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What Causes Inability To Concentrate After A Grand Mal Epilepsy?

Posted on Fri, 11 Apr 2014

Question: I have suffered with grand mal epilepsy since the age of 11. I am now experiencing bouts of vacant episodes where I cannot focus , walk straight or concentrate. I last slept for a weekend when this happened on a Friday. My specialist has put this down to idiopathic partial epilepsy. Is this extra to my grand mal seizures. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: can be taken as addition to GME Detailed Answer: hello and welcome to hcm! The new episodes are suggestive of partial seizures as there is no loss of consciousness. To pin point if these are separate from GME is trick issue. But if you are still having past episodes of GME even now, then the new ones can be taken as an additive to them. They should be treated-- either with a new drug or by increasing the alreay existing medicine ( if you are taking something). Do get your blood counts& EEG if your doctor asks. Do not loose hope as atleast you know when these episodes come (unlike GME where one is not even conscious of what happens to himself.). Hope the reply is helpful please ask more queries for any clarification Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Neuropsychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Manisha Gopal (27 minutes later)

I saw my specialist not long ago and she did not want to change my medication or is able to increase it as I am at the maximum for my daily tablet. That was a day before I had the last funny seizure where I slept all the weekend and each time I stood I was wobbly and not focused. Do you suggest I make an appointment with her again to ask if my tablets can be change to cover this new partial seizures as well as the grand mal seizures that I have.

Answered by Dr. Manisha Gopal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: please meet him again for new prescription Detailed Answer: hello, I would definitely suggest that you meet your doctor again and discuss the points about medicine. He is unaware of the fresh episode as it had happened after you met him last. Now, after knowing this he will either add a new drug to the existing regimn and or might gradually shift you to a different drug by titration. Also get the fresh blood tests so that you are aware of your levels of liver enzymes and other blood counts. it is recommended that one repeats them twice an year till medicine continues ( or as needed). There are certain precautions which should be followed by all epilepssy patients- you might be already aware of them but still i would like would repeat them: 1. sleep at night for at leat 6-7 hrs. 2. avoid watching late nigh movies,or in cinemas ( not in dark) 3. avoid working in front of computer for long hrs and in dim light 4. take meds daily and in time 5. as far as possible maintain same brand of medicine you are taking 6. carry a card all time when you go out stating that you are epileptic and what is to be done in case of emergency- some conatct no. of doctor & family member 7. avoid driving till fits are under control. Wish you.good health Dr. Manisha Gopal MD Neuropsychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar