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Medication and epilepsy
Tue, 07/11/2017 - 14:05Topic: Medication Issues
Just wanted to know do anti epileptic drugs work on non epileptic attacks?!. I have had essential tremors in my arms for about 3 years now and recently I have started to have seizures which resemble tonic clonic seizures, I was recently having seizures and was commenced on phenytoin and diagnose as having epilepsy by the A and E doctors. I saw a neurologist not Lon ago and he reckons that it might not be epilepsy but might be functional disorder. Even though I have been to a psychiatrist who said there was nothing wrong with me mentally or physiologically and I was given diazapham, lorezapam and gabapentin which didn't work on me. The only medication that has worked on me is phenytoin a aed! So I'm really confused.
it's always good to reexamine
Submitted by Amy Jo on Tue, 2017-07-11 - 16:50
it's always good to reexamine one's situation from time to time. it might be you need to consult an epileptologist just because they are excellent with differentiating between epilepsy and conditions that mimic epilepsy. phenytoin, gabapentin, lorazepam and diazepam can all treat seizures - benzos are particularly effective at first but won't remain effective after regular use (lorazepam and diazepam are in that family), that's why they are used as emergency seizure meds. often drugs are used for more than one condition. not all epilepsy meds work for everyone (& may require different doses for good response) but if the dose was sufficient then it's odd you didn't respond to two of them. placebo is another factor to consider. our child did respond to a drug only known to treat focal epilepsy, also responded to increased dose even though unaware of the increased dose. I tried to make it an objective check where possible, it's pretty hard to do that when you're an adult.