Evaluating patients with vertigo: bedside examination.

Dizziness and vertigo are common complaints in patients referred for neurological evaluation. With a basic understanding of vestibular physiology and proper examination techniques, a correct diagnosis can generally be made at the bedside. This article reviews the most common peripheral and central vestibular syndromes as well as the key elements of the bedside vestibular system examination.

Failure of carbamazepine to prevent clonazepam withdrawal status epilepticus.

We describe two patients in whom clonazepam withdrawal status epilepticus occurred in spite of therapeutic levels of carbamazepine in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. The failure of carbamazepine to prevent clonazepam withdrawal status epilepticus is discussed.

The penetration of phenobarbital in generalized and focal penicillin-induced epileptic brain of the cat.

The penetration of phenobarbital (PB) into cerebral tissue was determined in cats rendered epileptic by parenteral penicillin and in cats with focal penicillin-induced epilepsy. The results were compared with those from normal controls. In both kinds of experimental models of epilepsy, PB penetration was impaired, although a gradual and progressive accumulation of the drug in the brain tissue was observed in all three groups of cats (binding occurring from time 30 min on).