title: What to do when patients with epilepsy cannot take their usual oral medications.
abstract: When people with epilepsy are hospitalised for medical or surgical conditions, they may be unable to take their home antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Such 'nil by mouth' people with epilepsy require alternative AED regimens to prevent breakthrough seizures. Here, we describe several strategies for maintaining seizure control in patients with epilepsy who have medical or surgical contraindications to their home oral regimens. These strategies include using non-pill oral formulations, using an intravenous formulation of the patient's home AED(s), using a benzodiazepine bridge and/or using alternative intravenous AED(s) when there are no intravenous formulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bank
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003679:Deglutition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS; EPILEPSY; INPATIENT NEUROLOGY