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Chapter 18 - Do Central Nervous System Stimulants Lower Seizure Threshold?
Book chapter

Chapter 18 - Do Central Nervous System Stimulants Lower Seizure Threshold?

Raj D Sheth and Edgar A Samaniego
Psychiatric Controversies in Epilepsy, pp.269-281
Elsevier Inc
2008
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374006-9.00018-7

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Abstract

The Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants comprise a broad class of drugs that can be used to increase motivation, alertness, mood, energy, and wakefulness. Many patients in need of stimulants have an underlying neurological disorder that is associated with a lower seizure threshold. Alternatively, stimulants may reduce seizure threshold in patients. CNS stimulants can be classified into the following broad pharmacological categories, such as sympathomimetics, cocaine, cannabinoids, lysergic acid diethylamide, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and phencyclidine, which have CNS effects that make them popular for illicit drug use. CNS stimulants are often described as “amphetamine like,” since amphetamine is the prototypical stimulant agent. A Few studies have correlated the use of CNS stimulant drugs and seizures. A survey of seizures associated with drug intoxication showed that the leading causes of seizures are tricyclic antidepressants in 29%, CNS stimulant drugs in 29%, antihistaminics in 14%, theophylline in 5%, and isoniazid in 5% of cases.

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