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Taking Epilim Chrono 300mg And Tegretol 100mg For Epilepsy. Suffering From Memory Loss. What To Do?
Question: Hi,
My husband is taking Epilim Chrono 300mg 1 tablet twice daily and Tegretol 100mg 2 tablets twice daily. He has epilepsy and this is well controlled by the drugs, in fact in the 9 years we have been together he hasn't suffered a seisure. He has some problems with his memory, in that he can not remember long term very well at all. He is sometimes very sleepy or alternatively very hyperactive. He has quite severe mood swings and often doesn't seem to understand the content of quite simple sentences when in this state. He often misinterprets what is said to him. He will go from extreme anger one day to very affectionate the next. There is no way to calm he when he gets angery and he doesn't seem able to control it evn when he is given nothing but kindness and caring in return. I am wondering if the drugs are affecting his moods. Please can you offer some advice.
My husband is taking Epilim Chrono 300mg 1 tablet twice daily and Tegretol 100mg 2 tablets twice daily. He has epilepsy and this is well controlled by the drugs, in fact in the 9 years we have been together he hasn't suffered a seisure. He has some problems with his memory, in that he can not remember long term very well at all. He is sometimes very sleepy or alternatively very hyperactive. He has quite severe mood swings and often doesn't seem to understand the content of quite simple sentences when in this state. He often misinterprets what is said to him. He will go from extreme anger one day to very affectionate the next. There is no way to calm he when he gets angery and he doesn't seem able to control it evn when he is given nothing but kindness and caring in return. I am wondering if the drugs are affecting his moods. Please can you offer some advice.
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query on Healthcare magic.
There are three possibilities for his current problems:
1. Unrelated to epilepsy or medications- people with epilepsy tend to have mood disorders more often than those without epilepsy. This occurs in all age groups. Consultation with a psychiatrist would be helpful. Treatment may require medications, counselling or both.
2. Epilepsy- certain types of seizures can lead to episodic anger and mood swings. Most common being the complex partial seizures. This can be confirmed or excluded by a long-term EEG (electroencephalography).
3. Side effects of medications- sodium valproate (epilim chrono) is known to have cognitive side effects, resulting into memory impairment, etc. However, at the same time, epilim chrono has a mood stabilising effect. So, if this drug is the likely cause in him, then we may have to replace it with other anti-epileptic drugs.
Please discuss these issues with his doctor.
I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine) DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX consultant Neurologist
Thank you for posting your query on Healthcare magic.
There are three possibilities for his current problems:
1. Unrelated to epilepsy or medications- people with epilepsy tend to have mood disorders more often than those without epilepsy. This occurs in all age groups. Consultation with a psychiatrist would be helpful. Treatment may require medications, counselling or both.
2. Epilepsy- certain types of seizures can lead to episodic anger and mood swings. Most common being the complex partial seizures. This can be confirmed or excluded by a long-term EEG (electroencephalography).
3. Side effects of medications- sodium valproate (epilim chrono) is known to have cognitive side effects, resulting into memory impairment, etc. However, at the same time, epilim chrono has a mood stabilising effect. So, if this drug is the likely cause in him, then we may have to replace it with other anti-epileptic drugs.
Please discuss these issues with his doctor.
I hope it helps. Please get back if you have any more queries.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine) DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX consultant Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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