Help me learn more about seizures, specifically simple partial.

November 13, 2006 11:14 PM

Help me learn more about seizures, specifically simple partial.

I've been taking Wellbutrin (& Lexapro) for about 1.5 years to treat depression. My shrink told me about the possible risk of seizures with the Wellb, and I nodded & said "Of course, I'll let you know right away if that happens."

Poking around on www.crazymeds.org recently, I came across this in reference to Wellb:
"The simple answer is, if it helps you and you neither drink too much nor have a history of seizure events, then go for it! But wait, do you even know what a seizure event is?"
After reading about the different seizure types, I realized that my answer to that question is a big fat NO.

It seems that the most commonly caused type is simple partial, so what is a simple partial seizure like? I've read symptom pages & descriptions of seizures, but I really would like to know what I should be looking out for. I don't think that every twitching eyebrow is reason to call my shrink, so when does a twitch==seizure? (So to speak -- I know there's more to it then that...)

To the best of my (limited) knowledge I haven't had any seizures; this is mostly for future reference. If it turns out that I have experienced seizures, I promise I will call my doc asap. Also, if anyone wants to email me, it's in my profile.

posted by good for you! to health & fitness (7 comments total)

Paging ikkyu2. He's alway very insightful on this topic.

In the meantime, as an eplileptic who has experienced both simple and complex partial seizures, I'll say that when you have one, you know it, without a doubt -- so you're probably ok thus far. In my experience seizures are massive events (in the subjective sense) that are quite hard to miss.

As far as early warning signs go, be aware of your general state of being. At the onset of my seizures, I will experience a distinct sense of "out-of-sorts" -- both physical, mental, and otherwise. Your perceptions may be slightly off, your reflexes or motor functions may be too fast or too slow, your "state of being" may feel otherworldly, or at the least, removed from reality. Normal day-to-day interactions may flicker between amusing and uninteresting and confusing, without reason.

This feeling has always been very specific for me -- I can clearly distinguish between this and being lightheaded or hungover or tired or distracted, or whatever. It's what they call an aura.

Next for me is a loss of muscle control in the eyebrows, then the eyes, then everywhere; but by then it's too late. If you recognize an aura, get yourself safe. Low to the ground, away from crowds. Preferably with someone who can keep your head from slamming into anything, and keep misinformed passerbys from forcing anything into your mouth.

Most likely you'll be fine and not have any seizures. But even if you do, you'll still be fine.
posted by samh23 at 12:08 AM on November 14, 2006

I've always been really impressed with epilepsy.com; they have great descriptions of simple partial seizures, as well as all other types, too. Referred to it often during my neurology rotation.
posted by gramcracker at 12:29 AM on November 14, 2006

Honestly if you are taking these drugs for depression and not epilepsy I doubt you have a lot to worry about. It never hurts to be informed but I'd consider it a long shot.

But let ikkyu have a shot at this, I could be wrong.
posted by konolia at 5:49 AM on November 14, 2006

Hey, as another epileptic, I think "simple partial" refers to the aura part of the seizure, where you feel "out of it". I think it's different for others, but I have similar symptoms to samh23, including blinking colored lights, and inability to speak.

These sometimes progress to complex seizures, which is flopping around on the ground and sucks hard. You inevitably bite your tongue, and the ensuing headache when you wake up is just godawful.

If you are taken to a hospital, and anyone mentions seizure in your admission, or you do, congratulations! your driving rights are now suspended, until a doctor can prove you have not had another one on your medication for six months or so. Also, you need to pass an interview. (This may vary in your state, this is just CA)

I don't know if you are at risk for complex/generalized seizures as well, but if your doctor says you are, you might want to consider the above.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 8:15 AM on November 14, 2006

Thanks for the great answers so far.
samh23, wuzandfuzz, thank you for sharing your experiences. My previously-un-informed thought on seizures was that they were all massive events that you (and people around you) could in no way miss. I really appreciate the descriptions of auras & seizures and the more subtle aspects.
gramcracker, great link. Thanks!
konolia, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. At the very least, I can become more knowledgeable & point others in the right direction.
posted by good for you! at 9:16 AM on November 14, 2006

I had a friend in high school who occasionally had seizures and didn't seem to realize it. She's zone out while we were walking down the hall -- keep walking but stop talking mid sentence, then snap back to reality. Or she'd be sitting at her desk and she'd start drooling, then wipe her mouth and shake her head.

Most kids just thought she was a little weird or flaky. Later we learned she'd been diagnosed with epilepsy after having grand mal seizures in middle school, and for a long time she was convinced she hadn't had any seizures since It didn't occur to her that these weird hazy moments were the small cousins of the big shaking kits.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 3:16 PM on November 14, 2006

Just a data point: I'm an epileptic who takes buproprion. My seizures are controlled by other meds, and although I try to keep track of any increase in frequency or intensity of my seizures, I've not had any problems that I'm aware of. Similar to croutonsupafreak's friend, my seizures normally are like zoning out or staring into space, so I'm not always aware when they happen, but bottom line, I don't think the buproprion has had any negative effect.
posted by worldswalker at 5:53 PM on November 14, 2006