of sodium valproate The use of sodium valproate like any other drug may have side effects. Among the common side effects of this drug, the following can be mentioned. - Stomach pain - Diarrhea - Dry mouth or swollen gums - Trembling in a part of the body or unusual eye movements - Feeling tired or sleepy - Headache - Weight gain - Hair thinning - Irregular periods Some other side effects of valproate sodium are unusual and more serious, and you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience them: - Thoughts of suicide or self-harm - Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin - Prolonged and severe nausea or vomiting - Unusual bruising or bleeding - Fast or abnormal breathing - Very severe confusion, drowsiness or dizziness 3 .... carbamazepine Carbamazepine, under the brand name Tegretol, is prescribed along with other drugs to control seizures in patients with epilepsy and is included in the group of epilepsy drugs. Of course, this drug may also be used to treat some other mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. Swallow water and avoid crushing or chewing it. Before prescribing carbamazepine, tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking... Carbamazepine interacts with the following medicines: - MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobamide, phenelzine, etc... - macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin - Rifamycins such as rifabutin - Antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine - Sleep or anxiety medications such as alprazolam, diazepam and zolpidem - Muscle relaxants ### side effects of carbamazepine Among the common side effects of carbamazepine, the following can be mentioned, and if these side effects worsen, you should inform your doctor: - Dizziness - Drowsiness - Constipation - Dry mouth - Difficulty speaking - Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body - Walking and coordination problems Some side effects of carbamazepine are more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of them: - Hives - Abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath and dizziness - Yellowing of the skin or eyes - Dark urine - Loss of appetite - Nausea and vomiting - Vision problems - Fatigue - Swelling of the face, eyes, eyelids, lips or tongue - Difficulty swallowing or breathing - Headache and dizziness - Muscle or joint pains - Blisters or peeling of the skin 4.... I am Luther Lotirastam as an epilepsy drug is produced in two forms, injection and oral tablets, and is used under the brand name Keppra for the treatment of epilepsy.. This drug must be taken exactly according to the doctor's order, and any change in the dosage or discontinuation of the drug is prohibited... ### Drug interactions of Lotirastam It is not recommended to take levetiracetam with the following medications, and for this reason, you should first inform your doctor of the list of medications you are taking: - Apixaban - Calcifidiol - Edoxaban - Levoctoconazole - Methotrexate - Orlistat - Rivaroxaban - Carbamazepine ### side effects of levetiracetam Taking levetiracetam as a seizure medication may have side effects, the most common of which are as follows. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe: - Physical weakness and unsteady walking - Dizziness and headache - Confusion - Nasal congestion - Aggression - Loss of appetite - Vomiting - Diarrhea or constipation - Drowsiness - Joint pain and neck pain - double vision Some of the side effects of levetiracetam, which is used as an anticonvulsant drug, may be more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if they occur: - Seizures worse or different from previous seizures - Fever, sore throat or other signs of infection - Loss of balance or coordination - Hives - Blisters on the skin - itching - Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips and eyes - Difficulty swallowing or breathing 5 .... Tigabine An example of other types of seizure medications is tiagabine, which can only be prepared and taken with a doctor's prescription.. This drug is produced in the form of oral tablets and should usually be taken 2 to 4 times a day with food.. Be careful, it is forbidden to change the dose or stop taking this drug without a doctor's opinion.. ### Tigabine drug interactions Tigabine may interact with various medications, some of which are as follows: - Orlistat - Antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine - Sleep or anxiety medications such as alprazolam, diazepam and zolpidem - Muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine - Some pain relievers such as codeine and hydrocodone ### Tigabine side effects Tigabine may be associated with various side effects, and you should tell your doctor if any of these side effects persist or worsen: - Dizziness or lightheadedness - Drowsiness - Lack of energy or weakness - Depression or anger - Concentration problems - Speech or language problems - Increased appetite - Nausea - Heartache - Skin itching or bruising - Frequent urination or painful urination Some of the side effects of this seizure medication are more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of them: - Hives - Ulcers inside the mouth, nose, eyes or throat - Flu-like symptoms - Vision change - Severe weakness Numbness, pain, burning or tingling in hands and feet 6 .... Gabapentin Gabapentin is also one of the other types of anti-seizure and epilepsy drugs prescribed by the doctor.. This drug reduces the excitability of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and