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History Of Grand Maul Seizure With An Old Brain Injury Behind Left Eye. Any Anti-depresssants That Will Not Cause Seizures ?
I have only had one grand maul seizure back in 2007. The doctors discovered an old brain injury behind my left eye. I have since been getting Auras some very close to grand maul, but I get a physical heads up when they start to come unlike my younger brother who is a severe epileptic. And since I also suffer from severe ptsd my family doc started me on 150 mg one daily of Welbutrin for depression. We discovered through a friend that the reason I had begun to have more frequent Auras was most likely due to the new med Welbutrin . So, I contacted my doc and now he is prescribing 50mg one daily of Zoloft. Are you aware of any anti-depressants that will not cause seizures?
Tue, 17 Dec 2013
welcome to HCM!
I have gone through your query carefully and see that you have history of epilepsy and now have increased complain of aura after you were been started on Wellbutrin for PTSD. you also have a family history of seizure disorder in your brother. Due to increase in aura you were shifted to Zoloft by your treating doctor. now you are looking for some better alternative for PTSD which is safe for seizure patients.
I can say from my experince that Wellbutrin , I.e., bupropion is not a drug of choice when the patients has ever had an episode of seizure, as it can increase the risk of the same. Even a normal person who never had a seizure may develop one when put on any dose of Wellbutrin, espically dosage above 300 mg. So, it can be directly related to increased complained of aura you had after starting this medicine.
As now you have been shifted to Zoloft, which is a very safe medicine , and is not known to be associated with any significant potential to increase to cause seizure, I think you can proceed with it.
If I have any such patient in my clinic I usually go for escitalopram or sertraline ( Zoloft). both are ok in cases similar to yours.
For as and when required basis, I find clonazepam effective in such cases as an additional medicine.
Hope the reply is useful
feel free to ask more questions
Dr. Manisha Gopal
I have gone through your query carefully and see that you have history of epilepsy and now have increased complain of aura after you were been started on Wellbutrin for PTSD. you also have a family history of seizure disorder in your brother. Due to increase in aura you were shifted to Zoloft by your treating doctor. now you are looking for some better alternative for PTSD which is safe for seizure patients.
I can say from my experince that Wellbutrin , I.e., bupropion is not a drug of choice when the patients has ever had an episode of seizure, as it can increase the risk of the same. Even a normal person who never had a seizure may develop one when put on any dose of Wellbutrin, espically dosage above 300 mg. So, it can be directly related to increased complained of aura you had after starting this medicine.
As now you have been shifted to Zoloft, which is a very safe medicine , and is not known to be associated with any significant potential to increase to cause seizure, I think you can proceed with it.
If I have any such patient in my clinic I usually go for escitalopram or sertraline ( Zoloft). both are ok in cases similar to yours.
For as and when required basis, I find clonazepam effective in such cases as an additional medicine.
Hope the reply is useful
feel free to ask more questions
Dr. Manisha Gopal
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