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May I Find More Info On Aphasic Seizures Since I Have Diagnosed Epilepsy And PTSD And Dissociative Seizures And Episodes?
Question: I have diagnosed epilepsy and take Lamictal. Since starting this I have had no major seizures. Also have diagnosed PTSD and dissociative seizures and episodes. Also aphasic seizures which I lose all language function--can't read, write, process spoken language and other's writing. Take Klonopin. Works usually. May I find more info on aphasic seizures? Seems there is none.
Brief Answer:
Very rare so no patient oriented sources.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The reason you find it hard to find material on epileptic aphasia is because it is very rare. As a result there aren't patient oriented communities and websites and it is more a subject treated in specific medical literature, which apart from being harder to find is also often in medical journals with restricted access to subscribed professionals.
It is a known type of epilepsy which generally though has its onset in childhood. Before making such a diagnosis, especially at your age, one must be sure that it is not due to other causes by excluding brain lesions through imaging and evidencing EEG epileptiform activity during these seizure episodes in language areas. If such evidence is not there I would be cautious in making such a diagnosis, especially because usually it involves specific areas of language and not all verbal and written language as you seem to describe (that is because there are different areas in the brain for different aspects of language). If not proven by those tests I would consider first given your PTSD dissociative episodes rather than seizures.
If seizures have been proven then regarding treatment since Lamictal is not controlling them adding another antiepileptic such as valproic acid may be considered. Calcium channel blockers like nicardipine have been also shown to be effective in some studies although those studies involved mainly pediatric patients.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Very rare so no patient oriented sources.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The reason you find it hard to find material on epileptic aphasia is because it is very rare. As a result there aren't patient oriented communities and websites and it is more a subject treated in specific medical literature, which apart from being harder to find is also often in medical journals with restricted access to subscribed professionals.
It is a known type of epilepsy which generally though has its onset in childhood. Before making such a diagnosis, especially at your age, one must be sure that it is not due to other causes by excluding brain lesions through imaging and evidencing EEG epileptiform activity during these seizure episodes in language areas. If such evidence is not there I would be cautious in making such a diagnosis, especially because usually it involves specific areas of language and not all verbal and written language as you seem to describe (that is because there are different areas in the brain for different aspects of language). If not proven by those tests I would consider first given your PTSD dissociative episodes rather than seizures.
If seizures have been proven then regarding treatment since Lamictal is not controlling them adding another antiepileptic such as valproic acid may be considered. Calcium channel blockers like nicardipine have been also shown to be effective in some studies although those studies involved mainly pediatric patients.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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