is effective in controlling seizures and transmitting pain signals.. The brand names of this drug include Horizant®, Gralise® and Neurontin® prescription... ### Gabapentin drug interactions Gabapentin drug interactions are as follows, and because of these interactions, it is very important to inform your doctor of the list of medications you are taking: - Anti-anxiety drugs - Cold, cough and allergy products containing antihistamine - Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine and sertraline - Other seizure medications such as phenobarbital and primidone - Medicines for stomach problems - General anesthetics or muscle relaxants - Painkillers ### Gabapentin side effects Some of the side effects of gabapentin are more common and should be discussed with your doctor if they are severe or persistent: - Feeling tired - Dizziness or headache - Eye problems such as unusual eye movements and double vision - Nausea and vomiting - Fever - Difficulty speaking - Frequent infections - Weight gain - Movement problems such as coordination problems, tremors or jerky movements Some of the other side effects of this seizure medication, gabapentin, are more serious...but not common....If you experience any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away: - **Symptoms of an allergic reaction:** Swelling and rash, hives, itching or scaling of the skin, fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing and facial swelling... Changes in mood or behavior: suicidal thoughts or attempts, anxiety, restlessness, sleep problems, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.. Liver abnormalities:** Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, light stools, vomiting and bleeding or Unusual bruising... - **Symptoms of kidney abnormalities:** Difficulty in urinating, changes in the amount of urine, presence of blood in the urine, weight gain, swelling of the legs... - ** Other cases from skin color bruising to skin abnormalities... 7... Pregabalin Pregabalin (Pregabalin) is produced in the form of tablets, capsules and oral solution and is classified as anticonvulsant and epilepsy drugs.... This drug must be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor, which is usually daily.... Be careful to swallow the pregabalin tablet or capsule with enough water and avoid crushing it. Before your doctor prescribes pregabalin, tell your doctor the full list of medications you are taking.. Pregabalin interacts with the following drugs: - All kinds of sleeping pills - Cold or allergy medicine - Types of muscle relaxants - Medications for anxiety or seizures - Oral diabetes medications such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone - Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril, captopril, lisinopril, moxipril, perindopril, quinapril, trandolapril, etc. ### Pregabalin side effects Pregabalin, like other types of seizure medications, may come with some side effects, and you should tell your doctor if these side effects are severe or persistent: - Fatigue - Dizziness or headache - Dry mouth - Nausea and vomiting - Constipation or flatulence - Speech problems - Difficulty concentrating - Anxiety - Loss of balance or instability - Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body - Muscle contraction - Weakness - Increased appetite and weight gain Some of the side effects of pregabalin are more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of them: - Blurred vision, diplopia or other vision changes - Hives - Itching or skin blisters - Swelling of the eyes, face, throat, mouth, lips, gums or tongue Swelling of the arms, hands, legs, wrists, or feet - shortness of breath - Muscle pain or weakness with fever - Chest pain and difficulty breathing - Very intense sleepiness 8... Acetazolamide Acetazolamide (acetazolamide) is known by the brand name Diamox® and is prescribed by a doctor to control seizures... Of course, acetazolamide is also a type of diuretic drug that improves the swelling caused by heart disease.... Due to the range of use of this drug, it cannot be obtained without a doctor's prescription and you must use it exactly according to the doctor's instructions... You must swallow it with enough water... ### Drug Interactions Acetazolamide Acetazolamide, which is prescribed as a seizure medication, interacts with the following medications: - Methazolamide - Aspirin and aspirin-like drugs - Cyclosporine - Lithium - Medicines to treat diabetes - Metnamin - Other diuretics - Phenytoin - Primidone - Quinidine - Sodium bicarbonate Stimulant drugs such as dextroamphetamine ### Side effects of acetazolamide In the group of side effects of acetazolam as a seizure medicine, some of them are more common and usually do not require medical attention... Of course, if these side effects continue, you should inform the doctor: - Hearing loss or ringing in the ears - Diarrhea - Thirst Symptoms of kidney stones include blood in the urine, pain when urinating, pain in the back or side.. - Loss of appetite - Feeling weak or lightheaded - Cramps or muscle pain - Nausea and vomiting - Pain or numbness in hands and feet - Unusual sweating Some of the side effects after taking acetazolamide are more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of them: - Allergic reactions (rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face and lips) - High acid level (difficulty breathing, fast and irregular heartbeat, headache, confusion, unusual weakness or fatigue, nausea and vomiting) - Infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty