Connect
← Return to Living with epilepsy - Introduce yourself & meet others
Discussion
Living with epilepsy - Introduce yourself & meet others
Epilepsy & Seizures | Last Active: Jun 29, 2023 | Replies (462)Comment receiving replies
Hello, I am writing on behalf of my husband, who has had 6 seizures after a stroke at age 74. He is 77 now, and was doing pretty well, except for a seizure about every three months. The stroke was in his right hemisphere, temporal and parietal. He had an abnormality in that his language center is located on the right side, even though he is left handed. He almost fully recovered from the stroke, with aphasia being the most resistant to therapy. It is the seizures, and the medications for them, that are severely affecting his quality of life.
Does anyone have any experience to report on being on Keppra 2500mg./day, Lamotrigine 50 mg./day, and Vimpat 200 mg/day? He was on Keppra 3000 mg/day after the first thee seizures, and then after the fourth, the neurologist at a hospital in Boston added the Lamotrigine and the Vimpat. He was found to be at toxic level on the Keppra when they started to slowly reduce the dosage and he had the most recent seizure. His cogntition, mood, gait, balance and ability to function are now severely compromised. I know it is important to not have any more brain tissue damaged, but this state is not sustainable for him. I sent in a mesage via the hospital portal asking if they could at least do a level, or look at the combination. I know any reduction in dose is also a possible trigger for a breakthrough seizure. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Replies to "Hello, I am writing on behalf of my husband, who has had 6 seizures after a..."
@dap
You made a statement I’d like to briefly address.
“I know any reduction in dose is also a possible trigger for a breakthrough seizure.” Although I generally agree with your premise that statement is not always true. I’ve known some people who lowered their medication and either reduced and one mans seizures stopped.
Cognitive, mood, gait and balance problems are side effects of his medications. I have known countless people who discontinued Keppra due to mood issues, most often women. I’ve been on Anticonvulsants for 52 years, when I walk down the sidewalk I sway from the street to people’s lawns. I also fall occasionally. You mentioned he’s having “Ability to function” issues. Are you talking about his Functional abilities like activities of daily living? For instance,
Walking, Talking, Eating, Dressing, Bathing, Drinking or more cognitive problems like Memory, speech, vision, making decisions, solving problems. I assume he’s having Tonic Clonic Seizures. If not could you describe them.
Take care,
Jake
Connect
Hello, @dap - it sounds as though your husband had been through a lot. That's very difficult that seizures and the medications for them are compromising his quality of life now.
I'm hoping that Connect members like @crstyday40 @jakedduck1 @dawn_giacabazi @jenniferhunter and others may have some input related to the seizures and effects of the medications he's taken for control.
Have you heard back from the hospital? If so, how did they want to proceed?