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Seizures from valproate-carbapenem interaction
Firas A Taha1, David N Hammond, Raj D Sheth
1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Nemour's Children's Clinic, and the Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
Background:
Antiepileptic medication interactions can complicate the management of epilepsy, by either increasing or reducing the effective serum concentrations thereby causing adverse effects or loss of seizure control.
Results:
A 14-year-old girl with well-controlled juvenile absence epilepsy lost control of her seizures acutely following the administration of carbapenem for pneumonia. Serum valproate concentrations fell by 90% within 48 hours following carbapenem and returned to baseline following its discontinuation.
Conclusions:
Awareness of this clinically significant interaction alters clinical practice by avoiding carbapenem or temporary use of adjunctive medication to prevent the clinical consequences of this significant drug interaction.
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Seizures l: Introduction
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
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