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PTSD Therapy and Seizures

Mon, 11/07/2011 - 12:37

Hey I am new here and I have a question.

I am a recently Medically Retired Veteran of the U.S Army....I was diagnosed with epilepsy after suffering a head injury due to a roadside bomb (IED).

 I now have severe PTSD and I was wondering if anyone here was taking some sort of medication to help with the anxiety and depression...the V.A gave me "BUSPIRONE" but now have come to find out that it shouldn't be taken with people with our condition..

If you have any ifno or can help...please let me know

Comments

Re: PTSD Therapy and Seizures

Submitted by Spike. on Mon, 2011-11-07 - 18:50

I'm an honorably discharged, disabled American Navy Veteran (1986-1994), who has a service connected disability of epilepsy. If there were not as many cutbacks and negatives when I was in the inactive Navy Reserves, then I would have repeatedly re-enlisted, with the hopes of retiring as well.

Back around 1998 until around late 2001, I was taking both lamotrigine and phenytoin, which I eventually realized was given the side effects of anxiety, memory impairment, and increased seizure frequency. As an inpatient for my second video EEG, the doctor in charge discovered that one of the two medications I was taking, was knocking down the potency of the other medication. He switched the phenytoin over to divalproex, and my seizure frequency decreased greatly, and the side effects of anxiety and memory impairment faded away.

I have no idea what is causing your side effects of anxiety and depression, but the possibilities could be coming from the antiepileptic medications you're taking, and/or the dosage amount of each medications you're currently taking. If you were not experiencing anxiety and depression before taking medication, then the arrows should be pointing towards medication has been the culprit for your anxiety and depression.

What antiepileptic medications are you currently taking? At what dosage amounts, and how many times per day do you take the medications? Is there a particular time of the day when you feel symptoms of anxiety or depression?

Bruce (I'm not a doctor, but instead, an epilepsy support group leader, epilepsy advocate, who has epilepsy.)

I'm an honorably discharged, disabled American Navy Veteran (1986-1994), who has a service connected disability of epilepsy. If there were not as many cutbacks and negatives when I was in the inactive Navy Reserves, then I would have repeatedly re-enlisted, with the hopes of retiring as well.

Back around 1998 until around late 2001, I was taking both lamotrigine and phenytoin, which I eventually realized was given the side effects of anxiety, memory impairment, and increased seizure frequency. As an inpatient for my second video EEG, the doctor in charge discovered that one of the two medications I was taking, was knocking down the potency of the other medication. He switched the phenytoin over to divalproex, and my seizure frequency decreased greatly, and the side effects of anxiety and memory impairment faded away.

I have no idea what is causing your side effects of anxiety and depression, but the possibilities could be coming from the antiepileptic medications you're taking, and/or the dosage amount of each medications you're currently taking. If you were not experiencing anxiety and depression before taking medication, then the arrows should be pointing towards medication has been the culprit for your anxiety and depression.

What antiepileptic medications are you currently taking? At what dosage amounts, and how many times per day do you take the medications? Is there a particular time of the day when you feel symptoms of anxiety or depression?

Bruce (I'm not a doctor, but instead, an epilepsy support group leader, epilepsy advocate, who has epilepsy.)

Re: PTSD Therapy and Seizures

Submitted by merton on Tue, 2011-11-08 - 15:06
Hey.  I have a pretty similiar story to yours.  I was injured while in Afghanistan in 2006.  I came home and battled some intense PTSD and succefully completed treatment.  Since then I was living a fairly normal life until three months ago I had a seizure related to the TBI I had in Afghansitan.  Now I am back on a downward turn trying to deal with the anxiety I am experiencing.  My doctor has me on Zoloft which is doing a pretty good job and does not conflict with the anti-seizure medicine I am on.  Did you ever have a seizure before you experienced the head injury?

I've had seizures for 20+

Submitted by CrazyMikey on Mon, 2015-09-28 - 15:30
I've had seizures for 20+ years now. Since I was 10. From all the stress, force my step dads put me through and the hundreds of falls and head injuries that I've had. I've been burnt, stabbed, cut, and came within a couple seconds from drowning in the tub all because of seizures. I'm not sure if I've ever had PTSD but I think I would with all the head injuries and daily stress in my life. I was put on 50mg of Zoloft several years ago. It works great for me. I also take 5000mg of Keppra, 600mg of  Zonagran, 20mg of Onfi, 10 mg of Melatonin  and was put on Vitamin D2 just a few months ago. My top dream job was to be a fighter pilot and fly F-16's when I was a kid but because of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a sad thing to have. 

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