When treating epilepsy in older adults, doctors often prescribe carbamazepine (an antiepileptic drug) to patients. But this cannot be done, as it is dangerous for the patient’s health, professor, doctor of medical sciences, vice-president of the Russian “Association of Epileptologists and Patients”, scientific curator of the Center for Neurology, Epileptology and Paroxysmal Conditions NCC told socialbites.ca, Academician BV Information was given about the Russian Scientific Chemistry Center of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution No. 2 named after. Petrovsky, epileptologist Kira Voronkova.
“We should choose mild medications because the elderly’s body is already weakened. For example, carbamazepine (antiepileptic drug) should not be given. This is important to note, because in our country it is still prescribed to people over 60 years of age, but this is prohibited by all clinical recommendations,” explained the expert.
According to him, it is cardiotoxic. All elderly patients have cardiac comorbidities, that is, cardiovascular diseases in addition to epilepsy.
“It reduces the concentration of many prescription drugs. Accordingly, everything our elderly patient takes for blood pressure, arrhythmia, diabetes loses its effect. Not to mention the neurotoxicity, dizziness or increased risk of falls that we are trying to avoid,” Voronkova noted.
In addition, such patients cannot be prescribed many medications; they can only take two medications at most.
“When we treat teenagers and not children, we can benefit from very aggressive therapy. These are high doses and multiple medications; Some patients may use four or five medications. This never happens in elderly patients, a maximum of two drugs are used. Three are mediocrity,” the expert concluded.
Read more about why epilepsy occurs, when an attack can begin, why epilepsy can begin after 60 years and why it is dangerous – in report Voronkova “socialbites.ca”.
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