the underlying cause of epilepsy

concernedparent · #1 02-15-2009, 05:22 PM

I am trying to play detective - in 1998 my daughter (11 yrs old at the time) had a bad cold. My wife gave her otc medication. Then it began - she had a seizure. She was put on depakote, and was given smaller and smaller doses. She was seizure-free for 3 yrs - then she got the flu - more otc meds- and the seizures came back with a vengence. Could there be a connection? Has anyone else had this experience? She is now 21, and if she misses 1 dose of her keppra and lamictal she WILL have a seizure.

sixpack · #2 02-15-2009, 05:59 PM

could be

I'd look at it this way---has she had a seizure everytime she's taken OTC? Were the OTC's the same each time or were they different types of OTC? Or has she only taken the OTC those couple of times? Also did she take OTC while on anti-epileptic drug's and have or have not had seizures as a result? Did she only get seizures when she wasn't on anti-epileptic drugs and took the OTC?

I think it's possible to have severe reactions to any med you take AND I'd say that a seizure would be considered a severe reaction. Some people are allergic to many things and it is possible her body can't tolerate it. On the other side, if she's only seized while taking OTC on those two occasions and she's taken OTC other times with no reaction, I would think the seizures occured as a coincidence.

Perhaps it isn't the meds but the virus or bacteria or fever that is producing the seizures?

In order to really know, you'd probably have to keep a journal of what she eats, her moods, how much sleep she gets, what meds she takes, etc. Then look for any patterns. I'd also bring it up with her doctor. He may want to do some bloodwork, an EEG, or MRI. Also perhaps have the allergy scratch test done and see what allergies she has.

Good luck,

concernedparent · #3 02-15-2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by sixpack

:

could be

I'd look at it this way---has she had a seizure everytime she's taken OTC? Were the OTC's the same each time or were they different types of OTC? Or has she only taken the OTC those couple of times? Also did she take OTC while on anti-epileptic drug's and have or have not had seizures as a result? Did she only get seizures when she wasn't on anti-epileptic drugs and took the OTC?

I think it's possible to have severe reactions to any med you take AND I'd say that a seizure would be considered a severe reaction. Some people are allergic to many things and it is possible her body can't tolerate it. On the other side, if she's only seized while taking OTC on those two occasions and she's taken OTC other times with no reaction, I would think the seizures occured as a coincidence.

Perhaps it isn't the meds but the virus or bacteria or fever that is producing the seizures?

In order to really know, you'd probably have to keep a journal of what she eats, her moods, how much sleep she gets, what meds she takes, etc. Then look for any patterns. I'd also bring it up with her doctor. He may want to do some bloodwork, an EEG, or MRI. Also perhaps have the allergy scratch test done and see what allergies she has.

Good luck,

thanks for the reply - I was just wondering since they have taken the ingredient out of the otc some years back because it "could" cause seizures. I am just wondering if the otc could have created an electrical path that persists in the brain hence the re-accurance of seizures. I believe the brain has the ability to "learn" electrical paths to help memory recollection. Why may it not learn abnormal paths as well?

**Bernard** · #4 02-16-2009, 06:59 AM

Hi concernedparent, welcome to the forum.

The best way to find an answer to your question is to get in touch with a neurologist and have him order a video EEG test using the OTC drug so they can measure what's happening when she takes it.

I'm guessing your daughter was running a fever both times? Fever can also trigger seizures, so it may not be the OTC meds per se, but the fever (or depressed immune system).

Some seizure conditions are caused by persistent viral infections and I imagine that fevers/colds could enable them to increase activity.

Quote :

I believe the brain has the ability to "learn" electrical paths to help memory recollection. Why may it not learn abnormal paths as well?

Clinical neurofeedback helps train the brain for normalized (optimal) functioning.

LivingFruity · #5 02-16-2009, 12:00 PM

Hi

Welcome to CWE!

Good for you for taking the initiative to investigate what's happening with your daughter's health. I had to take control when my son was diagnosed with epilepsy. I've spent weeks researching and digging until I found answers to my questions. Don't give up. The answer is there for you!

If the only seizures happened while she was sick or taking an OTC med, I'd definitely say that either the fever or the meds triggered the seizures. If either of the two are the direct trigger, then taking medication for the seizures seem a bit extreme to me.

You may want to look into neurofeedback as Bernard suggested, or some other natural alternatives that would promote healing in your daughter. Medication just covers the problem without revealing or healing the source of the problem. Good luck

skillefer · #6 02-16-2009, 12:29 PM

hi concerned! welcome to CWE.

As you can see, a friendly bunch. I'd have to agree with sixpack and Bernard. ALso, you might want to consider if your daughter was beginning to go through puberty at the time of the first seizure. Girls go through it at different ages, and hormone fluctuations can trigger seizures in people too. Anyway, feel free to ask questions, chime in , vent in the padded room, and check out the library at this site.

Belinda5000 · #7 02-16-2009, 12:48 PM

concerned parent,
welcome to the forum Your daughter needs a doctor you can talk to tell about what happened she too before she had her first seizure.
Has your daughter had an eeg or any other test done?
If not has her only seizures been when she's taken the OTC meds.

Belinda

concernedparent · #8 02-16-2009, 07:12 PM

sixpack, have you ever googled otc and seizures - you will be surprized to find how many cold remidies they had to reformulate in 2000 because certain ingredients caused seizures in some children. The FDA actually had a recall on these products!

Crystal11 · #9 02-16-2009, 07:43 PM

Hello- I have complex partial seizures and take Keppra and Tegretol XR for about two years now even though I've had seizures since age 6. When I was younger they were not too bothersome and Mom didn't want me on medication after having so many problems just being born- being three months too early and having many surgeries and meds just to live.. anyways- If i miss a dose of my meds I tend to start haveing seizures again- I had missed a whole day once and had to go to ER for having two or more complex partial seizures in a row- they didnt have to give me any meds while there, i don't think, but they tested my levels which were low- the ER doctor told me that if i miss anything that it can "send me over the edge" causing a seizure. I arrived in the ER postictal and didn't even know where i was!
Anyways- if cold meds are causing seizures- there is obviously something in it causing troubles. Maybe a common chemical in it is starting troubles or lowering her seizure-threshold. I hope everything is better now. I think for some of us, we are just really sensative to certin things and cold meds are exactly that, meds.

Please take care-
-CM