Advice please

[Emmajane36]

My dad has been having seizures for almost a year, he is under a consultant and recently been told he is early stages of front lobe dementia. He has long and short term memory loss but now suffering severe headaches. He has been cut down to 250 mg daily for seizures as it could be these bringing them on, any advice?

[Hidden]

Hi Emmajane36,

Am sad to hear your father is having a bad time with his epilepsy and headaches now. Frontal lobe and temporal lobe are all related to the headaches, and it is understandable he will have seizures at the same time. You don't mention the medication he is on. Perhaps let us know.

Keep strong for your father.

Les

[Emmajane36 in reply to Hidden]

Keppra, he started on 250 on a morn and night then moved to 500 morn and night and this is when headaches started, he has now been told to take just one 250 on a night as headaches are so bad, he takes co cod thru day for them and a tablet on a night to help prevent headaches happening, his emotional state has completly changed since the first seizure (cries very easily) and was never like that. Due for blood results but i have not come across all his symptoms linked to one thing so was thinking they could be wrong

[AmyBadd in reply to Emmajane36]

Keppra very often seems to to lead to personality changes. There may be another medication he could try. I don't know about the type of epilepsy your father has, but there are lots of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) out there. I think it would be worth talking to his neurologist about changing.

All the best,

Amy

[Emmajane36 in reply to AmyBadd]

Yes thats what the gp is now trying to do, he started with headaches when they upped to 500 so they have written to consultant for a change of meds, he had one seizure where he was shaking on the floor for over ten min and all the others( un medicated happening every 4-5 wk) have been just him closing eyes, breathing strange and a slight shake for a couple of mins after which the recent weeks of memory are wiped for almost a wk and most slowly return

[Hidden]

Hi Emmajane36,

As Amy has said, Keppra is known to make behavioral changes to the person taking the medication. I have never been on it. I am currently on Carbamazapine and Phenytoin which I have been on for over 20 years now. They both work well together and control my seizures well. Speak to the Doctor or Neurologist... There are many other drugs out there. It may take a while before they find the correct medication and of course, the correct dosage.

Hang in there my friend. Keep strong.

Les

[Emmajane36 in reply to Hidden]

He was emotional before starting medication, they just said the epilepsy is a side effect to front lobe dementia and nothing they can do but try control the seizures, fingers crossed they can find right meds for him then, thanks all for the advice, been better than the consultant

[Hidden]

Keep us updated on his progress... God bless!

[Hidden]

I think you should complain. It's not right. Good luck.

[DarrenC]

Epilepsy is a heightened stimulation of your nerves, your emotional senses (ie) your feelings. Fitness is the key strength with epilepsy, your muscle controls your nerves, which puts you in a confident understanding of your feelings. Your a lot more aware of being epileptic, the Holy Bible is the true meaning of life, the thoughts you will hear in the back of your mind, is God offering you guidance in your questions of life. Fate is true answer to life, time of the essence, we are living are lives twice the pace we should, creating a look back instead of a look forward. Patience is a virtue.

[Emmajane36 in reply to DarrenC]

Contacted PALS who called me back and actually had a cancellation with my dads consultant that same day which we went to. Now started lamotrigine, 25mg once a day to start to see how he gets on. Still having cold symptoms but seem to be clearing and we are also getting an appointment with an epilepsy specialist, can not recomend PALS enough for anyone who thinks something needs to be done

[AmyBadd in reply to Emmajane36]

Glad to hear you got a positive result xx

[Emmajane36 in reply to AmyBadd]

Seems to of brought on a lung infection, chest xray done just waiting on those results now, a year ago dad didnt even take paracetomol now he rattles haha