http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/epilepsy/ Latest NetWellness content for Epilepsy en-us Copyright 2007 NetWellness.org Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:12:02 PST http://www.netwellness.org/images/logo/nwlogosmall.gif http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/epilepsy/ <b>Question</b>: My husband (31 y/o) had a benign brain tumor removed on 08/28/09. He had a breakthrough seizure (tonic-clonic) on dilantin, and was switched to Keppra thereafter. Last week (03/04/10) he had another breakthrough seizure (TC) on Keppra. His dosage was 3000 mg/day, and his blood work showed the level . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Thank you for visiting NetWellness. On this site, NetWellness experts try to answer general questions about health. Only a health professional performing a thorough clinical exam is able to evaluate your symptoms. <p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: NetWellness Staff ., Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77910.htm NetWellness Staff . Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:03:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77910.htm <b>Question</b>: My child`s first EEG stated: mulitple right cetnral sharp waves and generalized spike wave and polyspike wave discharges precipitated by the right central hemisphere spikes. Findings are best correlated with benign central/temporal epilepsy. <p>Dr. put my child on 300 mg. of lamictal (of course wa . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: The good news is the EEG is suggestive of benign centro-temporal epilepsy, which resolves in the great majority of cases after a few years. The EEG is limited because it is only 20 minutes and spikes can vary in frequency over the day, so that a "different" EEG may only be a sampling problem. If you . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: Michael Privitera MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77884.htm Michael Privitera MD Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:03:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77884.htm <b>Question</b>: I seem to have problems on being able to focus on one thing at a time. Get started with something then get side tracked and start on something else and then I have multiple projects going on..At times, &quot;alot of times that is&quot; my thought process is kinda like a merry-go-round of thoughts, i . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: <span style="font-size: 10pt"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'times new roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77758.htm David Ficker MD Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:02:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77758.htm <b>Question</b>: Can zimpat be used alone? i have seizures due to my hormone replacement. Keppra made me extremely agitated. Still had small focal seizures with lamictal. <p></p><p><b>Answer</b>: <span style="font-size: 11pt; color: #1f497d; font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'times new roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-themecolor: dark2"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt" . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77660.htm David Ficker MD Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:02:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77660.htm <b>Question</b>: I AM CURRENTLY ON LAMICTAL AND TRILEPTAL. MY DOCTOR STARTED ME ON VIMPAT. MY NEUROLOGIST WANTS TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE THE TRILEPTAL WITH VIMPAT, SO THAT I WILL BE ON LAMICTAL AND VIMPAT. I HAVE STARTED TO INCREASE THE VIMPAT AND DECREASE THE TRILEPTAL. LATELY THOUGH I HAVE NOTICED A TINGLING SENSATIO . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: The symptoms you describe are not typical side effects from Vimpat. Please be sure to contact your physician to discuss these new symptoms.&nbsp; <p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77343.htm David Ficker MD Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:02:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/77343.htm <b>Question</b>: I understand that a side effect of dilantin can be a lowered WBC. My WBC count has been at 3-3.5 on 2 seperate checks in the last 6 months. I have no other side effects--feel good. At what WBC level is it appropriate to discontinue Dilantin (I am on 300 at bedtime and my level is consistently 13-16) . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Dilantin (and other seizure medications) can cause the white blood cell count to be lower than normal. Most of the time this does not cause problems (the count is only mildly low) but in rare instances (less than 1 in 250,000 cases) the reduction can be significant and severe. If someone has low whi . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/76184.htm David Ficker MD Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:11:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/76184.htm <b>Question</b>: I have two year old that started with febral seizures and now is epilepsy. They have put him on 100mg Carbatrol 3 times a day. My question is that everytime they raise his medicine he gets red blistery bumps on the back of his neck and they spread all over his back. Could this be a reaction to the m . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Rash is a common side effect of many seizure medications including Carbatrol. Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rapidly progressive rash that can lead to death if not treated quickly. <p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/76174.htm David Ficker MD Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:11:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/76174.htm <b>Question</b>: my granddaughter suffers with epilepsy and takes 200mg of epilim chrono as she is a teenager she is now loosing some of her hair in time will her hair grow back or will she lose it all or is there something we can use on the market she can use to prevent hair loss thank you <p><b>Answer</b>: Hair loss is a very common side effect from Epilim (valproate). You should be sure to discuss these issues with your treating physician.<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75925.htm David Ficker MD Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:11:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75925.htm <b>Question</b>: My husband had a seizure the other day and he has been very moody since is this normal? They found scare tissue on his brain from a head injury as a baby is the cause of his seizure they perscribed Dilantin 300mg a day.His seizure lasted for a few minutes and he went very dark blue. Please help I do . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Many chronic diseases may be associated with depression. Epilepsy in particular may be associated with depression. Certain areas of the brain (like the temporal lobe) may be the site of seizure onset and may not function properly. The temporal lobe is also involved in mood and dysfunction of this pa . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75750.htm David Ficker MD Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:10:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75750.htm <b>Question</b>: I am a pediatric nurse who works in a sedation department in a hospital. We do many MRIs with anesthesia for first seizures with no other symptoms of brain anomale. I`m wondering if this a good expendature of our health care dollars when most of the scans are basically normal? Does anyone track the . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: MRI is superior to CT scanning in looking for abnormalities that cause epilepsy and is part of the standard work up for epilepsy and seizures.&nbsp; <p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Ficker MD, Epilepsy http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75367.htm David Ficker MD Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:10:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/75367.htm