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Suggest Treatment For Alzheimer S Disease
My mom has Alzheimer s. She has had several seizures and have had no diagnosis until last one over weekend. Doctor thinks has low blood pressure 100-106/60 was what he is looking at. Pressure in ER was 131/60. He thinks she is having seizures due to low blood pressure. She has only been taking HCT 12.5 every other day. Had triple bypass in 2008. EEG only test done other than CT which cames back ok. EEG showed slow brain activity and was same as last one done in 2012. Very confused. Took her off HCT ans to let pressure increase. What happens when this seizure comes on is her body goes stiff and her head jolts back with some shake and goes unresponsive. Latest episode she didn t come to for at least 20 minutes. She just stayed sleepy and groggy. In hospital for 3 days. She has been having a lot of jerking as well and has increased over past few months with heavy tiredness. Overall she is healthy and vibrant other than Alzheimer s issue. Only meds taking are levothyroxine and simvastatin. Aspirin and vitamin as well as potassium. HCT out since 1/9/15.
Fri, 23 Feb 2018
Hello,
Judging from that description those episodes do indeed seem to be seizures. EEG may not necessarily show epileptiform activity between seizures. It is important that a CT has been done to exclude causes like stroke or tumors. So, at this point there is not a clear cause for seizures, but that is not uncommon especially in the elderly.
The low blood pressure may be a possible cause, but not at those values. If doctor thinks that to be the cause a prolonged monitoring through a portable device called Holter should be done to check if there are episodes of very low blood pressure and if confirmed the cause should be searched.
If no lower values are found though then treatment to prevent seizures should be started, at that age lamotrigine or levetiracetem are the most common medications.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Olsi Taka
Judging from that description those episodes do indeed seem to be seizures. EEG may not necessarily show epileptiform activity between seizures. It is important that a CT has been done to exclude causes like stroke or tumors. So, at this point there is not a clear cause for seizures, but that is not uncommon especially in the elderly.
The low blood pressure may be a possible cause, but not at those values. If doctor thinks that to be the cause a prolonged monitoring through a portable device called Holter should be done to check if there are episodes of very low blood pressure and if confirmed the cause should be searched.
If no lower values are found though then treatment to prevent seizures should be started, at that age lamotrigine or levetiracetem are the most common medications.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Olsi Taka
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