Talk:Efficacy of naloxone in reducing postictal central respiratory dysfunction in patients with epilepsy: study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Although the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms that lead to SUDEP remain unknown, most experts seem to agree on the predominant role of central respiratory dysfunction that occurs within 1-3 minutes after a convulsive seizure as a major risk to progressing into SUDEP. This study is amongst the first to target this time window with a pharmacological intervention based on the hypothesis that SUDEP results partly from postictal apnea promoted by a GTCS-induced massive release of endogenous opioid.

See also: Richerson GB, Boison D, Faingold CL, Ryvlin P. From unwitnessed fatality to witnessed rescue: pharmacologic intervention in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2016;57(Suppl 1):35–45.