*** Part of above could be an Absence or Simple partial seizure (sometimes
just with an aura)? It could be a sign that the Tegretol level is
temporarily dropping below the level you need?  When my szrs. were not
controlled, I had frequent absences but often they went into a full CP where
I was unaware of what happened until I regained consciousness.  (I didn't
remember what happened, though, while I was away.  The only ones I
remembered were *some Simple Partial ones that didn't spread to a full CP.)
   After a number of years using Tegretol CR, I had to partially increase
my dose on alternate days by half a tablet.  Later we reduced my dose level
but added a newer second medication that had just been approved. I haven't
needed any dose adjustments for my type of CP seizures since 1998.
  If these continue you might have to contact the Dr. to see if any
adjustments might help. (One more comment below.) /

*** If you didn't see a post I did about 2? weeks ago, I found that
Grapefruit and its juices had an acid in it that conflicts with Tegretol.
(Other citrus pure juices don't have it.)   Had you used any Grapefruit
products or upset stomach remedies in the day or 2 ahead of the onsets?  (I
found that conflict on the internet, before it was added to the med.
advisory at my drugstore.)   Since I was using Grapefruit so randomly at
that time, I would have never related that to the later partial seizure I
was having. (As you listed below, by the time I next saw my Dr. and had
bloodwork done, my med. levels were back within an O.K. range.)  Alcohol, or
cold medicines which contain it, can also interfere with Tegretol levels, in
case that might apply also.   /G.

If you were able to remember and describe your seizures, then they
weren't complex partials. Perhaps you were having others that you didn't
remember and that was the reason for your diagnosis?

Those could be complex partials. Not remembering is what puts the
'complex' into 'complex partial'. The person is not unconscious, but is
in a state of *altered* consciousness and doesn't remember that period
of time after they have returned to normal consciousness. We all behave
differently during that period and many people can take a bus, for
example, and wake up to being in a different location and not
remembering how or why they got there.

It's puzzling why you would have had that original diagnosis. Assuming
the diagnosis was correct, then perhaps you have been subject to some of
the usual triggers such as stress, lack of sleep, eating or drinking
something different that effects your medication as examples. I doubt
that you need to be concerned about either grand mals or TIA's.
Conditions can change over time though and you really should talk to
your neuro as you may need an additional drug to go along with the tegretol.

On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 02:54:03 +0000, mtstreet wrote:

Ah - now this sounds very much like one of my complex partials too! I'm
not unconscious, but I just don't know it!

Despite any strange or weird acts that may happen during my CP's - objects
I may have stolen from shops, food that I've flushed down the toilet or
thrown away in my dustbin, or boys I've kissed in the street in front of
my hubby, I was never actually aware any of it had happened unless I was
told straight afterwards, or I got home and found I had something that
didn't belong to me in my pockets perhaps.

It's very scary I suppose, if you've just developed it for the first time,
but as you get used to it, it just sort of starts to get easier. Although
I'm only speaking from my own experience, with both CPs and several other
different types of seizures mixed up with it, I just wanted to say I hope
you get used to it too.

All the best

Sofie

I would let both your doctor that treats your epilepsy and your cardio
doctor know what is going on.  My mother (who doesn't have seizures) was
in the emergency room years ago and I was with her.  Several times she
acted as though she was having a seizure (her face made a strange stretch
to one side and her arms went out).  She was unaware of what happened.
These were not seizures.  It turned out her heart was stopping.  They
immediately put an external pace maker on her and scheduled her for
pacemaker surgery.

Take care,
Julie

My metaphorical model for fits is an overflow of energy within the range
of little stimulation but even less used and too much stress/excitement etc
for it all to be used quickly enough.

Sometimes, if I talk to someone as soon as I get my warning aura, then it
may not develop into an actual CP. Otherwise my memory switches off while
I make jerks, rub right thumb on fingers of right hand (I have
occasionally drawn blood with my thumb nail) go home (sometimes going in
wrong directions for a while) or go to bed. When I recover, my last memory
is the aura with no record of the actual fit or what I call the automatic
phase afterwards.

These events last anything from a few minutes to about half an hour with
the actual fits lasting about half the time and rarely with convulsions
bad enough to be grand mal. My behaviour during fits varies with changes
of drugs, diet, sleep, stress and is impossible to forecast. I went for a
few years with no grandmal and then had 2 within a week. The latter could
have been caused by extreme stress or the recent increase in my dose of
the anti-depressant drug, citolopram.

My anti-convulsants are lamotrigine (275mgs/day) and clobazam (10mg/night).

My epilepsy started 34yrs ago and I was first prescribed phenobarbitone -
which made me sleepy for 5yrs - then Tegretol (carbamazepine) and
phenytoin - with the latter causing gums to grow, swell and be tender -  
then I was used as a guinea pig for lamotrigine (Lamictal) and have been
taking it ever since (now 275mgm over 3 doses/day but originally
400mgm/day which meant I bruised easily and blood vessel patterns remained
forever).

Cheers,

Chris L.

What you've described sounds like a match to simple partial seizures. So
since you've been on that amount of tegretol xr for 4 years, your body may
have adjusted to it meaning that the amount might need to be increased just
a bit more. That's only one maybe. As for the 'within therapeutic range',
are you refering to the published therapeutic range, or *your* therapeutic
range? The published TR is only a guideline for neuros. It is not carved in
stone. If you are not having any side effects or other medical problems
then it should be ok to very slowly increase your current dosage. Another
thing, which btw I learned more about earlier this week, is that even
thought all of the medication is still absorbed, as we increase in age our
bodies are not absorbing the medication as quickly.
Several possibilities, but please don't do any of this without talking to
your neuro first.
Bruce