Index — A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Absence Seizure - A type of generalized seizure usually seen in children, characterized by staring, accompanied by a 3 per second spike and wave pattern on the electroencephalograph. These seizures respond well to medication and most children outgrow them.
Adjunctive Therapy - Taken with other medications.
Anticonvulsant (antiepileptic drug) - A medicine used to control both convulsive and nonconvulsive seizures.
Arteriovenous Malformation - A tangle of arteries and veins which can cause headaches, seizures, or bleeding in the brain. Often requires surgery.
Automatisms - Involuntary movements which accompany seizures, such as chewing, fumbling at a button, or pulling on clothes. Can occur in generalized or partial seizures.
Ataxia - A type of clumsiness, often the result of too much medication.
Aura - A warning that a seizure may begin, often described as a "funny feeling." An aura is actually a small seizure that may develop into a larger seizure, or disappear.
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B
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy - Accounts for almost 25 percent of seizures appearing in children from age 5 to 14. Not always treated with medication, because seizures are typically outgrown by adolescence.
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C
Catamenial- Related to a woman's monthly period.
Cerebrovascular - Relates to the blood supply in the brain, involving the cerebrum and blood vessels.
Clonic Seizure - An epileptic seizure characterized by jerking.
Corpus Callosum - The white matter that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. A corpus callosotomy is an operation in which a part or all of this structure is cut, disconnecting the two hemispheres. This surgery is typically reserved for patients with intractable generalized epilepsy, such as the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Computerized Axial Tomography - A CAT or CT scan. This type of x-ray uses a computer to assemble multiple images, producing a detailed picture of the skull and brain.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Center - A medical facility consisting of an epilepsy clinic and epilepsy monitoring unit staffed by neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, technologists, a clinical coordinator, and a social worker specially trained to help people with epilepsy. An epilepsy center also employs sophisticated technology such as magnetic resonance imaging, single photon emission computerized tomography, and positron emission tomography scans.
Convulsion - A seizure characterized by stiffening of the body and jerking, excess salivation (foaming at the mouth), and loss of control of urine, followed by a period of confusion.
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D
Déjà Vu - A psychic seizure that produces a false sense of familiarity, as if life is repeating itself.
Depth Electrode - A special electrode placed inside the brain through a small hole in the skull to locate a seizure focus.
Double Blind - Refers to a clinical trial in which medication is coded so that neither the doctor nor the patient knows whether placebo or active medication is being used.
Drop Attack - Often seen in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a type of seizure that causes the child to suddenly fall. May cause injuries of the face and head.
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E
Electrode - A small metal contact attached to a wire designed to record brain waves from the scalp or inside the brain.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) - A tracing of brain waves, used to search for epileptic spikes and abnormal slowing.
Encephalitis - An inflammation in the brain caused by infection. May be accompanied by seizures and result in epilepsy later in life.
Epilepsia Partialis Continua - A rare seizure type that consists of repeated jerking lasting long periods of time. Often seen in Rasmussen's encephalitis.
Epileptic Focus - The site in the brain where a seizure begins.
Epileptologist - A neurologist with special training who treats patients with epilepsy.
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F
Febrile Seizure - A seizure caused by a high fever in children under the age of 5 years. Most of these children do not develop epilepsy.
Fit - A seizure.
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G
Gastroenteritis - Swelling of the lining of the stomach and intestines.
Generalized Seizure - A seizure that affects both hemispheres of the brain.
Grand Mal Seizure - A convulsion.
Grid - An array of electrodes placed on the brain to locate a seizure focus or map speech.
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H
Half-Life - The time required for half the amount of drug to disappear from the body.
Health Management Organization - Members of this type of health plan pay a fixed monthly fee, regardless of their healthcare needs. They must use certain doctors and hospitals. Expensive tests and services can be more difficult to obtain.
Hemispherectomy - A type of epilepsy surgery in which one of the hemispheres of the brain is removed or disconnected. Can be extremely helpful in controlling seizures in appropriate patients.
Hypoglycemia - An abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood.
Hypsarrhythmia - Specific patterns of irregular high amplitude slow waves and spikes on the electroencephalogram seen in West's syndrome.
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I
Indemnity Insurance - Allows purchasers to choose their own doctor. Pays a percentage of the total bill after a deductible.
Infantile Spasms - A type of seizure that occurs in infants, characterized by frequent jerks of the body. Part of West's syndrome.
Intractable - Refers to seizures that cannot be stopped by medication.
Intravenous - Medications or fluids administered through a needle inside a vein.
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J
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "J".
K
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "K".
L
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome - A type of epilepsy occurring in infancy and early childhood characterized by frequent seizures and multiple seizure types. These children have mental retardation and slow spike and wave complexes on their electroencephalograms. This type of epilepsy is extremely difficult to control.
Liver Function Test Abnormality - An elevation of liver enzymes, which can be caused by antiepileptic medications. This is a common finding on blood tests and not a cause for concern unless the level is very high.
Low White Count - An abnormality detected on a complete blood count (CBC), often a side effect of antiepileptic medications. Rarely of clinical significance.
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M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A scan that uses an enormous magnet instead of x-rays to form an extremely detailed image of the brain.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography - A magnetic scan of the blood vessels of the brain. Does not require any contrast material (dye).
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - A new method of measuring brain metabolism using a magnetic scanner to identify a seizure focus.
Magnetoencephalography - An experimental device that measures minute magnetic fields produced by ionic currents in the brain; may help localize an epileptic focus.
Medicaid - A state-administered program of federal financial assistance primarily for families with children, the aged, blind, and disabled.
Medicare - A federally funded health insurance program primarily for people age 65 and older and the disabled.
Meningitis - An inflammation of the covering of the brain.
Menopause - The time when menstruation naturally stops in women. Usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 50.
