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When someone has epilepsy or another seizure disorder, there’s a small risk that the stimuli presented during the test (such as a flashing light) may cause a seizure. If an EEG does not produce any abnormalities, stimuli such as strobe lights, or rapid breathing may be added to help induce any abnormalities. All rights reserved.EEG is usually painless and very safe.
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For gabapentin, tiagabine, zonisamide, and rufinamide no studies in children are available.Ĭopyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Ethosuximide is not associated with cognitive impairment although the evidence is sketchy. No evidence for cognitive side-effects has been found for vigabatrin. For lamotrigine, there is evidence of a cognitive-enhancing effect on attention. Although data is sketchy, levetiracetam does not seem to have a negative impact on cognition. For topiramate, there is clear evidence for topiramate-induced cognitive impairment (attention, memory, and language function) in adults and children. For oxcarbazepine, there is no evidence for any detrimental change compared to valproate but mild improvements on attentional tests.
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For carbamazepine, there are conflicting reports, which may be due to selection bias or dosing. Valproate does not seem to impair cognition if sufficiently controlled for hyperammonemia. Moderate monotherapy doses do not seem to induce much effect. Phenytoin may affect mental speed, mainly in higher dosing and polytherapy. With phenobarbital, there is a high risk for serious cognitive effects impacting attention and memory. All commonly used AEDs have some effect on cognitive function, and the effect may be substantial when crucial functions are involved, such as learning in children. Although the causes of cognitive impairment in patients with epilepsy have not been completely elucidated, three factors are clearly involved: the underlying etiology of epilepsy, the effects of seizures or the epileptiform EEG discharges themselves, and the central nervous system effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
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