SSRI and Convulsions
Research in the areas of SSRI and convulsions of epileptic patients has shown the possibility of SSRI intake causing fewer convulsions for seizure sufferers.
What are convulsions and why are they caused? Convulsions are sudden seizures caused by the abnormal activity of the brain. The symptoms of seizures are: body twitching, body spasms, jerking of limbs, head spasms, facial spasms, bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence and sleeping after convulsions. The several causes for seizures are: Fever, epilepsy, meningitis, stroke, brain tumor, poisoning, alcohol withdrawal and drug overdose. Treatments are given depending on the underlying cause of the seizures.
What are SSRIs and what are their functions? The expansion of SSRI is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. The brain has millions of interconnected brain cells or neurons. Messages travel in the form of impulses like electric power down a network of wires through the neuron. When its reaches the end of a neuron, it has to jump the gap or synapse. The neuron releases a tiny amount of chemical into the gap called a neurotransmitter. This chemical is serotonin. Once serotonin helps the impulse to jump the gap to the receptor neuron, it is reabsorbed by the transmitter neuron. Sometimes the impulse is not able to jump the gap in time thus causing brain cell confusion because the serotonin is reabsorbed without the impulse moving to the next cell. This causes various brain abnormalities. SSRIs are very useful when such a problem occurs because they inhibit re absorption of Serotonin so that the receptor cell can keep trying to receive the impulse and once the impulse passes the serotonin is reabsorbed by the transmitter neuron.
Research has found that SSRIs are beneficial to patients with epilepsy and depression caused by epilepsy. If the patient is found to be intolerant to antidepressants, other forms of treatment should be given. Sometimes a small doze adjustment helps in improving the effects of SSRIs in patients who suffer from seizures. SSRIs should be taken under the supervision of a physician and may take several weeks to show significant effects. SSRIs are known to be the safest drugs in the market. Prozac and Paxil are the two commonly prescribed SSRIs. Patients recovering from alcohol abuse and drug abuse have to be closely monitored when treated with SSRIs.
Researchers have associated suicidal tendencies among patients treated with SSRIs. Consequently, the FDA has included a black box warning that intake of SSRIs could lead to suicidal inclinations. Other researchers counter this theory, however, the safety of SSRIs still remain in the realm of controversy. Drowsiness, nausea and diarrhea are other side effects associated with SSRIs.
How can you take SSRIs and minimize the risks?
Allergy testing and tolerance mapping are two ways by which patients can take SSRIs and avoid the side effects. There are many nutritional supplements commercially available that claim to act as anti depressants and can be used by patients suffering from seizure without the side effects of SSRI drugs. SAMe (S-Adenosy-L-Methionine) is the most popular of the nutritional supplements that claims SSRI capabilities. Supplements containing St. Johns Wort, Ginkgo and Ephedra also have antidepressant properties without the side effects of drugs.
Be sure that you read all that you can on the various SSRI side effects and speak with a qualified medical professional. Do your research into some of the various SSRI alternatives. | |||||
