I am epileptic, and I have headache, aura, and weirdness while eating. Please help.

Question

Hi doctor,

I have epilepsy for ten years and have not had any seizures for the past three years. But I have not been feeling good for the last three months. I have some aura and my back of the head until my shoulders feel throbbing, pinching, and blood rush feeling. I also have a weird feeling when I am eating. I have dizziness, Deja Vu feeling, and blurred vision. My headaches on the backside until shoulders. I have sensitivity to light sometimes. I also have a little bit of numbness on my left leg and left hand sometimes. I am tired almost all the time. I am currently taking Levetiracetam 1000 mg twice daily (using this tablet for a long time). Recently I was suggested with Lorazepam 0.5 mg one tablet every eight hours if needed and Sertraline one tablet daily. I am using Levipil for the last eight to nine years. I had a CT scan and MRI recently. I also have had several EEGs done in the past, but I do not have the reports with me at the moment to upload. Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I think there is some issue with Prolactin (hormone) and your report mentions pituitary microadenoma (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). This headache seems to be a migraine headache. You may have to start anti-migraine medications. The medications that you are taking are hypnotics and antidepressants apart from Levetiracetam. Some part of the history is missing. Please clarify that and try to give complete history or information. Meanwhile, you can work on migraines. I understand it is difficult, but still, clear information is essential for a better diagnosis.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have seen your new and old reports (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). They are fine other than the things that I mentioned previously. You are having headaches, neck pain, and some psychosomatic complaints with some amount of depression. Here my concern is with Levetiracetam, as it can cause all these symptoms. I would suggest you change to Sodium Valproate after a consultation with your neurologist. Valproate has many advantages. It can also relieve headaches. I believe your current symptoms are drug-induced. Here is one more alternative, recently there is a medicine called Brivaracetam, an alternative to Levetiracetam. It was developed to avoid adverse psychological effects. Please consult your neurologist and talk to him in this regard. Please revert for more queries.

Thank you.