Unknown Cause

Unknown Cause
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You know, as far as causes, it's tough because it's not uncommon that we can't find the cause. There is a large percentage of patients who we just don't have a perfect answer for why exactly they have seizures. And that's something that we always have to sort of recognize and be vigilant about reevaluating every so often because sometimes things change over time.

Unknown Cause

Main Causes

Young vs Elderly Causes

Risk Factor: Gender

Psychological Risk Factors

Scar Tissue

Fetal Malformations

Women with epilepsy have double the rate of major fetal malformations than the general public. And again, I would point out that this is thought to be probably more related to medication than anything else, although there may be other factors that we don't understand. But I point out that if you know, if you double a small number, it's still a small number. So if the general population, about two to 3% of all women have children with made her major fetal malformations, cleft palate, heart malformations or Spina Bifida. So 2 to 3% of all women in women with epilepsy, it's 4 to 6%. So 94 to 96% of all women have perfectly healthy, normal babies. Things that we need to pay attention to though are the medications that they're on and the doses and how many medications they're on. And we know that there are a couple of medications that are specifically more problematic in women who are going to get pregnant. The first and foremost the drug that is the most problematic is depakote. Highest rate of fetal malformation, specifically Spina Bifida. And so women of childbearing age, generally, we want them off of Depakote, if at all possible. Sometimes it's not possible, but we certainly try our hardest. And there's another one called topiramate. Topiramate is a drug that's been associated with cleft palate. And so that's another one that we try to avoid if we can. Often women of childbearing age are on folic acid. The folic acid is given specifically for prevention of birth defects. Nobody knows how much folic acid is the right amount. Often we'll prescribe two milligrams, but if someone's actually actively trying to get pregnant up it to four milligrams. It's a water soluble vitamin, and whatever you don't need you'll pee right out. And so, specifically hormonal changes, changes with menstrual cycle and pregnancy are two specific issues that have to be addressed with women, and are incredibly important not to forget. And we often do, it just gets brushed over. No one asks, but worth talking about.

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

David Teeple, MD

Neurologist

Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Neurophysiology
Special area of expertise is in Stroke, Epilepsy, Therapeutic Botox
Director of the Stroke Care Program at Tucson Medical Center

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Unknown Cause

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Young vs Elderly Causes

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Psychological Risk Factors

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