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one seizure and been on meds for a year - time to stop?
Fri, 11/20/2015 - 11:40I've had one seizure (grand mal) a year ago after a 3 hour sleep night, alcohol and no food on a stressful day. The ER doctor as well as a neurologist I consulted that week were on the fence for meds. I switched to a new neurologist (closer to home). I Got an MRI and multiple EEGs (multi days hospital and the same at home) and nothing was found to explain the seizure. This new neurologist did not give me any choice (did not want to discuss no drug and let me know he would somehow report me if I did not compy). At that time I was still under the shock and denial of the first seizure and just went with it and started taking meds. I am using Lamictal (started with Keppra but it made me feel like a zombie). I've only had that one episode so far and am considering getting off the meds (the doctor let me know it was an option and I feel like taking it.). I am getting a second opinion in the next month. I am torn between getting rid of an expensive drug with side effects (still does not feel like myself and have trouble with my memory) and staying safe (I have young kids). Any help with this difficul choice would be much appreciated.
You are not alone. There are
Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2015-11-21 - 16:26
You are not alone. There are many people who have seizures and epilepsy and all the tests come back normal. Understand that the MRI shows what the brain looka like. The EEG is a brain wave test showing the electrical activity comming from the brain and where that activity is comming from. I had 20-25 different EEG's and all came back normal. They did a teswt which today would be an NRI and it too found nothing . The last test that week was another EEG. I fell asleep in that EEG and they found abnormalities (seizure activity) in the left lobes of my brain. Knowing where they came from they went back to the MRI and looked closer. That closer look is when they found scared brain tissue.As for meds. It can be a give and take issue and has been for many. For someone who hasn't taken meds they have the possiability of an increase of the number of seizures along with them getting stronger. There are people who have gone without seizures for some time and have been weaned off meds and do fine. But there are some like my cousin who hasn't had a seizure in many many years but she has to keep taking meds. As for me. I went 3+ years without a seizure. But I still have seizures even today. Before you make your decission please make sure your neurologist is a specialist in epilepsy. They know more and can help you with options and procedures and if wanted they can help you get weaned off meds.