Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-3 | Issue-02 | 73-84
Original Research Article
The Effect of Carbamazepine on EEG Tracings of People with Seizure Disorders in Calabar, Nigeria
Essien Aniekan Okon, Nku Clement Oshie, Ime Akaninyene Ubong, Oparah Sydney Kelechi
Published : Feb. 25, 2017
Abstract
The Effect of Carbamazepine on EEG tracings of some people with Seizure Disorders was studied on human subjects. This study conducted within 12-24 weeks was a prospective descriptive study involving 30 people with age range of 18-81years coming to University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) on account of seizure disorders. The electrical activity of the brain was scanned with the placement of EEG Electro cap (with electrodes connected to the EEG equipment) on each person’s head while in sitting position and subjects were asked (at regular intervals) to close/open their eyes, hyperventilate and under photic stimulation. The results obtained from the voltage/amplitude showed no significant difference in the varying states of eye open and photic stimulation (734.23 ± 0.034) in all the regions of the head at p≤ 0.05. The background frequency showed a significant difference after carbamazepine treatment regimen (479.88 ± 0.86) in all regions of the head at p≤ 0.01 different from before treatment. From the total analysis obtained, carbamazepine decreases the voltage/amplitude, increases the background activity and reduces epileptiform activity observed during recording. From the results on voltage/amplitude of scalp EEG tracings of people, the treatment with the anti-epileptic drug has a dampening effect and suppresses the abnormal electrical impulse of the nerve cells in the human brain, thereby improving the transmission of electrical signals inside the brain. These results showed that carbamazepine reduces epileptiform activity which are indicated by spikes, sharp waves, electrographic seizures, and some other stereotyped phenomena which are strongly associated with seizures