urinating) liver damage (yellow or dark brown urine, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, upper right abdominal pain, unusual weakness or fatigue, yellowing of the eyes or skin) - low number of red blood cells (difficulty breathing, feeling weak, light-headed, unusually weak or tired) - Redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin - Unusual bruising or bleeding 9 .... Lamotrigine Lamotrigine prevents seizures caused by epilepsy and is included in the category of anticonvulsants and epilepsy drugs... Of course, this drug is also used to treat bipolar disorder... The way lamotrigine works is to calm overactive nerves in the body... Avoid chewing and crushing this drug... Also, before taking the drug, read the instructions inside the drug carefully #agin.. Like other types of seizure drugs, lamotrigine also interacts with drugs There are various interactions, which we will introduce some of them below: - Atazanavir - Contraceptive pills - Rifampin - Specific drugs for irregular heartbeat - Specific seizure medications such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid, etc. - Lopinavir - Ritonavir ### Side effects of lamotrigine Some side effects of lamotrigine usually do not require medical attention, but if they persist or become severe, you should tell your doctor: - Diarrhea - Drowsiness - Headache or dizziness - Nausea - Heartache - Body tremors Side effects of lamotrigine that you should report to your care team right away include: - Allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching, hives and swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat - Vision problems - Fever, neck pain or stiffness, sensitivity to light, headache, nausea, vomiting and confusion - Changes in heart rhythm such as fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain and difficulty breathing - Infection with symptoms of fever, chills, cough or sore throat - Liver damage in the form of pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, light stools, yellow or dark brown urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and unusual weakness or fatigue. - Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, mood changes or feeling depressed - Unusual bruising or bleeding 10... Topiramate Topiramate is one of the other types of anticonvulsant drugs known by the brand names Topamax® and Topiragen®... Topiramate is used in addition to controlling seizures to treat migraine headaches.. This drug is produced in tablet form and can be taken with or without food.. Before prescribing topiramate, inform your doctor of the list of drugs you are taking... Topiramate interacts with the following drugs: - Acetazolamide - Antihistamine for allergies, coughs and colds - Aspirin and aspirin-like drugs - Atropine - Contraceptive pills - Specific medications for bladder problems such as oxybutynin and tolterodine - Specific drugs for depression such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine and sertraline - Specific drugs for Parkinson's disease such as benztropine and trihexyphenidyl - Specific drugs for seizures such as carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, zonisamide, etc.. - Specific medicines for stomach problems such as dicyclomine and hyoscyamine - some blood clotting prevention drugs such as warfarin, enoxaparin, dalteparin, apixaban and rivaroxaban - General anesthetics such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane and propofol - Ipratropium - Lithium Phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine and thioridazine - Pioglitazone ### Topiramate side effects The most common side effects of topiramate usually do not require medical attention unless they are severe or persistent: - Burning or tingling sensation in hands and feet - Memory or speech problems - Dizziness - Drowsiness - Fatigue - Loss of appetite and weight loss - Slow or slow body movements Some side effects of topiramate are serious and you should tell your doctor right away: Allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes, itching, hives, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat... - High acid levels with symptoms of difficulty breathing, unusual fatigue, confusion, headache, irregular heartbeat, and vomiting. High levels of ammonia with symptoms of unusual weakness or fatigue, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. - Persistent or severe fever - Kidney stones with symptoms of blood in the urine, pain or difficulty urinating, and pain in the back or sides - Redness, blisters and loosening of the skin, including the inside of the mouth - Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurred vision - Thoughts of suicide or self-harm and feeling depressed 11 .... Vigabatrin Vigabatrin is prescribed along with other medications to control seizures in adults and children over 10 years of age. This medication reduces abnormal electrical activity in the brain and controls the symptoms of epilepsy. Vigabatrin is produced as an oral tablet and powder that must be mixed with water. - Antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine - Sleep or anxiety medications such as alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam and zolpidem - Muscle relaxants - Narcotic pain relievers such as codeine ### Side effects of vigabatrin Vigabatrin may cause various side effects, some of which are more common. