difference between partial complex siezers and migrain with aura.

[chinnu99]

Hi,
two neurologist diagnosis the diesese differently. i just want to conferm the right dignosis. pl give details about Migrain with aura and complex partial siezers, medication required for both the cases. and the distinct difference symptom wise or in MRI or medication.

[chinnu99]

hi, doctor, my son is after expirencing myoclonic jerks during treatment for headache  frequently ( 8 TO 10 times a day) now taking following medicine as prescribed by doctor.  1) Valporate 500mg BD, 2) Reportil 0.5mg BD, 3) Lamitor 10mgOD, 4) Seblium 10mg OD.  he was suffring headache with aura from last 25 days, now during taking medicine valporate 250mg and Tryptomer 25 mg experinced this myocolnic jerks. doctor immidiatly stoped tryptomer  tabs and started above priscription. now after 5 days frequency of mayoclonus jerks reduced to 2 to 3 per day. my personnel feeling is that this was happened due to combination of wrong drugs. i want to seek your advice is it so? Is Present prescription of medicine ok? as per advice of your second opinion of anather Neurologist was taken. EEG done but findings are again negative for epilepsy.his poinion is that of same as migrain / siezers disorder. I am very worried about now for the proper combination of medicine and dosage of the same to avoid further complications. although my son is feeling now better. pl. advice.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes it is important to differentiate his seizures from migraine. His symptoms could well be because of migraine especially so since anticonvulsants are not having any effect. I would suggest you to seek a second opinion with another neurologist.
Take care!

[chinnu99]

my son is under treatment and taking 250 mg tabs of valporate twice daily plus tryptomer from last 20 days but no improvement seen yet.  further from last two days it is noticed that his upper part of body is tingling intermittantly for 1 to 5 minutes without followed by headache. (consulvating) pl advice,we are very worried.

[chinnu99]

Thank you very much for such a useful information. my son is having mix type symptoms. he is 9 yrs old. during siezers he does not loss consciousness. out of three EEG examinations reported slow wave formation in two reports and one is normal ,MRI is normal. The headache followed by aura remains for 5 to 15 minutes. it is happening 3 to 5 times daily.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Hope you are feeling better.
Migraine with aura classically begins with aura symptoms like visual symptoms which include zig zag lines, flickering lights, or auditory hallucinations like ringing in the ears, weakness, numbness and tingling feeling on one side of the body and these symptoms are followed by headache. MRI findings usually show white matter lesions. Treatement is mainly by Triptans to abort an acute attack and Topamax, beta blockers etc as preventive medications.
On the other hand complex partial seizure is preceded by an aura which is usually a feeling of déjà vu, euphoria, fear and depersonalization. Other symptoms of aura include tunnel vision (which can be seen in migraine), and change in size of objects followed by loss of consciousness, memory and automatism like lip smacking, chewing and swallowing. MRI may detect focal brain lesions and EEG is diagnostic. Treatment is mainly by anticonvulsants like Valproate and Phenytoin.