Monotherapy - Single drug treatment for epilepsy.
Myoclonus - A sudden muscle jerk of the body. Can be seen in a number of different epilepsy syndromes.
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N
Neurologist - A doctor who is skilled at diagnosing and treating diseases related to the nervous system.
Neuron - A nerve cell. Billions of neurons interact to make up a working brain. Epileptic discharges are produced when groups of neurons misfire.
Neurotransmitter - A chemical that sends nerve impulses across a synapse.
Nystagmus - Bouncing eye movements, often the result of medication toxicity.
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O
Open Label – Refers to a clinical trial in which the name and dosage of the investigational drug are known to the investigator and patient.
Osteoporosis - The softening of bones that can lead to fracture and slow healing. This often happens in women after menopause and can lead to a curved spine.
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P
Partial Seizure - A seizure that begins in a specific location in the brain, such as the temporal lobe.
Partial Complex Seizure - A seizure that begins in a specific location in the brain and alters consciousness, causing confusion.
Partial Simple Seizure - A seizure that begins in a specific location in the brain but does not alter consciousness. It may produce abnormal sensation, such as an unpleasant smell, or a motor movement, such as jerking of an arm.
Petit Mal Seizure - Same as absence seizure.
Placebo - An inactive substance sometimes used as a basis for comparison when new drugs are tested.
Polytherapy - Treatment with multiple drugs.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - A scan that uses an injection or radioactive tracer to measure brain metabolism in an effort to locate the seizure focus. Often part of the evaluation before seizure surgery.
Postictal - The period immediately after a seizure.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) - An insurance plan that allows members to use specified doctors in a discounted fee or service arrangement.
Protocol - The specific manner in which a clinical trial is conducted.
Pseudoseizures - Clinically resemble epileptic seizures but without epileptic discharges from the brain. Also called psychogenic or nonepileptic seizures, most often caused by severe psychosocial stress.
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Q
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "Q".
R
Rasmussen's Encephalitis - A type of chronic, progressive brain inflammation that produces uncontrolled seizures. May be successfully treated by hemispherectomy.
Respiratory - Relating to the process of breathing.
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S
Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) - A scan that uses an injection of a radioactive tracer to measure blood flow in the brain. Typically two SPECT scans are done, one during a seizure and one in between seizures. SPECT scans can help identify a seizure focus in preparation for surgery.
Spike - A characteristic finding on the electroencephalograph in patients with epilepsy. A spike is the result of an abnormal synchronized electrical discharge in a population of neurons.
Status Epilepticus - A condition of prolonged seizures requiring immediate medical attention; or, two successive seizures without an intermittent period of consciousness.
Synapse - The place at which a nerve impulse passes from one neuron to another.
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T
Telemetry - Continuous monitoring of the electroencephalogram, often with video.
Temporal Lobe - A part of the brain important in memory and controlling speech. Often the site of the epileptic focus.
Therapeutic Range - A guide, and only a guide, for antiepileptic drug levels. Patients often require more or less medication to control their seizures than suggested by the therapeutic range listed on the laboratory report.
Todd's Paralysis - A temporary weakness of an arm, leg, or other body part after a seizure.
Tonic-clonic Seizure - An epileptic seizure characterized by a fall to the ground (tonic phase) followed by jerking movements (clonic phase).
Toxicity - An undesirable effect of medication such as drowsiness, dizziness, trouble walking, or difficulty concentrating.
Tuberous Sclerosis - An inherited disorder, typically with mental retardation, abnormalities of the brain, skin, and other organs, and seizures. Half of these patients will have infantile spasms.
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U
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "U".
V
Vagal Stimulator - A device designed to control seizures, similar to a cardiac pacemaker, but with the electrode attached to the vagus nerve in the neck.
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W
Wada Test - Not an abbreviation, but named after its developer, Dr. Jun Wada. This is an injection into the carotid artery of amobarbital (Amytal®), used to determine the location to the brain's speech center and test memory prior to epilepsy surgery.
West Syndrome - A type of epilepsy in infants characterized by abrupt spasms of the body that usually occur in clusters, mental retardation, and the recognizable pattern on the electroencephalograph called hypsarrhythmia.
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X
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "X".
Y
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "Y".
Z
There are currently no glossary items for the letter "Z".
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Keppra XR® is a prescription medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in people 16 years of age and older with epilepsy.
Keppra XR® is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your doctor if Keppra XR® is right for you. Like other antiepileptic drugs, Keppra XR® may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500 people taking it. Patients should call their healthcare provider right away if they have depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior while taking Keppra XR®. Keppra XR® may cause extreme sleepiness, tiredness, and weakness, and problems with muscle coordination. Keppra XR® may also cause mood and behavior changes including psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and unusual behavior. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms. The most common side effects seen with Keppra XR® and other formulations of Keppra® include sleepiness, weakness, dizziness, and infection. Do not stop taking Keppra XR® unless instructed by your healthcare provider. Stopping a seizure medication all at once can cause seizures that will not stop, a very serious problem.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may also report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or go to www.fda.gov/medwatch or contact UCB, Inc. at 1-866-822-0068.
Please see Keppra XR® Medication Guide and Full Prescribing Information for additional important patient information.
*With this coupon, you pay the first $25 of your Keppra XR® or Keppra® co-pay and we pay your remaining out-of-pocket expense up to a maximum of $30. This coupon may not be reproduced and must accompany a valid, signed Keppra XR® prescription. No cash value. Offer not valid for prescriptions reimbursed or paid under any government health insurance program (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare) or any private payer in Massachusetts or where otherwise prohibited by law. Patients are responsible for reporting this rebate to any private insurer that covers any part of the prescription. Offer expires on 12/31/12. UCB may cancel or alter this program at any time without notice.