Seizure-inducing effects of antiepileptic drugs: a review

Seizure-inducing effects can be observed in the treatment of epileptic patients with antiepileptic drugs (AED). This may be a paradoxical reaction (for example the increase of complex focal seizures due to carbamazepine, vigabatrin or phenytoin treatment) or a result of AED-induced encephalopathy (commonly induced by valproate in patients with complex focal seizures). A seizure increase during intoxication with AED is a rare phenomenon, thus, it is not directly related to this condition. An incorrect choice of drugs in the treatment of an epileptic syndrome or seizure type may provoke seizures (as for example the provocation of absences due to carbamazepine or phenytoin). The possible seizure-inducing effect of AEDs has to be differentiated from seizure occurrence due to the natural course of epilepsy. This may be especially difficult in patients suffering from West syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, in whom seizure frequency may vary even without medication. However, especially in these patients, drug-induced worsening of seizure manifestation is often observed. In general, a seizure-inducing effect of antiepileptic drugs has to be considered when a seizure increase is observed soon after the initiation of therapy, when a stepwise increase of the dosage is followed by a further increase of seizures, a decrease of seizures is seen with tapering of the dosage and a renewed increase of seizures can be observed after this therapy has been reestablished. Finally, one knows that the clinical condition of encephalopathy due to valproate or carbamazepine is accompanied by seizure increase. In spite of these clinical aspects, the underlying mechanisms of seizure increase mostly remain unclear. From animal experiments it is obvious that especially carbamazepine and phenytoin may provoke generalized seizures as absences or myoclonic seizures. A seizure increase during vigabatrin therapy has been attributed to the increase of the cerebral amount of gamma-amino butyric acid, which is known to possibly exhibit inhibitory or excitatory neuronal effects. The occurrence of tonic seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome has been attributed to the sedative effect of the drugs; however, this conclusion is controversial. From a clinical point of view, one should consider young age of the patient, mental retardation, antiepileptic polytherapy, high frequency of seizures or prominent epileptic activity in the electroencephalogram previous to medication as risk factors for a possible seizure-inducing effect of antiepileptic drugs.