The management of epilepsy in a hospital for people with a learning disability.

Abstract

The study examined changes in the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in a large hospital for people with a learning disability over a 2 year period, the use of investigations, and the presence of medication side-effects. The surveys were carried out in 1993 and 1995/6. In 1993, 27% of patients were being treated for epilepsy and in 1995/6, 30.1%. Ninety percent and 82.4% of patients, respectively, were receiving one or two AEDs. In the second survey there were fewer prescriptions for phenobarbitone (5.8% vs. 12.5%) and an increase in the use of lamotrigine (21.6% vs. 5%), gabapentin (5.8% vs. 0) and vigabatrin (3.9% vs. 2.5% in 1993). Side-effects were recorded in 6 (11.8%) patients. Seven (21.2%) patients receiving carbamazepine were found to have hyponatraemia. Of the 54 electroencephalograms (EEGs) requested, 41 (76%) were reported as abnormal. Six CT brain scans had been conducted, of which five were abnormal. People receiving antipsychotic drugs had fewer seizures than average.

• Authors: S Carvill, D Clarke, G Cassidy
• Journal: Seizure (Seizure) Vol. 8 Issue 3 Pg. 175-80 (May 1999) ISSN: 1059-1311 [Print] England
• PMID: 10356377 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 BEA Trading Ltd.

Chemical References

• Acetates
• Amines
• Anticonvulsants
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
• Triazines
• Carbamazepine
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Gabapentin
• Vigabatrin
• Lamotrigine
• Phenobarbital

Topics

• Acetates (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Aged
• Amines
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Carbamazepine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
• Drug Utilization (statistics & numerical data)
• Epilepsy (complications, drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gabapentin
• Health Surveys
• Hospitals, Psychiatric (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Lamotrigine
• Learning Disabilities (complications)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenobarbital (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Triazines (therapeutic use)
• United Kingdom
• Vigabatrin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)