Chapter 15

substances or procedures that prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic or other convulsive seizures

substances that prevent or reduce the severity of epilepsy and different types of epileptic seizures, not just convulsive seizures

metabolic process in which a drug stimulates the production of enzymes that enhance its own metabolism over time, which leads to a reduction in therapeutic drug concentrations

type of seizure involving excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain and characterized by the spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles

a recording of the electrical activity that arises from spontaneous currents in nerve cells in the brain, derived from electrodes placed on the outer skull

a general term for any group of neurologic disorders characterized by recurrent episodes of convulsive seizures, sensory distrubances, abnormal behavior, loss of consciousness, or combo of these

epilepsy in which there is no identifiable cause

excessive stimulation of neurons in the brain leading to a sudden burst of abnormal neuron activity that results in temporary changes in brain function, primarily affecting sensory and motor activity

seizures originating simultaneously in both cerebral hemispheres

• seizures originating in a more localized region of the brain
• also called focal seizures

a common seizure disorder characterized by generalized tonic-clonic convulsions that occur in succession

seizures involving initial muscular contraction throughout the body (tonic phase), progressing to alternating contraction and relaxation (clonic phase)