Posted by SLS on March 31, 2001, at 11:21:19
In reply to Re: epilepsy?! (long, some ranting), posted by Elizabeth on March 30, 2001, at 20:19:48
Hi Elizabeth.
A few months ago, a friend of mine suffered a series of seizures, including what appeared to be a grand-mal - convulsions and foaming at the mouth among other things. The others seemed more like absence. She lost periods of time and displayed strange behaviors. She thought that the latter episodes were psychotic manifestations of the schizoaffective disorder she has been diagnosed as having. I can't remember all of the medication she was on, but I know she was taking 1.5mg of Risperdal and Cogentin, and Neurontin. None of these had been changed for at least six months prior to these episodes, and she remained completely free of mood or schizoid symptoms.
The one confounding variable is that she had taken Xanax regularly. Her doctor wanted to reduce her dosage in half and eventually discontinue it all together. When these episodes occurred, I think she was taking the lower daily dosage of Xanax. I will ask her the next time I see her. The night prior to the first grand-mal seizure, she had a loud and angry argument with her boss at worked and walked out having quit. This was undoubtedly a very stressful event, and I guess it could have played a significant role in the precipitation of the seizure. She has also been under serious financial stress more recently. I am not sure which is worse, bankruptcy or organic chemistry.
When she was hospitalized for neurological tests, they found nothing and could not account for the episodes. There was no mention of the potential for Xanax withdrawal to have been contributary, even though all of her medical records had been forwarded to the neurological department. As quickly as these episodes appeared, they disappeared.
Her reduction in the dosage of Xanax by half left her taking it once a day rather than twice a day. Knowing its short half-life, does this change in Xanax dosing reflect any changes you may have made in your dosing of buprenorphine or any anxiolytic drugs you might be taking? If so, do you think an increase in academic stresses could have played a part?
Just a few thoughts without any particular suspicion...
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:58035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58211.html