Tag: Neurology

Levetiracetam, the active ingredient in medications like Levirate 500mg, is an anticonvulsant that plays a crucial role in controlling various types of seizures associated with epilepsy. As a widely used antiepileptic drug (AED), it works by calming overactive nerves to stabilize electrical activity in the brain.

According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association guidelines, a calcium channel blocker is the only pharmacological treatment with established effectiveness for improving outcomes in patients following a subarachnoid hemorrhage. The specific drug used for this purpose is nimodipine, administered to reduce the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) caused by vasospasm.

A 2025 CDC report highlighted a significant increase in emergency department visits related to nitrous oxide misuse in recent years. For those unfamiliar with its effects, understanding what being high on nitrous oxide feel like involves exploring a temporary, dissociative state with profound sensory and emotional changes.

Intracranial hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, has a 30-day mortality rate of approximately 40–65% in anticoagulated patients, making it definitively **the most serious complication of anticoagulants**. While all forms of major bleeding are serious, bleeding inside the skull has the highest case-fatality rate and potential for devastating, long-term neurological consequences.

Propofol is used for approximately 95% of sedation cases for procedures like colonoscopies, but can propofol cause permanent damage under certain conditions, particularly prolonged high-dose infusions? The answer hinges on the dose, duration, and patient-specific factors, with serious complications primarily tied to the rare Propofol Infusion Syndrome (PRIS).

According to the official FDA prescribing information, Rexulti (brexpiprazole) should be used with caution in patients with a history of seizures or with other conditions that lower the seizure threshold. This confirms that, as with many other antipsychotic medications, **Rexulti** carries a risk of increasing a patient's susceptibility to seizures.

For every minute an ischemic stroke is untreated, an estimated 1.9 million brain cells die. This devastating reality underscores the importance of a narrow, critical treatment window for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is most effective when administered within the first 4.5 hours after symptom onset. The eligibility criteria for this life-saving medication are stringent and based on maximizing benefits while minimizing the risk of serious complications.

According to one report, approximately 9% of seizures are triggered by drug or toxin exposure. Unlike chronic epilepsy, the answer to **can drug-induced seizures be cured** is often yes, as these episodes are typically temporary and resolve with proper medical management of the causative substance.

While both Keppra (levetiracetam) and lacosamide (Vimpat) are effective antiepileptic drugs, they differ significantly in their mechanisms of action, side effect profiles, and approved uses. The choice of **which is better, Keppra or lacosamide**, depends heavily on a patient’s specific needs and medical history, rather than a single medication being universally superior.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, Topamax (topiramate) is a proven antiseizure medication for many patients with epilepsy. This article addresses the common question, **Can you take Topamax if you have seizures?**, and explains its role in managing various seizure types.