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Suffering From Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. On Encorate Chrone 300. I Have Become Forgetful Over Time. Side Effects?
Question: Hi Dr. XXXXXXX I am XXXXXXX (Male, Age 29), suffering from Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy since the age of 15. My disease was misdiagnosed initially and I was put on Phenytoin, Topimarate and Clobazam till I was 24. Since the disease was not controlled, after several consultations with specialists I was diagnosed with JME and put on Encorate Chrone 300 (2 tablets twice daily). Since this, for the last 5 years I have had seizures though sometimes (rarely though) I get myoclonic jerks in upper arms and fingers. Since I have been seizure free for the last 5 years, my medicine was reduced (2 tablets morning, 1 tablet night) but a recent EEG still detected epilepsy and so medication has not stopped. My questions are regarding the effects of the disease and medication:
1. I have become quite forgetful over time. While I have no problems regarding events in the past, I have difficulty in remembering something in the very recent past. For example, I might think of picking something up in 2 minutes and the very next moment forget all about it. Is this because of medication? how do I control it?
2. While I am a bit lazy by nature, I sleep an awful lot and continue to feel drowsy even after 10-12 hours of sleep. How can I counter this?
1. I have become quite forgetful over time. While I have no problems regarding events in the past, I have difficulty in remembering something in the very recent past. For example, I might think of picking something up in 2 minutes and the very next moment forget all about it. Is this because of medication? how do I control it?
2. While I am a bit lazy by nature, I sleep an awful lot and continue to feel drowsy even after 10-12 hours of sleep. How can I counter this?
Hello XXXXXXX,
Thanks for the query.
The forgetfulness that you mentioned needs to be evaluated by a neurologist and it has to be determined whether there is really forgetfulness or there are small attacks which cause you to feel like forgetfulness. It could be side effect of medication, but medication needs to be changed if it is very significantly interfering with your activities.
Drowsiness is also a side effect of medications. But since you have been on this medication for a long time with a good benefit, so aim would be to keep you on the minimum required dose of the same. There are alternative options available, but Valproate (encorate) is the best medication for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. There is no medicine to counter the drowsiness except switching to alternatives.
Hope I have answered your query. If there are more queries, I will be happy to answer.
Good luck.
Thanks for the query.
The forgetfulness that you mentioned needs to be evaluated by a neurologist and it has to be determined whether there is really forgetfulness or there are small attacks which cause you to feel like forgetfulness. It could be side effect of medication, but medication needs to be changed if it is very significantly interfering with your activities.
Drowsiness is also a side effect of medications. But since you have been on this medication for a long time with a good benefit, so aim would be to keep you on the minimum required dose of the same. There are alternative options available, but Valproate (encorate) is the best medication for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. There is no medicine to counter the drowsiness except switching to alternatives.
Hope I have answered your query. If there are more queries, I will be happy to answer.
Good luck.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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