title: Treatment recommendations for anticonvulsant drug therapy in the older patient.
abstract: Seizures in older individuals are frequently due to cerebrovascular disease, though other causes, such as primary or metastic brain tumour, must be considered. Recurrence after a first seizure may be as high as 83% by 3 years, suggesting that withholding an anticonvulsant after a first seizure may not be wise. Some older patients may be more sensitive to anticonvulsant side effects, so treatment with 1 drug is encouraged, with monitoring of blood concentrations of the anticonvulsant during initiation of therapy. Interaction of anticonvulsants with other drugs is less of a problem than may be expected, but should be kept in mind. The treatment of status epilepticus should be aggressive.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants