Partial Complex Seizures - should I go on medication (Lamictal)?

[lmsylvan]

I am 44 years old and, for a couple of years, have experienced what I call "deja vu". I feel as though I've been in the situation before - like I've done this run, or made this presentation, or talked to this person, or heard this song, at some time in the past, and I get dizzy and disassociated for 4-5 seconds, then I'm fine. It feels like deja vu. My PCP sent me to a neurologist who told me that I have partial complex seizures and prescribed Lamictal. When I was 19, I had a head injury that induced nighttime grand mal seizures, but the scarring went away and I recoved from that. At the time, I took Tegratol and Dilantin. I went off of them at 24 and have been off since with NO seizure activity. Now, 20 years later, this. I am hesitant to just dive right back into taking a medication for a fairly non-obtrusive thing like these little 4-5 second episodes. The neurologist called this jamais vu, but, in looking up the definition, it seems more like deja vu. I have a few questions - 1 - If I don't go on the medication, and if these are partial complex seizures, can they progress into something more serious, like grand mal seizures, and 2 - is this medication something I'll be taking for the rest of my life, 3 - are these dangerous (never happened when driving), and 4 - are the side effects, other than the rash, really benign?
Thank you.

 

[dfwtexas]

I am 48 and my seizures starting January 2008. I have both simple and complex partials. The one thing with seizures is they vary from one person to the next....but this board is helpful in getting everyone's experience. I don't get the deja vue but a lot of people on here do. My simples or aura is visional. In my complex partials, I have no memory of what I am doing (most have happened at work, I think it is the lights). But my body keeps doing things, photocoping, making my lunch, computer stuff. Neuro says my seizure itself is very short, but my afterward effects makes me lose 20-30 minutes that I am in this state. I have come out of one with blood running down my hand, drool on my face, etc. I have been on Keppra since April and it has been great in keeping them away. My last complex partial was on August
25th and it was really because I stayed up very very late and only got a few hours of sleep. I have learned my triggers and that with the Keppra is doing well. If you don't take the med, your complex partials could get worse, I would think the type of seizure isn't the concern...maybe just the concern of any future seizure.

 

[Ann T.]

Hello, lmsylvan!

You have discovered a great place! People at this site are superbly helpful. Now, as a person who has been on Lamictal 2x's & who has complex partials also, here are my answers to your questions:

1. I've dealt with complex partials for 13 of the 18 yrs I've had epilepsy. They haven't progressed into anything more serious, thank goodness. Of course, your case may be different. I suggest recording a history of your seizures by writing the date & time the seizure happens & what the seizure feels like. This way your neurologist can get a better picture of how to treat your epilepsy.

2. Besides trying Lamictal, I'd look into dietary changes(Ex: ketogenic diet, adding certain vitamins along w/your Lamictal dosage) or other methods(Ex: biofeedback)to control your complex partials. *REMEMBER: If you want to try these methods, tell your neurologist & PCP to make sure they know. Also, I've discovered that the members & visitors who come to this site have a wealth of information regarding epilepsy.

3. I've noticed that whenever I have a complex partial, I'm still conscious, but my mind checks out. For 5 to 10 seconds, I'm totally unaware of my surroundings, what I'm doing, & who I'm with. This is why I gave up my driver's license because I would be devastated if I hurt or killed someone while driving. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Do you drive alone or with someone who can take over if you have a seizure while driving?

4. While taking Lamictal the most annoying side effects for me were the 2x vision & feeling drunk/'high'. I had no rash. BUT do not let my side effects influence your decision to try Lamictal. Always remember that medications affect everyone differently.

Sorry if this was long, but I hope it provides answers to your questions. Once again, welcome & take care, lmsylvan! *PS: Like jgbmartin, I work. I'm a part-time teacher.

 

[RobinN]

Welcome lmsylvan
My daughters seizures began with partials and then generalized to Tonic Clonic. From the beginning I thought it was nutritionally based, but was told this had no bearing, so we went on meds. We tried four, one of which was Lamictal. It caused side effects that were not acceptable to us.

I continue to believe that Rebecca's seizures are based on nutritonal imbalances, and she improves when a careful diet is adhered to.

Neurofeedback has also helped Rebecca to stabilize brain function. There is a condition called kindling where the brain learns to misfire. When trained to balance itself the seizures can be controlled. It does go hand in hand with nutrition and stress reduction though.

 

[brain]

:hello: Sylvan,

Welcome to CWE! And no it is not unusual for one
to have periods of seizures going into "remission"
or quiet periods before lapsing back (returning)
again. And it's been even know those who have
"outgrown" Absence aka Petit Mal, later on in life
to have epilepsy to return back. It is unknown why,
but they (Neuroscience) is looking and studying into
this; and from what I've been reading - so it seems
to be a genetic (inherited) issue, scarring tissue, or
even lesion(s) that had developed - but there are also
unknown reasons as well.

