EEG & Tegretol

Benzodiazepines DO affect the EEG: http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~lwh/drugs/chap08.htm#HYPNOTICS%20AND%20SEDATIVES "Both the benzodiazepines and the barbiturates reduce the activity of excitable tissues...." http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Clinical_Neurosciences/louis/eegfreq.html "Beta activity is 'fast' activity. It has a frequency of 14 and greater Hz. It is usually seen on both sides in symmetrical distribution and is most evident frontally. It is accentuated by sedative-hypnotic drugs especially the benzodiazepines..." http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/2899984 "Characteristical changes in the EEG after benzodiazepine medication consist in an activation of higher EEG-frequencies simultaneous to a decrease in alpha-activity.....Cortical EP-components are suppressed by benzodiazepines whereas subcortical generated potentials are not altered." Like you, I am a purist. I too, would aim for an unadultered picture of the electrical activity in my brain. But ultimately, it is your doctor's discretion as to discontinue your Tegretol or Clonopin. These drugs do NOT effect spike and wave discharges on an EEG so if there is seizure activity to be found, it would be there regardless of taking these particular medicines. excerpt below from site: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/515572_4 "Effects of Antiepileptic Medications on PET and EEG The effects of antiepileptic medications on cerebral glucose metabolism deserve mention. Antiepileptic medications that have been studied typically decrease global cerebral glucose metabolism rather than modify its regional distribution[29-33] and, thus, cannot account for the patterns of glucose metabolism seen in our patients. However, it has also been demonstrated that although changes in the dose of antiepileptic medications do not influence the EEG spiking activity, postictal states can alter interictal spike frequency.[34] None of the patients in the present study had PET during a postictal state. Thus, the effect of antiepileptic medications on focal PET abnormalities or spiking activity on EEG is likely negligible." good luck with your test, pamela

After visting w/another doctor we've concluded I am not bipolar, just depressed from a combonation of many things so I am no longer on the Tegretol. I didn't realize how bad that drug was making me feel until i got off of it! I had the ambulatory EEG done & did have some abnormal spikes. So now I am having an in-patient videotaped sleep deprived EEG. I had another episode on Jan 17. This one was similar but I didn't have the amnesia. (The best way I can desribe it is like an out-of-body experience. It's as if my brain was detached from my body.) My neuro is thinking it is confusional migraines (I have a history of migraines w/the severe headache & classic symptoms) instead of seizures & wants the 2nd EEG to be sure. Anyone else had a confusional migraine diagnosis?