Worsening Partials... Or just more aware?

[RunningGirl85]

So I am curious here. My partials aren't worsening anymore now that I'm on Lamictal, but they seemed to get bad out of nowhere until and after my last T/C seizure. I know about kindling and stuff, but it wasn't really gradual... Well, I guess it sort of was gradual for awhile, then suddenly I was having them a LOT, especially after my T/C (even on Keppra... unless the Keppra was making them worse, but I don't think so because they were always worse immediately before I took a dose in morning/evening). I'm still getting them more frequently than I ever remember having them in the past while I'm on the Lamictal, though they do seem to be decreasing compared to what they were for awhile after my T/C seizure.

Who else has experienced this? What would cause that I wonder? Would you think it would be that after my T/C seizure my brain just went all crazy? Or would it just be that I am now just more aware of them? I guess epilepsy interests me (hence why I ask so many questions). Well, the brain in general interests me :brain: ! I wanted to go into neuropsychology before I was ever diagnosed...

 

[Nakamova]

Good questions! I think having a TC can be like having the floodwaters break through and create a giant canyon. Suddenly there's a much bigger route (or more than one route) for the abnormal brainwaves to follow.

I do think that the meds can sometimes cause seizures or make them worse/different. The fact that your partials got worse just before your Keppra dosing suggests that maybe you were metabolizing the Keppra too quickly -- so it was like withdrawing from Keppra every day, with the resulting stress on your brain. I can't remember how long you've been on the Lamictal, but I would give it at least 2 months at a stable dose to gauge how well it's helping with your seizure control.

I think you're right about being more alert to your seizures -- that's probably a small factor in your perceived increase of partials.

 

[RunningGirl85]

Thanks for the info, and I think you're right - I think the "floodgates" have been opened! Interesting perspective on the Keppra metabolism. I wonder if the fact I exercise a lot had any role in that (I know it plays a role in food metabolism, though I don't know if it would affect medications). The neurologist did put me on the XR version of Keppra when I told him that my partials were worse in the morning/evening before I took my Keppra, which seemed to help with the morning/evening partials. I started the Lamictal about a month ago (something like that), and I JUST moved up to 300 mg, and after this, he will check my levels. It does seem to be doing pretty well. I am on the XR version of both