UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Anti-epileptics for Post-stroke Seizure

Category: Neurology

Keywords: aed, antiepileptic medication, post-stroke seizure, stroke, seizure (PubMed Search)

Posted: 6/11/2008 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 11/21/2024)
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One large study showed that cerebrovascular diseases represented the most common etiology of secondary epilepsy.
Animal studies have shown most antiepileptic drugs to be neuroprotectants.
Animal studies have also shown, however, that phenytoin, benzodiazepines, and phenobarbital may impair post-stroke motor recovery.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) has not been found to demonstrate any significant hinderance of post-stroke recovery.
From an anicdotal clinical perspective, levetiracetam (Keppra) is often used to treat post-stroke seizure.

Camilo, et al. Seizures and Epilepsy After Ischemic Stroke. Stroke. 2004; 35: 1769-75.
Hauser WA, et al. Incidence of epilepsy and unprovoked seizures in Rochester, Minnesota; 1935-1984. Epilepsia. 1993; 34: 453-68.