Abstract
The period after status epilepticus or after one seizure ends has now arousen interest because of their functional and cognitive effects post-ictal state is an abnormal condition that occurs between the end of the seizure or status epilepticus and the return to baseline condition. The prognosis of a patient in postictal state depends directly on the underlying cause and duration of the status epilepticus. The usefulness of EEG in post-ictal period is given by its capacity not only to determine the end of the crisis and the onset of post-ictal period, but also to determine in some cases the probable ictal onset area or hemisphere, and rule out non-convulsive status. Disturbances in mood such as depression and psychosis need to be evaluated and treated early in the post-ictal state. Antiepileptic drugs such as levetiracetam and lacosamide versus placebo showed a significant difference in controlling post-ictal events with faster recovery of consciousness and behavior control. The positive effects of vagus nerve stimulation in the post-ictal phenomenon provide a better quality of life for patients with refractory epilepsy. In the future the development of new medications or devices that could emulate the anti-ictal endogenous mechanisms triggered in the post-ictal period, would be the real drug to be called antiepileptogenic
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