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Can Epilepsy Be Genetically Inherited?
Question: Can epilepsy genetic/inherited? My brother had epilepsy from when he was 6yrs and when I was 25 I got my first grand mal seizure and I've been getting them about 4 times a year since then. Yesterday I had two grand mal seizures afew hours apart so seems its getting worse. My doctor after MRI tests said I dont have epilepsy but didnt know what was causing the seizures-which used to occur only within 2hrs of waking up but now happen in the evenings or night. Could my brother & I have inherited this? Also why do they only come in the morning (shower/shortly after) or in the evenings? I've taken trieptal 300mg tabs for 2yrs but they've not helped
Brief Answer:
Yes, epilepsy can be inherited.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
Epilepsy can be genetic or inherited in about 50% of cases. Positive family history in your case points to a genetic basis.
Normal MRI of brain is a good news and MRI may be normal in about half the patients with epilepsy.
Epileptic fits can occur at any time of day or night, and the current timings could just be a co-incidence.
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is a good anti-epileptic drug, however, a single drug would control seizures in less than 50-60% cases. Options for you include increasing the dose of trileptal or changing the anti-epileptic drug or adding another drug to trileptal.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Yes, epilepsy can be inherited.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
Epilepsy can be genetic or inherited in about 50% of cases. Positive family history in your case points to a genetic basis.
Normal MRI of brain is a good news and MRI may be normal in about half the patients with epilepsy.
Epileptic fits can occur at any time of day or night, and the current timings could just be a co-incidence.
Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is a good anti-epileptic drug, however, a single drug would control seizures in less than 50-60% cases. Options for you include increasing the dose of trileptal or changing the anti-epileptic drug or adding another drug to trileptal.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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