Retrospective Case Series of Insomnia and Hypnotics in Epilepsy Patients
Abstract number :
2.208
Submission category :
6. Cormorbidity (Somatic and Psychiatric)
Year :
2022
Submission ID :
2204147
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/4/2022 12:00:00 PM
Published date :
Nov 22, 2022, 05:23 AM
Authors :
Jean Hee Kim, MD – Seoul St. Mary's Hospital; Woojun Kim, MD, PhD – Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
Rationale: Epilepsy patients often complain of insomnia and depressive mood in concern of the recurrence of epileptic seizure, as the sleep deprivation is a well-known precipitant factor in epilepsy patients.
Methods: Consecutive patients who visited epilepsy outpatient clinic in a tertiary hospital in the year of 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. The medical records were reviewed on the history of seizures provoked by sleep deprivation and of hypnotics or anti-depressant medications prescribed in the year.
Results: A total of 962 patients were enrolled. There were 132 patients (13.7%) who were identified to have at least one seizure history from sleep deprivation at any point of the time in the clinical course. Out of 132 patients, 54 patients (40.9%) were prescribed for hypnotics or anti-depressant medications, while 78 patients (59.1%) were not. The most commonly used medication is quetiapine, prescribed to 19 patients (31.1%). Other hypnotics or anti-depressant medications used were as following: trazodone to 16 patients (26.2%), alprazolam to 11 patients (18%), zolpidem to 11 patients (18.0%), and lorazepam to 2 patients (3.3%). Eight patients (14.8%) were on combination of the above drugs, while 46 patients (85%) were on single medication. Out of those who were not prescribed for medication but with history of seizure triggered from sleep deprivation, 35 patients (44.9%) have more than or equal to 1 seizure attack per year. Medication applied group have 37 patients (68.5%) have more than or equal to 1 seizure attack per year, regardless of the provocation factor. As with the use of the drugs, frequency of seizure have been changed by -1.38 ± 4 attacks/month compared to the time without any medical intervention.
Conclusions: Among the patients with history of seizure triggered by sleep deprivation, seizure frequency group that is more than or equal to 1 attack per year is more prevalent in the medical intervention group than in the group without medication. Also, the frequency decreased after the hypnotics and anti-depressant medication use, while the caution with the interpretation is required for multiple factors affecting seizure provocation.
Funding: None
Cormorbidity (Somatic and Psychiatric)