HomeAnswersNeurologyseizureWhat is the treatment for seizure episodes in my 15-year-old sister?

My 15 year old sister has seizures, and her brain activity is abnormal. Please help.

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Ashok Kumar

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At September 7, 2017
Reviewed AtAugust 7, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My sister has been having seizures. So, we consulted a doctor, who said she has abnormal brain activity. Her electroencephalogram (EEG) showed abnormal spikes. Currently, she is taking Levipil 1000, twice a day. What is going on with my sister? No one is explaining anything, and the medication is affecting her behavior too much. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your query and understand your concerns. Regarding seizures, Levipil (Levetiracetam) is a good option for treatment of seizure disorder, and I think your doctor has taken the right decision. Now regarding the behavioral changes that you mentioned, I would like to inform you that it could be due to the following factors: 1. Seizure episodes: Seizure activity is known to cause psychosis in 15 % of affected individuals, and it is possible that if she had poor control of seizures, the disorder itself is leading to behavioral change. 2. Levipil: In a few patients, who are prescribed Levipil, develop some behavioral changes. This reason is possible if there is a clear temporal relationship between the start of Levipil and development of behavioral symptoms. I hope this answers you. If you have more questions, feel free to write back to me. Please do not forget to mention the symptoms of the patient along with the description of the behavioral change, which will help us in pinpointing the probable cause. Thanks again.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the quick reply. I am just a student, and I only understand a little about what she is going through. Please explain the consequences of her present condition. How is the medication helping her? One of the reasons behind her behavior is that she thinks her condition cannot be treated. She is only 15 years old, and she is too young to think about all this. Please explain the general condition of people going through such conditions.

Answered by Dr. Ashok Kumar

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com. Thanks for reverting. First of all, I would like to inform you that a person with epilepsy (seizure disorder) has a risk to her life if not treated well. They may develop a serious form of seizure disorder called status epilepticus. Also, they may fall anywhere including road, water, fire when they lose consciousness due to seizure episode leading to serious injury or death. Besides, if the seizure is not treated well, it may lead to various forms of psychosis called as organic psychosis, which is again a serious disorder. Seizure affects the intelligence of such patients, which leads to poor performance in life. There is a risk of physical illnesses, if not treated well and the list goes on. I mean to say that, it is important to continue treatment, as they are helping her in maintaining her life. Regarding her attitude that she cannot be cured may have resulted from depression. As mentioned above, many patients have serious psychiatric illness resulting in abnormal thinking pattern. It is important to have proper counseling, as it needs lots of efforts to continue medication on a daily basis. I hope this answers you further. Thanks and regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ashok Kumar
Dr. Ashok Kumar

Geriatrics

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Neurology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy