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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Absence Seizures

My family reports that I am having occasional episodes that sound like absence seizures. What I read says they are rare in adults and I am 62 y.o. female. I have a history of anti-depressant use and my daughter has heard that that may be associated with these.
Thu, 12 Mar 2015
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello!
I understand your concern.
Absence seizures are rare at your age but may happen.
I would recommend you do an EEG which is absence seizures has a typical pathern and also a brain MRI to rule out any lesion of the brain like tumors, stroke etc which can cause absence in this age.
If the diagnosis is absence I would recommend treatment with lamotrigine which is well tolerated at your age but not 100% effective in absence. It also has a stabilizing emotional effect. If it doesn't control seizures other drugs I would recommend to you are valproate and ethosuximide which are first choice for absence seizures. Antidepressants can cause seizures in the elderly but you have to rule out other causes.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes Dr. Abaz Quka
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Suggest Treatment For Absence Seizures

Hello! I understand your concern. Absence seizures are rare at your age but may happen. I would recommend you do an EEG which is absence seizures has a typical pathern and also a brain MRI to rule out any lesion of the brain like tumors, stroke etc which can cause absence in this age. If the diagnosis is absence I would recommend treatment with lamotrigine which is well tolerated at your age but not 100% effective in absence. It also has a stabilizing emotional effect. If it doesn t control seizures other drugs I would recommend to you are valproate and ethosuximide which are first choice for absence seizures. Antidepressants can cause seizures in the elderly but you have to rule out other causes. Hope to have been helpful! Best wishes Dr. Abaz Quka