Epilog.us Hosts Expert Discussion On Comorbidity Of Sleep Disorders And Seizures

Greater awareness of epilepsy and sleep disorders may help prevent misdiagnosis and mistreatment

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Apr 29, 2013, 01:30 ET

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., today announced the addition of the topic Sleep Disorders and Epilepsy to its epilepsy-focused educational website, Epilog.us. The site now features a review of the relationship between epilepsy and sleep disorders.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59872-epilog-us-expert-discussion-comorbidity-of-sleep-disorders-and-seizures

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130429/MM01543)

Greater awareness of the overlapping symptoms and comorbidity of epilepsy and sleep disorders may help prevent misdiagnosis and mistreatment, according to Dr. Aatif Husain, Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship, Professor of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center.

"When talking with a patient with epilepsy, it is very important to discuss their sleep," said Dr. Husain. "Physicians should ask about daytime sleepiness, sleep schedules, snoring and sleep apnea."

The resources available on Epilog.us related to Sleep Disorders and Epilepsy include:

Sleep Disorders & Epilepsy: An Overview: This animated video provides a high-level introduction to the correlation between sleep disorders and epilepsy.
Electrographic Correlation between Sleep and Epilepsy video: Dr. Husain discusses EEG patterns during different phases of the sleep cycle.
Interictal Epileptiform Discharges and Sleep video: Dr. Husain explains the variances in discharge frequency and distribution during phases of the sleep cycle, and the ways in which those patterns present in different types of epilepsy.
Epileptic Seizures and Sleep video: Dr. Husain discusses studies surrounding the types of epileptic seizures which occur more often at night, immediately after awakening, or during waking hours.
Proposed Mechanisms for the Interactions between Sleep and Epilepsy video: Dr. Husain outlines factors which may explain increased seizure activity during sleep, such as varying EEG synchronicity throughout the sleep cycle.
Counseling Tips for Physicians video: Dr. Husain emphasizes the importance of discussing sleep issues with epileptic patients and provides questions which should be included in those discussions.
Additional Sleep Disorders & Epilepsy topics include: frequently asked questions, statistical data on correlation of epilepsy and sleep disorders; and an online physician polling question.

Epilog.us is a disease awareness education website offering healthcare professionals who treat epilepsy some of the latest evidence-based scientific data, dialogue on modern therapy issues, and expert insights by some of the field's most respected clinicians. The site features regularly updated content including videos, white papers, podcasts, and interactive components addressing various epilepsy-related topics. In addition to Sleep Disorders & Epilepsy, Epilog.us also features current content related to AED Pharmacodynamics, Aging with Epilepsy, Practice Management, Epilepsy & Comorbidities, and Women & Epilepsy. To keep up with the latest information on Epilog, follow us on twitter @Epilog_US or visit https://twitter.com/EPILOG_US.

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of cognitive and physical functions. More than two million people in the U.S. are estimated to be affected by epilepsy with about 200,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year.¹

About Upsher-Smith
Upsher-Smith, founded in 1919, is an independent and privately-owned specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota that focuses on product growth and innovation for branded, branded-generic and generic pharmaceuticals. Upsher-Smith has a particular focus on developing therapies to assist people suffering from central nervous system diseases (including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease) and also markets products relating to cardiology, dermatology and women's health. In addition to products currently marketed, Upsher-Smith has an emerging neurology pipeline with three products in clinical development, two of which are in Phase III clinical trials. For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

References

1. Epilepsy Foundation. Available at: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/whatisepilepsy/statistics.cfm. Accessed on April 3, 2013.

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SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories