Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Seizures Inspite Of Using Xanax And Oxazepam
Question: I deal with insomnia on a regular basis and take medication daily to make me sleep over the last month I have had 1 witnessed grand mal seizure and possibly 2-3 others, I have had mental confusion after what I believe to have been seizures as now in retro spect I have the same symptoms I did after my witnessed seizure. I wake uup with unexplained bruising to my whole body pillow and bed soaked and always happens when I have gone with out sleep for some time. I take xanax and oxazepam for muscle spasms and also essential tremors. I am also being treated for PTSD. I wonder if there is anything else I should be doing to prevent further seizures, I do try to keep to a strict sleep schedule but my best attempts dont always give me a good sleep no matter what I do. I did have a seizure witnessed 1yr ago as well and had an eeg done but the results came back normal though the EEG was not done until2 wk after the seizure. my BGL was 6.5mmol. I do frequently have regular muscle spasms increase with fatigue and laying still these also keep me from sleeping at times
Brief Answer:
Sounds like seizures, first step is control
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. From what you have described here, it sounds like you are suffering from either extreme physical symptoms of PTSD or a new onset seizure issue. Now the thing about seizures is that they rarely develop in an adult without some kind of biological reason behind them (ie, a Head injury, a tumor, a stroke). So could you tell me a little about what has been happening BEFORE the last month? Did you fall and hurt yourself? Have you been put on anything else (other than the Xanax and Oxazepam)? The meds you are on right now should not cause any seizures, in fact they should control them to a certain extent. But there are other, fairly commonly used medications that you can be put on to prevent the seizures from happening again. I just need a bit more information before I can be sure of the seizure diagnosis.
In fact, here is a set of questions I would like to ask you. They are pretty basic questions that will give me a world of information and help us nail this down.
1) Is there a history of seizures or epilepsy in your family?
2) Have you had a head injury in the last two years?
3) Do you have a history of stroke, brain tumor, infection in or around the brain (meningitis or encephalitis), or abnormal blood vessels in the brain?
4) Have you been exposed to any toxic fumes, contaminated foods, lead, or other poisons?
Try and give me as much information as you can and that will allow us to have a much richer discussion and maybe we can make a plan of action.
Hope this helps,
Vin
Sounds like seizures, first step is control
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. From what you have described here, it sounds like you are suffering from either extreme physical symptoms of PTSD or a new onset seizure issue. Now the thing about seizures is that they rarely develop in an adult without some kind of biological reason behind them (ie, a Head injury, a tumor, a stroke). So could you tell me a little about what has been happening BEFORE the last month? Did you fall and hurt yourself? Have you been put on anything else (other than the Xanax and Oxazepam)? The meds you are on right now should not cause any seizures, in fact they should control them to a certain extent. But there are other, fairly commonly used medications that you can be put on to prevent the seizures from happening again. I just need a bit more information before I can be sure of the seizure diagnosis.
In fact, here is a set of questions I would like to ask you. They are pretty basic questions that will give me a world of information and help us nail this down.
1) Is there a history of seizures or epilepsy in your family?
2) Have you had a head injury in the last two years?
3) Do you have a history of stroke, brain tumor, infection in or around the brain (meningitis or encephalitis), or abnormal blood vessels in the brain?
4) Have you been exposed to any toxic fumes, contaminated foods, lead, or other poisons?
Try and give me as much information as you can and that will allow us to have a much richer discussion and maybe we can make a plan of action.
