Mednet Logo
CommunityNeurology

When would you start antiepileptic drugs in a critically ill patient who develops myoclonic jerks but has not yet had an EEG?

Community PollStarted

What is your preferred empiric treatment for post cardiac arrest myoclonus?

11 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.

2 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Neurology · Stanford Health Care Stroke Center
Answered on

Treatment depends on the setting in which these myoclonic jerks are seen.

In a non-cardiac arrest patient, such myoclonic jerks are often due to medications, organ dysfunction (e.g., uremia, etc), electrolyte imbalance, or non-convulsive seizures, etc, and workup for this is recommended with labs, h...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Neurology · Cook County Health
Answered on

I generally err on the side of caution by starting ASM when unclear about the etiology for myoclonic jerks, especially in the setting of cardiac arrest/concern for anoxic brain injury, especially if there are delays in obtaining an EEG. If the EEG monitoring does not reveal seizures or epileptiform ...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer