Risk Factors for Seizures in a Person Who Abuses Cocaine

 

A cocaine-related seizure is defined as one occurring within 90 minutes of exposure (although some would expand the time to 12 hours).

 

Risk factors for seizures in a patient who abuses cocaine:

(1) very high doses of cocaine

(2) chronic, regular use of cocaine

(3) previous history of seizures, especially if they fail to take their medicine

(4) abuse of other substances (alcohol, other)

(5) head trauma

(6) intracerebral hemorrhage and/or infarction

(7) female gender

 

where:

• Concurrent abuse of diazepam or other benzodiazepines could reduce the risk of seizures.