Which of the following is a common cause of status epilepticus?

• A. Infection
• B. Head trauma
• C. Sudden withdrawal from antiepileptic drugs
• D. Allergy to penicillin

Answer: (C)

A common trigger for status epilepticus is sudden withdrawal from antiepileptic drugs in someone with epilepsy. When antiseizure medication is abruptly stopped, the brain loses its pharmacologic suppression of excitability, making seizures more likely to become prolonged or to recur without recovery between events. This direct link to ongoing epilepsy management makes abrupt medication withdrawal the most likely precipitating factor among the options.

Infection or head trauma can provoke seizures or worsen them, especially in vulnerable individuals, but they are not as consistently linked to status epilepticus as medication withdrawal. Allergy to penicillin is not a typical cause of status epilepticus.