![]() These include medications that stop hormonal fluctuations from occurring. There are other treatment options for people who cannot always predict when their period will occur and therefore do not know when they are most likely to get seizures. Treatment for people with irregular cycles However, they also do not appear to make seizures worse. However, the researchers noted that the evidence was generally low quality, making this finding uncertain.Īdditionally, oral contraceptive pills do not appear to be beneficial for catamenial epilepsy. A 2021 review found that, out of four clinical trials, there was no evidence that progesterone was more effective than a placebo for reducing seizure symptoms. However, the studies on this approach are not conclusive. An older 2012 review suggests taking progesterone through the luteal phase may reduce seizures - this may be especially beneficial to those with low progesterone levels at this stage in the cycle. People will need to speak with a doctor about the potential benefits and risks to decide which approach is best for them.Īnother treatment option involves progesterone therapy. This may include clobazam ( Onfi) or acetazolamide (Diamox).Ĭlobazam is a type of benzodiazepine, a class of drug with a high risk of misuse. They could also recommend taking them at times when seizures occur.Īnother approach is to take additional medications that control seizures during times in the cycle when they usually get worse. Treatment for people with regular cyclesįor those with regular periods, doctors may suggest increasing the dose of antiseizure medications a person already takes. ![]() There is a range of treatments that doctors can try for catamenial epilepsy. More research is necessary to understand the condition. However, scientists have not proven any of these theories, so exactly how hormone levels influence seizures in those with epilepsy is still unclear. Doctors refer to this as estrogen dominance. This could explain why people with type 3 catamenial seizures have worsened symptoms for the whole second half of their cycle.Īnother theory is that catamenial seizures affect those with a progesterone deficiency or those who have excess estrogen in relation to progesterone levels. When this happens, estrogen remains high from the midpoint of the menstrual cycle until the days before menstruation. Sometimes, people have irregular periods because they do not ovulate. Type 3 pattern: This pattern has a greater association with irregular periods.Type 2 pattern: People who experience worsened seizures just before and during a period may be responding to a decline in progesterone.Also, progesterone may have anticonvulsant properties, so as this hormone rises, the seizures improve again. This is especially true for estradiol, a type of estrogen the ovaries produce. Type 1 pattern: The Epilepsy Foundation suggests a worsening of seizures during ovulation may be due to estrogen’s ability to excite neurons.However, there are several theories, depending on symptom patterns: Scientists believe catamenial seizures occur due to the impact of these fluctuations on the brain and nervous system, although the exact mechanism is still unclear. Around the time of ovulation, estrogen levels increase substantially before gradually declining as a person approaches their period.Īs this occurs, progesterone levels increase, rising before a person’s period and then falling once the period begins. Catamenial seizures happen due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels that occur throughout the menstrual cycle.Įstrogen and progesterone are the main sex hormones responsible for regulating ovulation and menstruation.
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