Re: Tegretol/simple complex sz

Posted By CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on December 05, 1998 at 16:29:09:

In Reply to: Tegretol/simple complex sz posted by Tara on December 05, 1998 at 13:12:24:






:  I've been taking tegretol to control complex partial seizures for almost two months now and have had a good degree of contol from it. Last night night I experienced two seizures which were similar to the complex partial ones Iusually have exept that there was a lot more jerking and twitching, it was very clear what was happening to me and what was going on around me and I had no confusion after them. ( I'm usually partially aware of what's going on during my complex partial seizures.)I think these are probibly simple partial seizures but I have never had them before could the tegretol be contoling the complex sz and causing me to have the other kind? Thank-you for your time.  Tara
Dear Tara:
Sorry to hear about your epilepsy.  Have you been on the same dosage of tegratol or have you recently gone up on your dose.  What is sounds like to me is that you had a couple of break through seizures.  I really don't think that you have developed a new seizure type, it is just your old type that has been influenced by the tegratol and now acting just alittle bit different. The most likely explanation is that your tegratol level is alittle low.  What have your levels been?  I would call your neurologist and let him/her know what happened to you and maybe get a tegratol level. Let us know what happens.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS

Actually, I was just saw my neuro. this week and he did a lot of blood work. My tegretol level was at 7.8 ( higher then the previous month's level, 6.5) on the same doasage of 600 mg and white blood cell could was low. I hadn't had a seizure befor this for almost three weeks but do you think this might mean the tegretol won't be able to completely control my szs?  Tara
Dear Tara:
What form of tegratol do you take?  Is it the extended release form?  Your level sounds fine, although I like to keep my patients between 8 and 12.  Are you having any side-effects, such as double vision, drowsiness, ataxia, dizziness etc.  What may be happening is that your just one of those people who need alittle more tegratol to keep you under control, that is unless the side effects become too much.  If you are taking the regular tegratol, it might just be that you level at the time the seizures happened might have been alittle low (doubtful).  I think the latter.  Did your neurologist up your tegratol dose alittle?  That would be what I would do.  I hope that you never have break through seizures again.  
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS