Epilepsy, Prolonged Phenytoin Usage, and Its Effects on Bone

INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition in which patients experience recurrent seizures.1,2 It is characterized by sudden, recurrent excessive electrical neuronal stimulation in the brain, leading to seizures. It can occur in populations of any age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2.5 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy.3 The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke indicates that approximately 20% of patients with epilepsy have seizures even while they are receiving treatment.4 The very young and elderly age groups are most likely to experience epilepsy. Seizures can be classified into two essential types: generalized and partial.5 These classifications are based on the location of the electrical neuronal stimulation. Generalized seizures are characterized by a disturbance in neuronal electrical activity, and they are present in both hemispheres of the brain at once. A loss of consciousness is the key clinical manifestation. Partial seizures are identified by disturbed neuronal electrical activity observed in one part of the brain. Consciousness is not usually lost; however, in rare cases, it might be impaired. Partial seizures can affect other areas of the brain and become “secondarily generalized” seizures. Generalized seizures are divided into six subtypes:5