Treatments for Petit Mal (Absence) Seizures. Ray Horvath Biomedical Engineering- BME 281 Presentation 1 University of Rhode Island

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1 Treatments for Petit Mal (Absence) Seizures Ray Horvath Biomedical Engineering- BME 281 Presentation 1 University of Rhode Island

What is a Petit Mal Seizure? https://www.slideshare.

2 What is a Petit Mal Seizure? lepsy-a-modern-day-perspective Relatively harmless seizures that render the subject unconscious for anywhere between and 5-30 seconds They occur in about 25% of epileptic patients ; usually between the ages of 4-14 Older teens and adults can experience them in rare occasions, but they are typically outgrown by then Caused by abnormal and intense electrical activity in the brain that causes a type of sensory overload during which the patient shuts down Between seizures patient normal Seizure; vacant stare, eyes roll upward, eyelids flutter (3/sec), cessation of activity, lack of response Malamed, Stanley F, and Daniel L Orr. Seizures. NeuroImage, Academic Press, 5 Dec. 2014, 14.

3 Treatments for Petit Mal Seizures 3 Major Medications Treat Absence Seizures Ethosuximide (Zarontin) Depakene (Valproic Acid) Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

4 Ethosuximide (Zarontin) Of the three types of medication for absence seizures, Ethosuximide has the best seizure-free rate at 84% This prescription drug is an anticonvulsant who s main job is to suppress the spiked brain activity that accompanies seizures There are also minimal side effects to take into account with this drug including: Drowsiness Gastrointestinal Issues Hwang, Hee, and Hunmin Kim. Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid, and Lamotrigine in Childhood Absence Epilepsy. NeuroImage, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2011,

5 Depakene (Valproic Acid) These are antiepileptic capsules taken by the same dosage as Zarontin (250mg capsules) In the study, Depakene has a seizure-free rate of 62%, which is significantly lower than ethosuximide (84%) Depakene has much more of a risk factor than Zarontin due to its side effects of: Drowsiness Dizziness Tremors Gastrointestinal Issues Weight Gain Alopecia (Patches of Hair Loss) Hwang, Hee, and Hunmin Kim. Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid, and Lamotrigine in Childhood Absence Epilepsy. NeuroImage, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2011,

6 Lamictal (Lamotrigine) This is the least effective drug of the three freeing just 53% of patients from seizures at the 3 month mark Apart from the other two gel capsules, Lamictal is administered by powder tablet and is smaller than both Ethosuximide and Depakene Primarily used as adjunct therapy (used alongside another primary form of treatment) because it isn t strong enough on its own Like Depakene, Lamictal has some side effects that hinder it s appeal: Drowsiness Dizziness Rash Hwang, Hee, and Hunmin Kim. Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid, and Lamotrigine in Childhood Absence Epilepsy. NeuroImage, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2011,

Results The conclusion of the article was that Ethosuximide is by far the superior drug when it comes to controlling/suppressing childhood absence epilepsy It has the fewest number of side effects

7 Results The conclusion of the article was that Ethosuximide is by far the superior drug when it comes to controlling/suppressing childhood absence epilepsy It has the fewest number of side effects with the highest success rate of the three Hwang, Hee, and Hunmin Kim. Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid, and Lamotrigine in Childhood Absence Epilepsy. NeuroImage, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2011,

8 Discussion Petit Mal (Absence) Seizures are relatively harmless seizures that affect a very small percentage of the world s population, but they are still a very real issue facing young people today The three major medicines prescribed to control, and hopefully rid the patient of the seizures are: Zarontin (Ethosuximide) Depakene (Valproic Acid) Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Ethosuximide is the most effective of these three medications while posing the lowest threat to the patient's health in other areas

9 Questions?

10 Hwang, Hee, and Hunmin Kim. Long-Term Effectiveness of Ethosuximide, Valproic Acid, and Lamotrigine in Childhood Absence Epilepsy. NeuroImage, Elsevier, 3 Sept. 2011, References Malamed, Stanley F, and Daniel L Orr. Seizures. NeuroImage, Academic Press, 5 Dec. 2014,

ANTIEPILEPTIC Medicines

ANTIEPILEPTIC Medicines Treatment with antiepileptic medicines currently enables over 70% of people with epilepsy to live free of seizures. In the last few days years several new medicines have become