partial complex seizures

[lostit]

left temporal lobe area.
with speech and memory being the worst of symptoms.
Does medicine really help with these symptoms.
Is there a standard type outcome. Do people get better?
Is it progressive?
what happens if one doesn't take the medicine, is there a chance for further damage?

[rwbickfordjr]

Thanks to last comment,Depakote worked for you, It might work for me. Because, I've been getting the same problems with my seizures(staring spells,drooling.shaking from  uncontrolled muscle & nerves. I've fallen down only when walking into things or stand still as they get stronger and nothing to hold onto. I've taken dilantin, tegretol and also febetol and none of these drugs seem to help much. The teg. & Feb. calmed my nerves down but not the other's. In the future my DR. is planning to start me on a needle drug. But if Depakote gets an OK then thing's may U-turn! P. S. Thank you for that Information.

[Deb54]

My Daughter has partial complex seizures.  She had a jerking of her left arm, followed by a staring spell and drooling.  She started on Tegretol and that controlled the arm jerking for many years. She is now on Depakote and that seems to be the right drug.  Don't get too depressed.  The med's help!  Make sure you take them.  For support we contacted the Epilespy Society.  They answered all of our questions and offer support groups.

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

Dear Lostit:

I am sorry to hear that you have temporal lobe epilepsy.  I am not sure what type of seizures you have-by your description you do not manifest abnormal motor movments, just speech problems (aphasia? dysarthria?) and memory problems.  Is your temporal lobe epilepsy cortical or mesial?  What sort of studies have you had?  just routine EEGs?  MRI? Video-EEG?  The usual outcome is intractable epilepsy with seizures not being controlled with multiple medications.  If the seizures are coming from a single focus, then surgery is an option.  If the latter is possible, then seizure freedom is a very good possibility, up to 70-80 % have seizure freedom.  If you do not take your medication, seizures will continue can it can get worse overtime.  Without knowing more, it is difficult to tell you what worse can mean.  But usually we think that generalized seizures that may become status epilepticus, increased risk for sudden death, etc.  I hope that I have answered some of your questions.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD