Familial Photosensitive Epilepsy: Effectiveness of Clonazepam

Sàenz‐Lope, E.; Herranz‐Tanarro, F. J.; Masdeu, Joseph C.; Bufil, J.

doi:10.1177/155005948401500107

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…VPA was recommended for children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (68), but those with seizures only during video games perhaps do not require AEDs. Benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam (151), also have been found to be effective. A young boy with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome and pattern‐sensitive seizures was responsive to bromocriptine, 5 mg tid (152).…”

Section: Medicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photic‐ and Pattern‐induced Seizures: A Review for the Epilepsy Foundation of America Working Group

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary:Purpose: This report summarizes background material presented to a consensus conference on visually provoked seizures, convened by the Epilepsy Foundation of America.Methods: A comprehensive review of literature was performed.Results: Photosensitivity, an abnormal EEG response to light or pattern stimulation, occurs in ∼0.3-3% of the population. The estimated prevalence of seizures from light stimuli is ∼1 per 10,000, or 1 per 4,000 individuals age 5-24 years. People with epilepsy have a 2-14% chance of having seizures precipitated by light or pattern. In the Pokemon cartoon incident in Japan, 685 children visited a hospital in reaction to red-blue flashes on broadcast television (TV). Only 24% who had a seizure during the cartoon had previously experienced a seizure. Photic or pattern stimulation can provoke seizures in predisposed individuals, but such stimulation is not known to increase the chance of subsequent epilepsy. Intensities of 0.2-1.5 million candlepower are in the range to trigger seizures. Frequencies of 15-25 Hz are most provocative, but the range is 1-65 Hz. Light-dark borders can induce pattern-sensitive seizures, and red color also is a factor. Seizures can be provoked by certain TV shows, movie screen images, video games, natural stimuli (e.g, sun on water), public displays, and many other sources.Conclusions: Recommendations on reducing risk of seizures have been developed by agencies in the United Kingdom, Japan, and the International Telecommunications Union, affiliated with the United Nations. The Epilepsy Foundation of America has developed a consensus of medical experts and scientists on this subject, reported in an accompanying work.

show abstract

Section: Medicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photic‐ and Pattern‐induced Seizures: A Review for the Epilepsy Foundation of America Working Group

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“… 109 Benzodiazepines, particularly clonazepam, are effective in myoclonic jerks, and ethosuximide is effective in absence seizures. 44 Lamotrigine and carbamazepine may be effective in treatment but may increase jerks. 35 , 61 Psychiatric support is also needed for self-induced seizures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies

Okudan¹,

Özkara²

2018

NDT

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reflex epilepsies (REs) are identified as epileptic seizures that are consistently induced by identifiable and objective-specific triggers, which may be an afferent stimulus or by the patient’s own activity. RE may have different subtypes depending on the stimulus characteristic. There are significant clinical and electrophysiologic differences between different RE types. Visual stimuli-sensitive or photosensitive epilepsies constitute a large proportion of the RE and are mainly related to genetic causes. Reflex epilepsies may present with focal or generalized seizures due to specific triggers, and sometimes seizures may occur spontaneously. The stimuli can be external (light flashes, hot water), internal (emotion, thinking), or both and should be distinguished from triggering precipitants, which most epileptic patients could report such as emotional stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol, and menstrual cycle. Different genetic and acquired factors may play a role in etiology of RE. This review will provide a current overview of the triggering factors and management of reflex seizures.

show abstract

“…AEDs that have been used in PSE with variable results in small trials include clonazepam (CZP) (5), lamotrigine (LTG) (6), levetiracetam (LEV) (7), and vigabatrin (VGB (8). In the largest trial to date, Harding and Jeavons (9) found that photosensitivity was abolished by sodium VPA in 40 of 65 patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Photosensitive Epilepsy: A Report of Three Patients Tested with Blue Cross‐polarized Glasses

Kepecs¹,

Boro²,

Haut³

et al. 2004

Epilepsia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary:Purpose: Pharmacotherapy for photosensitive epilepsy is not always effective and is associated with wellrecognized toxicities. Nonpharmacologic approaches to the management of photosensitive epilepsy have included the use of sunglasses of various types. Blue lenses have been shown to suppress the photoparoxysmal response more effectively than lenses of other colors with similar overall transmittances. Recently, cross-polarized glasses have shown promise. The axes of polarization of the two lenses of such glasses are perpendicular to one another. We tested the effect of combining the use of blue and cross-polarized lenses in three patients with photosensitive epilepsy.Methods: We recorded the EEG response to photic stimulation, television screens, and computer monitors in three patients with photosensitive epilepsy. If photoparoxysmal responses were provoked in any of these scenarios, testing was repeated with the patient wearing nonpolarized, parallel-polarized, and blue crosspolarized sunglasses.Results: One of our patients had clinical seizures that were inadequately suppressed with moderate doses of valproate (VPA) but completely suppressed with blue cross-polarized lenses. The second patient's photoparoxysmal response was suppressed by both parallel-polarized and blue cross-polarized glasses, whereas the third patient's photoparoxysmal response was not suppressed by either.Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that blue crosspolarized lenses may be useful in the treatment of photosensitive epilepsies and that their efficacy can be predicted in the EEG laboratory. Key Words: Polarization-Photic stimulationPhotoparoxysmal.Nonpharmacologic approaches to the management of photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) have included the use of optical filters of various types. The effectiveness of sunglasses, in particular, is known to depend on both the overall transmittance and the color of the lenses. Capovilla et al. (1) reported that Z1 lenses, a particular type of blue lens with relatively low transmittance at the deep-red end of the visible spectrum, abolished the photoparoxysmal response (PPR) in 64 (77%) of 83 patients and attenuated it in 16 (19%).Cross-polarized glasses also have shown promise. The axes of polarization of the two lenses of such glasses are perpendicular to one another. Jain et al. (2) with lenses that had independently variable polarization axes, they found that the PPR was most effectively suppressed when the axes were at right angles. The glasses were least effective when the polarization axes were parallel. The glasses were well tolerated and prevented further seizures. Jain et al. (3) subsequently compared the effects of parallel and cross-polarized lenses in 19 patients. Both types of polarized glasses attenuated the PPR in 17 patients, and the cross-polarized glasses were more effective in 10. We report the effect of combining the use of blue and cross-polarized lenses in three patients with PSE.

show abstract

Familial Photosensitive Epilepsy: Effectiveness of Clonazepam

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

Photic‐ and Pattern‐induced Seizures: A Review for the Epilepsy Foundation of America Working Group

Photic‐ and Pattern‐induced Seizures: A Review for the Epilepsy Foundation of America Working Group

Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies

A Novel Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Photosensitive Epilepsy: A Report of Three Patients Tested with Blue Cross‐polarized Glasses

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About