2 seizure questions

[Nc123]

Hi, I'm looking for aswers to a couple of questions that arose today with my 20 year old's 4th seizure. We don't think he has the typical idiopathic epilepsy that he has been diagnosed with but rather a sleep apnea related disorder. And they have all 4 occurred in his sleep. With that said, I was wondering if anyone knows if seizures themselves lower ones threshold for seizures in general, meaning does each seizure cause ones threshold to get lower each time? Other question: I hear many places that the type and intensity and length of a seizure can depend on medication being taken. Typically what way does that go? Does the fact one is taking Keppra for instance generally cause a seizure to be longer and more intense or shorter and less? Thank you so much for any help anyone can be.

[Nakamova]

Hi Nc123 --

It is possible for frequents seizures to lower the seizure threshold. It doesn't happen in every case, but seizures can escalate in kind, length, and frequency if they are untreated or uncontrolled. The abnormal neuron firings start out following a small path in the brain. As the brain gets in the habit of seizing, the path becomes "worn in" (or hard-wired), and gradually becomes bigger and bigger -- a superhighway, rather than the little detour it began as.

anti-epileptic drugs are meant reduce seizures in length and/or inensity, but not everyone reacts the same, and for some the seizures get worse. If the Keppra has caused your son's seizures to change but not improve over all, then you should let his neurologist know.

[Endless]

Hi, NC.

Welcome!

Seizures at night are common. About 2/3 of mine happen at night. I've found out sleep apnea is one of my triggers, too. But absent sleep apnea, my epileptologist says that they are not uncommon amoung people in general who have epilepsy.

Night seizures stink. They wake you up, and are extra unsettling. I'm so sorry your little one is going through this.