title: Midwakh-induced seizures: case series from UAE.
abstract: Drug-induced seizures are rare causes of hospital admissions (Coleman, 2004). Various classes of drugs are reported to induce seizures either directly, due to their epileptogenic potential or due to drug withdrawal effect, or indirectly, due to systemic and CNS-related side effects (Thundiyil et al., 2011). Midwakh is commonly used among young Emiratis. However, its CNS-related adverse effects are not well studied. We report seven consecutive patients with a history of seizures provoked by smoking midwakh and a negative workup for epilepsy. Six of these patients had no further seizures after they had agreed to discontinue smoking midwakh.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: talsadi@skmc.ae.
authors.forename: Taoufik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alsaadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Abdul Razzak
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alkaddour
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Tarek M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shahrour
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakra
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Lamya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turkawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shatila
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Drug-induced seizures; Epilepsy; Midwakh