Patterns of seizure activation after withdrawal of antiepileptic medication

Effects of withdrawal of anticonvulsant drugs on the temporal profile of occurrence and the type of seizures were investigated in 40 intractable epileptic patients who were candidates for surgical treatment. EEG and behavior were monitored while drugs were ireduced to allow localization of the epileptogenic region. The rapid withdrawal of drugs caused a rebound effect, triggering either generalized seizures during a brief period or a longer-lasting increase in partial seizures. These increases in seizure frequency appeared related to change in dosage rather than to dosage itself, since they remained largely confined to the early period following reduction of an anticonvulsant.

[1]  R. S. Grewal,et al.  Effect of Carbamazepine (Tegretol®) on Seizure and EEG Patterns in Monkeys with Alumina‐Induced Focal Motor and Hippocampal Foci , 1976, Epilepsia.

[2]  A. Wikler,et al.  Electroencephalograms during cycles of addiction to barbiturates in man. , 1955, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[3]  P. Kellaway,et al.  Proposal for Revised Clinical and Electroencephalographic Classification of Epileptic Seizures , 1981, Epilepsia.

[4]  B. Gallagher.  Clinical Pharmacology and Rational Prescribing , 1982, Epilepsia.

[5]  S. Sharpless,et al.  The rapid development of physical dependence on barbiturates. , 1965, The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.

[6]  F. Quesney,et al.  The indications for and the role of depth electrode recording in epilepsy. , 1983, Applied neurophysiology.

[7]  M. Dam,et al.  INFLUENCE OF PHENOBARBITAL AND DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN ON PLASMA CARBAMAZEPINE LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY , 1973, Acta neurologica Scandinavica.

[8]  R. Mattson,et al.  Ictal Effects of Anticonvulsant Medication Withdrawal in Epileptic Patients , 1981, Epilepsia.

[9]  J R Ives,et al.  Seizure moitoring: a new tool in electroencephalography. , 1976, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[10]  R. Julien,et al.  Carbamazepine: mechanisms of action. , 1975, Advances in neurology.

[11]  C. F. Essig.  Clinical and Experimental Aspects of Barbiturate Withdrawal Convulsions , 1967, Epilepsia.

[12]  C. A. Marsan,et al.  EEG changes after withdrawal of medication in epileptic patients. , 1975, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[13]  C. F. Essig.  Barbiturate withdrawal in white rats. , 1966, International journal of neuropharmacology.

[14]  P. Crandall,et al.  Falsely Localizing Ictal Onsets with Depth EEG Telemetry During Anticonvulsant Withdrawal , 1983, Epilepsia.