Hope this helps,
Vin
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr XXXXXXX
Before the last month I have not had any injury or issues such as tumor, stroke, bleeding around my brain. I do get frequent headaches that cause me to be very sensitive to light and sound with very tight muscles in my neck and shoulders. I frequently have muscle spasms in my extremities they can be quite strong, seem to be worse at night and increase in frequency and intensity when I am more tired. I was taken to hospital by ambulance Feb 2013 for a Grande Mal seizure but the doctor then was not sure if he felt it was a seizure he sent me for an EEG then but results were apparently normal. I do also take Dexadrine and welbutrin but I have been taking both of those medications for almost 2 years and have not had a change in dosage of any medications in over 6months. My maternal grandmother possibly had epilepsy but there is no confirmation as she passed away over 25yr ago no other family hx of seizures to my knowledge nothing in my parents or siblings. My mother's 5 Aunts and he father all have the essential tremors and she does as well. The last 2 years I have not had any head/brain injury, no dx of stroke,tumor or abnormal fluids around my brain. Over the last 5 years Ive noticed an increase in lack of coordination. I had a head CT about 4 year ago and was told every thing looked fine. I have not been exposed to any types of toxins that I am aware of and people around me in the same enviroment all are fine
Before the last month I have not had any injury or issues such as tumor, stroke, bleeding around my brain. I do get frequent headaches that cause me to be very sensitive to light and sound with very tight muscles in my neck and shoulders. I frequently have muscle spasms in my extremities they can be quite strong, seem to be worse at night and increase in frequency and intensity when I am more tired. I was taken to hospital by ambulance Feb 2013 for a Grande Mal seizure but the doctor then was not sure if he felt it was a seizure he sent me for an EEG then but results were apparently normal. I do also take Dexadrine and welbutrin but I have been taking both of those medications for almost 2 years and have not had a change in dosage of any medications in over 6months. My maternal grandmother possibly had epilepsy but there is no confirmation as she passed away over 25yr ago no other family hx of seizures to my knowledge nothing in my parents or siblings. My mother's 5 Aunts and he father all have the essential tremors and she does as well. The last 2 years I have not had any head/brain injury, no dx of stroke,tumor or abnormal fluids around my brain. Over the last 5 years Ive noticed an increase in lack of coordination. I had a head CT about 4 year ago and was told every thing looked fine. I have not been exposed to any types of toxins that I am aware of and people around me in the same enviroment all are fine
Brief Answer:
Probably a good idea to do a trial of seizure meds
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for your detailed reply! The information you have given me is invaluable.
At this point, I can't really say I blame your doctor for being unsure of the seizure diagnosis. Though you describe all the symptoms, there are other possibilities that can mimic a seizure disorder.
I think at this point I would discuss the possibility of a therapeutic trial of Anti-Seizure meds with your doctor. That is.. putting you on a seizure med for a defined period of time, say 90 days and seeing how the symptoms respond. Most sezire meds out there are safe and have a very limited side effect profile and interaction profile, but there is always a risk.
So you have to balance the potential benefits of figuring on whats going this way vs the risk of side effects. It all boils down to what your state of mind is and how debilitating this issue has become.
Next time you talk to your doctor, ask about a trial of anti seizure medications. In patients with a healthy liver, I have used 'Keppra' for the same and it has worked. It's dealer choice though if he or she wants to go this way.
The other route we can discuss is more testing. There are facilities you can go to where they will monitor you for seizures for much longer than the single hour that they must have tested you in before. You would be inpatient for several days, wearing the electrodes and just... chilling, waiting for a seizure / episode to strike. I have recommended that for patients in the past. The costs are higher in this route, overall, but the risk of taking a medication that you don't need is reduced. So it's all down to risk assessment yet again.
Let me know how you are thinking and what questions you have and I will do my best to give you the knowledge you need.
Vin
Probably a good idea to do a trial of seizure meds
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for your detailed reply! The information you have given me is invaluable.
At this point, I can't really say I blame your doctor for being unsure of the seizure diagnosis. Though you describe all the symptoms, there are other possibilities that can mimic a seizure disorder.
I think at this point I would discuss the possibility of a therapeutic trial of Anti-Seizure meds with your doctor. That is.. putting you on a seizure med for a defined period of time, say 90 days and seeing how the symptoms respond. Most sezire meds out there are safe and have a very limited side effect profile and interaction profile, but there is always a risk.
So you have to balance the potential benefits of figuring on whats going this way vs the risk of side effects. It all boils down to what your state of mind is and how debilitating this issue has become.
Next time you talk to your doctor, ask about a trial of anti seizure medications. In patients with a healthy liver, I have used 'Keppra' for the same and it has worked. It's dealer choice though if he or she wants to go this way.
The other route we can discuss is more testing. There are facilities you can go to where they will monitor you for seizures for much longer than the single hour that they must have tested you in before. You would be inpatient for several days, wearing the electrodes and just... chilling, waiting for a seizure / episode to strike. I have recommended that for patients in the past. The costs are higher in this route, overall, but the risk of taking a medication that you don't need is reduced. So it's all down to risk assessment yet again.
Let me know how you are thinking and what questions you have and I will do my best to give you the knowledge you need.
Vin
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
