Computers anticonvulsants and pregnancy

[Day]

Dear Doctors,
Once up on a time my girlfriend has

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Dr. Aleksei:

Sorry to hear about your girlfriend.  First, it depends what the photoresponse was like.  Did the photoresponse continue after the stimulator was shut off- if so this is indicative of a potentially epileptogenic nature.  Some studies have indicated that this can also rarely in non-epileptic patients.  We consider focal photoparoxysmal responses that are focal is considered abnormal, usually due to cortical dysfunction.  If either the focal or generalized response that continues after the stimulus is turned off, then it is considered photosensitive generalized epilepsy.  

What your girlfriend needs is a prolonged EEG with sleep deprivation to see if the EEG will show her epilepsy.  There may even be a need for video EEG monitoring for prolonged periods.  If there is no seizure activity correlated with the EEG then there is something else going on.  If she has epilepsy, then likely one of these will show whether she has epilepsy.  If she is having seizures, then she needs treatment.  Depending on the seizure type (generalized or focal) the proper medication can be given.  If she is having seizures, she will most lkely need treatment if she gets pregnant (of course folic acid before trying to getting pregnant).  Valproic acid, carbamazepine, and phenytoin are those medications associated with spinal cord defects.  As a barbiturate, phenobarbital is also not a good choice for pregancy.   Most patients with epilepsy have normal children.  Most photoresponsive epilepsy is activated by specific wavelengths and if the TV or computer do not elicit seizure activity (can verify with EEG and TV and computer together) then they should be okay.  Since your girlfriend had seizure while pregnant and not, I would not expect Birth control pills to work on her epilepsy.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Day]

Thank you for your answer. I will check her EEG again next week
Aleksei Denisow
Moscow
Russia