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Treatment Recommendations for Anticonvulsant Drug Therapy in the Older Patient

  • Review Article
  • Drug Therapy
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Summary

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Phillip D. Swanson

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  1. Phillip D. Swanson
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Swanson, P.D. Treatment Recommendations for Anticonvulsant Drug Therapy in the Older Patient. Drugs & Aging 2, 95–102 (1992). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199202020-00003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199202020-00003

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