Recently Answered Questions
All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.
What are the side effects of antiepileptic drugs?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 20-year-old girl and it has been almost four years that I have been suffering from epilepsy. The medicines I take are Levipil 500 mg, Rivotril 0.5 mg and Cetadom for headache. Recently, I am feeling that my memory power and concentration are falling down. I have also been facing ho... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, all antiepileptic drugs cause weight gain. In fact, Levipil (Levetiracetam) is also known to cause weight gain and hair loss. You do not have an option till your primary doctor agrees to give you Topiramate as an antiepileptic instead of Levipil, as Topiramate is k... Read Full »
Why do I have a strange feeling in my head after taking the Spamilan tablet for epilepsy?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 26-year-old male. Yesterday I started to take the Spamilan tablet as the doctor is considering some kind of epilepsy. After taking medicines, I have a strange feeling inside my head which I experienced before starting this treatment. It is some kind of sting that I mainly feel o... Read Full »
Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Abdelrahman Abouibrahim
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Some types of headaches manifest without convulsions, but there must be changes in the EEG (electroencephalogram). Have you performed an EEG test? If yes, please send me the report. Convulex (Valproic Acid) is a broad-spectrum medication used for epilepsy. Effects occu... Read Full »
Will taking Dilantin mistakenly cause any serious problem?
Query: Hello doctor, I want to know that if someone (who is not suffering from any epilepsy or seizure disorder) has mistakenly taken Dilantin 300 mg daily (sometimes 100 mg) for 15 to 30 days, what will happen? Is he going to suffer from seizure disorder or other health issues? What has to be done to sto... Read Full »
Answer: Hi. Welcome to icliniq.com. Usually, no side effects would happen in such case. It is not that the person would develop seizure disorder on stopping the medicines. However, medicine should not be abruptly withdrawn. It should be slowly tapered and stopped under the guidance of your physician. In c... Read Full »
Can sinus infection cause seizures?
Query: Hello doctor, I am writing to get a second opinion for my relative. He is a 19 year old male. He had a seizure last year and the second seizure was on last week. His EEG was normal and also had an MRI. The doctors said that he has chronic sinusitis with thickened mucosa and they started giving him... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. We usually recommend antiepileptic if someone has two seizures within 24 hours. In approximately 70% cases, we may not be able to identify any specific cause for seizures, for example - infection, stroke, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) and tumor, as in your case. Sinus... Read Full »
Will taking epileptic medication for a long period cause loss of appetite?
Query: Hi doctor,I am 19-year-old. I have epilepsy (my last seizure was on the second six months ago), taking Lamotrigine and Divalproex Sodium-ER. The main issue today is a lack of appetite. I eat small, but already stomach feels full. I ate yogurt and a cup of protein shake now feels full as if I can go ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Loss of appetite could be due to many reasons. Medical conditions causing it should be ruled out. Psychological factors also decrease appetite. These are some natural ways to stimulate your appetite: 1) Eat smaller meals frequently. Divide the large meals int... Read Full »
Can anti-epileptic medications cause amnesia?
Query: Hi doctor,This is for my dad. He has epilepsy and is now 52 years old. Last Saturday, he went on his normal routine of getting ready but did not know what happened and he walked out of the house without any clothes. When we asked him if he was okay, he said yes. But after the whole episode, when w... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your question. History of epilepsy and intermittent episodes of confusion with loss of memory of the episode (amnesia) is concerning for seizures. For the workup of seizures, he should get routine brain wave testing (EEG - electroencephalogram) or a long... Read Full »
What is the outlook for long term antiepileptic medications?
Query: Hello doctor, I have already put my query to a neurologist. Still, I would like to get opinion from you as well. My son is 3.5 years old. He has been diagnosed with benign childhood epilepsy. His MRI and CT were normal. There are epileptic form of discharge 8 Hz spikes from right occipital lobe. Us... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I went through your query. I can understand your concern about long-term effects of antiepileptic medications. So, in reply to your query, I would like to make suggestions for your son as follows: Treatment of many types of childhood epilepsy requires long-term antiepilep... Read Full »
Kindly prescribe antiepileptics for seizures in autistic patient.
Query: Hello doctor, I have an autistic and hyperactive person in my family, who is around 19 years of age. He has been having epileptic seizures for more than a year now. The medication he has been prescribed by the doctors right now is Tegretol (Tegral). However, we think it has may have side effects. I... Read Full »
Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com. You are absolutely right that there may be side effects of prescribed medicine. There are many more alternative anti-epileptic medicines available. But every medicine has possibility of its own side effects. Consideration to change to alternative medicine is done if so... Read Full »
Can febrile seizures be prevented by increasing the immunity?
Query: Hello doctor, I have a question about my soon to be 12-year-old son. Since he was 1 year old he has had febrile seizures about once a year. They only happen at night. When he is sick during the day I would give him Motrin or Tylenol. Through out the night and he would not have any symptoms. When he... Read Full »
Dr. Hardik Nareshbhai Rajyaguru
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. I would say that both you and your doctor are correct. Your doctor diagnosed epilepsy because: 1. Primary epilepsy is more common in those adolescents who had febrile seizures. 2. Along with the fact, the EEG (electroencephalogram) was sup... Read Full »
What are the side effects of long-term Clobazam use?
Query: Hello doctor, My son is 3.5 years old; studying in kindergarten. He has been diagnosed with benign childhood epilepsy. There is an epileptic form discharge of 8 Hz spikes from his right occipital lobe. His MRI and CT scan reports came normal. He feels involuntary movements in his left leg when he i... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is good to know that your child's seizures are under control with medication. Tablet Clobazam is mainly used to control acute seizures and used for a short duration. The main drawback with long term use of Clobazam is physical dependence. It is observed that, if th... Read Full »