With this broad scope in hand - the Epilepsy Foundation
does have information on Partial Seizures available for
you in specifics if you click on the banner below.

Moreover, in CWE - we also have a Poll in regarding
Complex Partial - which has more information pertaining
this matter from information from various sites (just
excerpts).

COMPLEX PARTIAL SEIZURES / EPILEPSY

And you will find a lot of members response in there as
well - as you can vote if you wish.

I suffer from Complex Partials myself. But as far as the
AED or AEDS that your
Doctor would want you to start off; it is now being
deemed as Lamictal being the first line of choice to start
off for treating Partial Seizures --> from what I have been
reading in Neuroscience Information so far (up-to-date).
The success rate is good, although Lamictal does have a
side effect, as well as ALL medications out there have
side effects; no matter how you paint it... they all carry
some risk factors associated with it and it does not have
to be AED either.

 

[IMgood1]

Iamsylvan,
I too have complex partial seizures. I have been on Lamictal for years now. It is one of the best with minimal side effects that I've taken. It gives me the best control. :twocents:

 

[Crazy Monkey]

I have been taking Lamictal for about 9 years. While I do not have full control over my seizures, it has made a lot of difference. I also have never had any serious side effects from the drug.

 

[Crystal11]

I think that its great that you have chosen to ask questions of people with epilepsy here at CWE. I also think that since you seizures are so short and don't cause such a big distraction or problem according to your description, you might consider waiting if okay with your doctor before taking medication again. Or, you can try taking one drug and maybe the neuro/doctor will start you off with a small low-dose just to see how that works out. I think you have to think to yourself "how many seizures do i have a day?", "Are there things I can do to reduce the number of them?" such as sleeping, eating, exercise maybe, and "Are the risks of medication to control mild CPs worth it over time?". I thought these things myself and I am on two medications: Keppra and Tegretol XR which work pretty well- but if my CPs were only 4-5 seconds long I may not even take medications.. But its all up to your lifestyle and what you're willing to deal with as far as med treatment..
Please take care and let us know how you are doing.

-CM

 

[LivingFruity]

Hi sylvan :hello: Welcome to CWE.

My son was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007 after having his 3rd complex partial in a 6 month period of time. The doctors wanted to medicate, but I believed this could be controlled through diet and nutrition. I convinced the doctors to give me a little more time before starting him on meds. We altered my son's diet and we was seizure free for 19 months. Over the New Year holidays a few weeks ago, he ate some foods that don't really fit into this healthier eating plan, and the seizures returned. We're back to watching what he eats again and he's not had any more complex partials.

If you really feel, as I did, that the side effects to the medications aren't worth it....if you feel that there is a better way to treat this, then look into some of the alternative therapies and also nutrition as a form of healing for your condition. Stress and lack of rest can also trigger seizures. Reevaluate your life since these seizures recently started. Have you been more stressed than normal? Is there anything you are doing differently?

I don't agree with doing nothing. If you avoid the meds, but don't make any other changes and allow this seizing to continue, your brain can increase the amounts of seizures and they could become more intense. Good luck

 

[Bernard]

Hi lmsylvan, welcome to the forum. :hello:

I am 44 years old and, for a couple of years, have experienced what I call "deja vu". I feel as though I've been in the situation before - like I've done this run, or made this presentation, or talked to this person, or heard this song, at some time in the past, and I get dizzy and disassociated for 4-5 seconds, then I'm fine. It feels like deja vu. My PCP sent me to a neurologist who told me that I have partial complex seizures and prescribed Lamictal.

What you are describing sounds more like simple partial seizures than complex partials.

When I was 19, I had a head injury that induced nighttime grand mal seizures, but the scarring went away and I recoved from that.

Sorry, but I'm not sure I understand how the scarring "went away". It is possible for the brain to grow new connections between neurons and "work around" scar tissue or other damaged tissue, but as far as I know, scar tissue in the brain never "goes away".

... Now, 20 years later, this. I am hesitant to just dive right back into taking a medication for a fairly non-obtrusive thing like these little 4-5 second episodes. The neurologist called this jamais vu, ...

Either your not representing what the neuro said accurately, or he seems really confused. :twocents:

1. If they are seizures, and you don't do anything to control them, they could lead to greater seizure activity including other types of seizures (complex partials, tonic clonics, etc.). Look up kindling for more info.

2. It is possible for some people to go off meds after seizures are well controlled for a period of years, but I would suspect you will not fall into this group because of your TBI.

I would highly recommend looking into EEG neurofeedback for a non-drug approach to retraining the brain to function around your TBI which I would suspect is at the root of your problem.

3. Simple partials in and of themselves are not necessarily dangerous because they don't impair consciousness. However, as mentioned, they could lead other seizure types.

4. Side effects from AEDs affect everyone differently. You may not experience any at all or you might find that you have trouble concentrating/thinking, have irrational emotional responses, etc. that could interfere with your life. It's Forrest Gump's proverbial box of chocolates.