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms get worse or don't go away: - Drowsiness - Dizziness - Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body - Weakness - Joint or muscle pain Difficulty walking or feeling uncoordinated - Memory and thinking problems - Weight gain - Swelling of hands, feet, ankles or legs - Fever - Diarrhea - Nausea and vomiting - Constipation and heartache heartburn - Painful cramps during the menstrual period Some other side effects of vigabatrin can be more serious. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these specific symptoms: - Confusion - Fatigue - Pale skin - Fast heartbeat - Difficulty in breathing - itching 12 .... Lacosamide Lacosamide is a type of anticonvulsant drug and is prescribed for the treatment of partial seizures that involve only one part of the brain and is prescribed for adults or children after one month of age. Lacosamide can also be used together with other anticonvulsant drugs. Drug interactions of Lacosamide Lacosamide interacts with different drugs and the degree of this interaction will be different. The serious drug interactions of Lacosamide with the following drugs are: - Apalotamide Foxinidazole - Metoclopramide - Tocatinib ### Side effects of lacosamide Lacosamide, like other seizure medications, may cause side effects... A group of these side effects are more common, but you should tell your doctor if they are severe or persistent: - Nausea and vomiting - Diarrhea - Blurry or double vision and uncontrollable eye movements - Dizziness and headache - Drowsiness - Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body - Problems with coordination, balance or walking - Weakness - itching Some side effects of lacosamide are more serious... Call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: - Fast or slow heartbeat or pulse - shortness of breath - Chest pain - fainting - Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips and eyes - Fever - Hives - Fatigue - Yellowing of the skin or eyes - Dark urine 13 .... Zonisamide Zonisamide is known as an anticonvulsant drug and is prescribed to patients with epilepsy. This drug works by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Zonisamide is produced as an oral capsule and is usually taken once or twice a day. Various drugs interact with Zonisamide.. Therefore, before prescribing zonisamide, tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide - Orlistat - Other seizure medications such as phenobarbital and primidone - Rifamycins such as rifabutin - Antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine - Sleep or anxiety medications such as alprazolam, diazepam and zolpid - Narcotic pain relievers such as codeine ### Zonisamide side effects Some side effects from zonisamide are more common. If these side effects are severe or persistent, tell your doctor: - Nausea and vomiting - Weight loss - Diarrhea or constipation heartburn - Dry mouth - Headache or dizziness - Sleep problems - Memory problem - Pain, burning, numbness or tingling in hands and feet - Uncontrollable eye movements and double vision Some side effects of zonisamide are serious and uncommon... Call your doctor right away if you experience any of these: - Blistering or flaking of the skin Seizures or longer seizures - Sudden back pain - Heartache - Pain when urinating or bloody or dark urine - Fever, sore throat, chills, cough and other symptoms of infection - Ulcers in the mouth - Difficulty thinking or concentrating - Difficulty walking - Severe muscle pain - Extreme weakness and fatigue - Loss of appetite - Fast breathing - Irregular heartbeat 14 .... Ethosuximide Ethosuximide is one of the types of anticonvulsant drugs prescribed for a specific type of epilepsy. This disease is a type of seizure that often occurs in children and young people, during which the person loses consciousness for a short period of time, stares ahead and does not respond to others. The method of this drug is to reduce abnormal electrical activity by the doctor. ### drug interactions of ethosuximide Before prescribing ethosuximide, discuss the list of medications you are taking with your doctor, as ethosuximide may interact with some other medications as follows: - Antidepressants - Other seizure medications such as phenytoin and valproic acid - Painkillers - Tranquilizers - Sleeping pills such as alprazolam, diazepam and zolpidem - Antihistamines such as cetirizine and diphenhydramine - Narcotic pain relievers such as codeine ### Side effects of ethosuximide Side effects caused by the use of ethosuximide include various cases, some of which are more common. If these side effects persist or become severe, tell your doctor: - Nausea or vomiting - Diarrhea - Stomach pain or cramps - Loss of appetite and weight loss - Swelling of the tongue - hiccups - Drowsiness - Dizziness or headache - Suddenly waking up from sleep in a frightened state - Concentration problems - Hair growth in unusual parts of the body - Myopia - Vaginal bleeding Some side effects of ethosuximide are more serious and you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of them: - Sore throat, fever, chills and other symptoms of infection - Joint pain or swelling - Muscle pain A red, itchy rash, especially on the face - High fever without known cause - Skin blisters Seizure drug use only with a doctor's prescription In this article from Dr. Kihani Fard's magazine, we have introduced some of the most important types of seizure medications and the side effects and drug interactions of each of them... The important thing to remember is that the use and discontinuation of epilepsy medication must be done with the doctor's order.