Drees et al developed a simple score which can help to determine if seizures are drug-induced. The authors are from the University of California San Francisco.
Parameters:
(1) previous reports of seizures being associated with the drug
(2) drug present at toxic levels
(3) temporal relation between seizure and drug exposure
(4) alternative explanation
(5) seizure confirmed by other evidence
Parameter
Finding
Points
previous reports of seizures caused by drug
no
0
yes
1
drug present at toxic levels
no
0
yes
1
temporal relation
seizure occurred after drug taken
2
seizure occurred before drug taken
-1
alternative explanation for seizure
definite
-2
possible
-1
unlikely
1
none at all
2
seizure confirmed
no
0
yes
1
where:
• Partial points might be assigned for few previous reports, many previous reports, etc.
total score =
= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: -3
• maximum score: 7
• The higher the score the more likely that the seizure is drug-induced.
Total Score
Interpretation
<= 1
unlikely drug-related
2 to 4
possibly drug-related
5 to 6
probably drug-related
7
definitely drug-related
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