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Abstract

Convulsive seizures can have a significant impact on patients and caregivers. Due to their frequency and potential severity, they often constitute a medical urgency in the context of palliative care. We aimed to identify anticonvulsants commonly used in palliative care, describe their pharmacodynamic properties and routes of administration, and propose a state-of-the-art treatment algorithm for managing seizures in both hospitalized and home-care settings. This narrative literature review aims to compile and synthesize current evidence on the use of anticonvulsants in adult patients receiving palliative care. A concise and practical summary of indications, dosages, and administration routes for various anticonvulsants was developed to support clinical decision-making in both primary and hospital care settings. This review presents a practical treatment algorithm and a summary of the most frequently used anticonvulsants in palliative care, with emphasis on subcutaneous administration of levetiracetam and lacosamide. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and technical feasibility of administering newer-generation anticonvulsants via non-oral routes in this patient population.