Brief Answer:
Medications for seizures are a viable choice for headaches

Detailed Answer:
Good morning and thank you for your question. As a headache specialist at the VA Medical Center in XXXXXXX Ohio I can tell you that it is a relatively common approach of mine as well to use antiepileptic medication in some patients with headaches (especially migraine types) to prevent or prophylax headaches. In patients with status migranosus we can even use IV infusions of depakene which is the cousin of Depakote or Valproic Acid to break the cycle. However, the more common ones to try in treating headaches turn out to be phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, and depakote.

Depakote is particularly reached for by most neurologists or headache specialists when treating postconcussive headaches more than any other antiepileptic drug with a reasonable degree of success. The trouble we run into are side effects which are usually lethargy, imbalance, slurred speech, slowed mentation, and some times tremors.

The best way to try and figure out the localization of a seizure (if not clear from the history or by witnessing events) is to do multiple surface recordings of the scalp using a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG). The more of the tests that are done then, the higher the chances are of capturing seizure activity which can then, be read by a neurologist and pinned down to an exact location of origin. Sometimes, however, seizures can have multiple foci of origin.

There are also what are called PROLONGED EEG's of 60 minutes, 6 hrs., and then, video recordings which can be days long and usually require hospitalization. Patients can also be outfitted with ambulatory monitoring equipment that can record brainwave activity for usually up to 3 days if they need to be out of the hospital and home for some reason.

I hope this addresses your concerns and that you'll keep me in mind for future questions regarding these or other neurological/medical issues. Feel free to upload more specific information regarding lab tests and diagnostic studies if done and I'll be happy to look at them in the context of your question.

Otherwise, I'd appreciate your rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR SCORE and look forward to a few words of feedback. In addition, I'd appreciate your CLOSING THIS QUERY if you're satisfied with my response.

Write to me any time at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi for additional comments, concerns, or to provide status updates if you'd like which I would love to receive from you to see just what has been discovered.

This consult request has taken a total of 11 minutes of time to read, research, and respond.

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Brief Answer:
My name is in my webaddress

Detailed Answer:
Good morning!

Thanks for asking me the EASIEST question that anybody has ever asked me on this network! LOL..... My name is actually contained in my web address....Dr. Dariush Saghafi. I am the Chief Neurologist of Parma Neurology.

My web address to use any time you have further questions is:

bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi


Cheers!

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