Medicine Or Seizure Related Memory Loss? Posted: 10-04-05 20:14pm
:d hi, my name is terri. I got diagnosed
with epilepsy 17 years ago at the age of
16. At that time, I had a grand mal
episode. I was put on dilantin. I was on
in for several years, about 8 or so. I
thought I was "symptom free" because I
wasn't having grand mal seizures, so I
spoke with my doctor about going off the
medication. I went off the meds for about
two years. I began having intense
headaches. I was taking about 16
ibuprofens a day, and having what I call
"little seizures" every day. The little
seizures consisted of body stiffening,
twitching and sort of a snorting action.
I told my doctor what was going on and she
referred me to a neurologist. He sent me
for an eeg, and the results came back that
my brain had constant seizure activity, so
he put me on carbatrol and topamax. The
carbatrol made me slur my speech and made
me a zombie, so he took me off of it and
upped my topamax. I just went on my way.
I considered myself symptom free because
instead of having 6-7 instances a day, I
was only having 2 or so a week. I began
having memory loss, but I thought it was
due to my having a hysterectomy, and that
it was caused by lack of female hormones.
I always had a great memory, so good that
my family always teased me that I
remembered things that nobody else could.
It has gotten to the point that I have to
stop in the middle of a sentence to think
of what I am going to say. It is very
frustrating. I guess what I am wondering
is...Does anyone know is...Is this caused
by medicine...Or the fact that I haven't
truly gotten my seizures under
control...Ever. In retrospect, I have
never truly been seizure free. I thought
as long as I wasn't having 6 or 7 "little
seizures" a day, that I was ok. I went
today for another eeg, and am going sunday
for an mri scan, but probably won't get
the results for a couple of weeks or so.
Also, the neurologist is switching me from
topamax to keppra. I don't know anything
about the differences in the medicines. I
am just tired and frustrated with being
tired and frustrated. If anyone has any
information or ideas, it would be welcome
and greatly appreciated. Thankyou very
much.
|
AHH
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 3 Location: New Jersey
Topamax Or Keppra Posted: 10-15-05 23:48pm
You want to learn about loss of memory try
topamax. The drs call it dopamax and for
good reason. You won't be able to finish
a sentence because you won't be able to
recall the words that you need. I was on
it.
I am a big fan of keppra as it helped my
son immensely.
