Seizure. Fundamentals of drug management of epilepsy in the older patient.

Although commonly perceived as a condition of the young, epilepsy has a significant presence in the geriatric population. The most common seizure types in older persons are complex partial, simple partial, and secondarily generalized tonic clonic. Patient assessment and management objectives include determining the seizure type, calculating the risk of seizure recurrence, and determining whether to initiate anticonvulsant therapy. These objectives are pursued using clinical, electroencephalographic (EEG), and neuroimaging findings. Treatment can reduce the risk of recurrence and prevent injuries likely to occur among older persons experiencing seizures.