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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Antiepileptic drugs in brain lesions
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Antiepileptic drugs in brain lesions
by Marcelo-Peirano, Nov 23, 1997 12:00AM
Re: Antiepileptic drugs in brain lesions
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Posted by CCF Neuro MD *!* on November 25, 1997 at 16:17:34:
In Reply to: Antiepileptic drugs in brain lesions posted by Marcelo Peirano on November 23, 1997 at 07:54:00:
: I want to ask you about the use of antiepileptic drugs in patients with brain lesions.I need to know if you use antiepileptic drugs in all brain lesions or not, when you use it and if you do after brain surgery and how long you leave the drugs after the surgery.
Thank you.
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I am not entirely sure what you mean by the term “lesion” in this case as neurologists use the term l to cover a wide range of brain problems , some of which are treated in part with antiepileptic drugs and some of which are not.
I will try to summarize the standard practice however and if you want any further detailed information please feel free to post a more detailed follow up question.
Basically the term lesion covers a wide range of problems from the patches of inflammation which are seen in multiple sclerosis and vasculitis , to the areas of brain damaged in strokes , to various types of brain tumors. In general anti-epileptic drugs are used to treat lesions which are located in the cortex, the layer of gray matter around the surface of the brain, because this is where seizures originate. This would include many brain tumors but only a small minority of strokes .
Since brain surgery involves cutting through the cortex the procedure itself causes a certain amount of scarring which can also be defined as a lesion, depending on the reason for surgery in the first place it is common practice with some neurosurgeons to prescribe anti epileptic medication for a period of six months to two years as a purely preventative measure, because of the high incidence of seizures after some types of surgery.
The commonest drug used in this situation is Dilantin /Phenytoin
