[Medications, epileptic crises, and epilepsy].

Abstract

Drug-induced seizures are an uncommon complication of drug therapy. The drug related factors are either the intrinsic epileptogenicity of the specific agent or patient related factors such as convulsive predisposition, underlying neurologic dysfunction, and factors which affect the serum concentration and/or central neurologic system concentrations. Some anti epileptic drugs may aggravate an epileptic syndrome. In 10-15% of patients with epilepsy, better control of seizures can be achieved with combination therapy. These patients are at greater risk of suffering clinically serious interactions. Drug interactions occur at the pharmacokinetic level and at the pharmacodynamic level, involving synergistic or antagonistic effects. Finally many drugs can interfere with the antiepileptic drug metabolism. The inverse effect is also frequent. A better knowledge of the spectrum of drugs that cause seizures or interfere with antiepileptic drugs metabolism is important for evaluation of appropriate treatment options and for guiding the choice of rational therapeutic procedures.