seizures

[Leinenkugels]

My Mom had a stroke this last May in the left frontal lobe of her brain.  Shortly after she recovered, she started having seizures where she passes out, falls down and shakes violently.  Since the seizures started, the doctors put her on seizure medication along with all the other medications she was on before.  Here is a list of her meds she takes daily now. Asprin, Atenolol, Digoxin, Diltiazem, Lasix Furosemide, Levothyroxine, multi-vitamin, Enalapril, Levothrozine, Caltrate, Fosamax, and Phenytoin.  She has heart problems, a weak lung and is on oxygen all the time, thyroid problems, and celiac disease. After she started the seizure medication, we noticed how tired she has been.  She has a hard time staying awake unless you are talking directly to her and even then she'll close her eyes and look very sleepy.  The stroke affected her short-term memory, so it's hard to work on that when she feels so sleepy all the time.  Any ideas as to why she is sooo sleepy?  

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
Your mother might be sleepy either because of the phenytoin most probably. You need to consult a neurologist and ask him if a repeat scan is required nad whetehr the medication can be changed. Also are her thyroid functions in the normal range - you mention she is taking levothyroxine. Get her thyroid functions checked every 6 months. Goodluck.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hi.

Sad to hear about your mother's agony. She is sleepy excessively most probably due to the side effect of Phenytoin. Phenytoin causes lethargy and excessive somnolence. There are some newer antiepileptics which are less sedative. But let her Neurologist decide about the course of action.

Regards

DrAbhijeetMD