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Transient Global Amnesia and its treatment
Hello,
As I have written elsewhere on this site, I was treated surgically for a large, subarachnoid cyst (in the velum interpositum) in the summer of 2017. I had been experiencing severe amnesia. The operation was successful in that my memory improved. The surgeon warned of the risk of "convulsions" in the surgical plan, and over the following year or more, I had ongoing occurrences of memory loss. Last December, my surgeon started me on epilepsy medication, as a treatment for these memory failures. From my reading, I took it that I had Transient Epileptic Amnesia. Today, I went for my latest check-up and to get my next prescription of epilepsy (Vimpat aka Lacosamide), and he told me that in fact I have Transient Global Amnesia. (TGA)
So far so good, but I immediately checked the medical literature on TGA, and the first paper I read (published in QJM) says that TGA doesn't respond to anti-epilepsy drugs. https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/107/11/915/1512956
I thought Lacosamide is an anti-epilepsy drug. If TGA doesn't respond to it, why has the doc prescribed it? Vimpat is a non-generic drug and it's really expensive.
Does anyone have a similar situation or knowledge about TGA or its treatment?
Many thanks,
David
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Wife had a TGA Saturday. Most memory has returned, but still doesn't remember phone conversation just prior to it.
@dookster I am sorry. That must be incredibly frustrating for her. Is this the first time she doesn't remember something after her memory returned?
Think it may have happened when she had the last one3-4 years ago.She's 79. Thanks for your quick replies.
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1 Reaction@dookster you're most welcome. Have you notified her doctor of this latest episode?
Have an appointment to seee him next week ,including a physical. Thanks
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1 Reaction@kyoto, welcome back.
I noticed that you posted elsewhere (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/738694/) that your diagnosis has been adjusted from transient global amnesia (TGA) to transient epileptic amnesia (TEA). I had to look these up to see that there is a difference and how they are treated is different.
See this article and excerpt.
- Transient amnesia: epileptic or global? A differential diagnosis with significant implications for management https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article/107/11/915/1512956
"TGA is a syndrome of abrupt and temporary (<24 h) disruption of anterograde memory"
"TEA is a form of epilepsy ... Compared to TGA, episodes of TEA are typically briefer (<1 h), commonly occur on waking, have a high recurrence rate and may be accompanied by other features suggestive of epilepsy such as automatisms or olfactory hallucinations."
@dookster and @pam51, may also be interested in this discussion.
Kyoto, such a relief that you don't have Alzheimer's and that you know what you're dealing with now. How is your TEA being treated?
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2 ReactionsDear Colleen and everyone,
This site is so interactive. I was glad to receive your answer so quickly.
Thank you for sending the link. It's really helpful.
For the TEA, I get prescribed Vimpat and Fycompa. I got started out on Vimpat (one after getting up and before bedtime) but alone this didn't suppress the symptoms, so this was Fycompa was added (two before bedtime).
My situation is way better than before but still not perfect. Also, as more time goes by, I increasingly notice that my recall of many years ago with friends and so on is much worse than my friends of that time. I figure this must be because the TEA was already present in my 30s, but I had no idea I had such a condition, and of course TEA fits are almost completely unconscious.
I am now trying to come up with ways to be more mindful in my life to avoid forgetting important information. But the loss of memories is random, and I can't keep a note of everything in my diary.
I would really like to hear about the experiences, and strategies to cope with TEA, of other people.
David
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1 ReactionI am 78 year old woman that had my first TGA about 10 days ago. I went to Mayo Clinic ER and after doing some testing they concluded that my diagnosis was TGA. What a frightening experience. Mayo Clinic ER referred me to their Neurology Department for follow up because I am a regular Patient. The Mayo Clinic Neurology Department told me that there is nothing known that causes it or how to control it, so they denied the referral. My question is I am scheduled for my first total Knee Replacement Surgery at Mayo Clinic in December and wonder if anyone has had Surgery trigger another TGA Episode? I am now worrying about having this major and painful surgery and then to have another TGA.