Mom has adult onset epilepsy

[concerneddaughter]

My mom was diagnosed with epilepsy about a year ago. At that time she was able to control it with minimal medication. Now she seems over medicated and can barely function. She has gone from 500mg twice a day to 1500mg twice a day, she also takes valium for anxiety and some other kind of medication for vertigo. Her speach is slurred, she shuffles when she walks, trips often, runs into furniture, the list goes on. She is 73 and miserable. My heart breaks for her. Her physical therapist suggested that it might be silent migranes, not epilepsy. My Dad has agreed to take her back to the Dr. to have her medication re-evaluated but they are of the mind set that the Dr knows what he's doing. Does anyone know a specialist in the Phoenix area that might be of some help?

[Rae1889]

What drug is she taking? As some anti seizure drugs are also migraine drugs, and see much more effective at a lower dose. What prompted the doctor to up the dose? You can always ask her to request to lower it back to where she felt good.

Also, valium is also used to stop seizures but generally it is used rectally *called diastat* or orally and only on an as needed basis for status seizures. *ones that won't stop*

It sounds to me *just an opinion* that she is over medicated. When was the last time her blood levels and kidney*liver function was checked? She may not be processing the meds as well as she should. And at 73 the body isn't the greatest at healing anymore.

Pester the doc with questions. Its her body and her right to know what's going on and her right to say no to the docs wants. Docs don't know best, she does. She knows her own body better than anyone else and knows when something is wrong.

Take a look at the side effects of the drugs she is on, print it out , highlight the ones she is experiencing and hand it to the doc. Hope that helps!

[Nakamova]

Older folks are usually put on lower than average doses of meds, because they metabolize them more slowly. I would definitely ask for a review of her meds, plus a second opinion if necessary.
Here's a thread with some recommended neurologists.
Updated list of GOOD Neurologists…Epileptologists…Neurosurgeons…and Pediatric D

[Endless]

A regional epilepsy center will have epileptologist's (seizure specialists). Look here to find one near you:
http://www.naec-epilepsy.org/find.htm

It looks like there are three in the phoenix area.

[concerneddaughter]

Thanks! I'll find out what medication she currently is taking.

[concerneddaughter]

thanks! I'll look into that.