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Published on: May 16, 2019
The Impact of Psychoactive Drugs on Seizures and Antiepileptic Drugs
Mitra Habibi1, Felecia Hart2, Jacquelyn Bainbridge3
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S Wood Street, Room 164 (m/c 886), Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. mhabib1@uic.edu.
Abstract:
Psychiatric comorbidities are very common in patients with epilepsy, and in fact, a bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and some psychiatric disorders have been identified. However, despite their high prevalence, these comorbidities are not routinely recognized or adequately treated causing a significant burden for these patients. Atypical presentations of some of these psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy, the concern that some psychotropic drugs may lower seizure threshold worsening frequency of seizures, possibility of many drug-drug interactions, and the negative impact of some antiepileptic drugs on psychiatric conditions are some of the challenges faced by clinicians. Although the main focus in epilepsy has remained on treatment of seizures, acknowledgment of these comorbidities and their timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment not only can impact patients' quality of life but also may improve their response to antiepileptic therapies.
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