Peri-menopause and seizures

by Jeanette
(Concrete, WA)

About 2 years ago I started having very strange "disconnect" on my right side. It was really scary. I had an MRI and there was nothing abnormal about it. I started going to a specialist and he put me on anti-seizure and anxiety medication.

I was keeping track of the "disconnect" and started noticing a pattern - it was happening approximately 2 days before my period. I went to my gynecologist and I told her what was going on and she said that when you begin peri-menopause you can actually have seizures. I did blood work to check my progesterone levels but they came back fine, but again two days before my period I had a "disconnect". I am going to give my gynecologist a call, she said that if this continues she would put me on progesterone.

I am hoping this will help. It has been two long years of wondering what in the world is wrong with me. My gynecologist actually got me in contact with a lady in my area that has had contact with a doctor in Boston that has been doing a study about seizures and peri-menopause. It was a relief to find out that I am not crazy. Hope this helps someone else out there! Also, I am only 41 years old and have been told by several people that I am too young to be in the beginning stages of menopause - apparently not.

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Peri-menopause and seizures

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Jul 19, 2008
 Peri-menopause and seizures
by: Wray

Hi Jeanette A drop in progesterone levels just before a period can cause seizures, and not necessarily only when starting peri-menopause. More often than not the seizures occur during the pre-menopause years. Although you say your progesterone levels were normal, they could have been 'low normal' and your oestrogen levels 'high normal', in which case this would have caused your problems.

Incidentally the average age for menopause is 51, but symptoms can start 5-10 years before. Do hope this helps. Take care Wray.

The following extract is taken from "Once a Month", one of Dr K Dalton's books available on Amazon:

"In August 1948 I came across my first case of premenstrual asthma, I had found a further case of asthma, two of epilepsy, and two of migraines that all occurred just before menstruation. They also responded successfully to progesterone. Together with Dr. Raymond Greene (brother of author Graham Greene) I continued to find more cases of PMS, and in 1953 we published in the British Medical Journal the first paper in medical literature describing the many bodily premenstrual presentations, as well as tension, and gave it the name "premenstrual syndrome. The duration of PMS varies enormously. It may last a full fourteen days, with deep depression at ovulation lasting until a sudden ending when menstrual bleeding starts, while those prone to epileptic seizures caused by PMS may find that the devastating attack is measured in minutes or hours, not days. But both are deserving of treatment. Symptoms of migraine, psychosis, hallucinations, and alcoholic bouts tend to last only a day or two and come immediately before menstruation. Symptoms are always at their worst immediately before menstruation. One of the most satisfying experiences for a doctor is to be able to diagnose and treat a woman with premenstrual epilepsy. She can be treated with progesterone and taken off all anticonvulsant tablets, with their many unpleasant side effects. Premenstrual epilepsy is often a culminating symptom, which follows gradually increasing tension and headache, so these patients do have a warning that an attack is imminent. There may also be marked weight gain, though this is not always the case. Often the final trigger factor that precipitates the attack is a long interval without food."
Oct 13, 2009
 wow
by: Anonymous

I am almost 44 and had my first seizure this weekend! It scared my husband and family. I woke up to ambulance attendants over me on a stretcher in my hallway. They took me to the hospital emergency and I had a CT and blood work done. All clear. I am booked for a EEG next week. I hope it is from perimenopause and not something more serious ie epilepsy development. I have been very stressed out as I am a nursing student with 3 small children. Your story helped me feel better. I am very tired and feel "disconnected" since the event.
Oct 12, 2010
 I hope I found my problem also
by: mrs fleming

I'm a 39 year old women and had a tubligation done back in 2004 after my son was born. Then on Nov 4 2004 I had my first seizure just before my period started and been having them ever since. I can't find a doctor that would tell me why I'm having them but as I reseach stuff for myself I'm beginning to think this could be what is the cause of my seizure. Could someone tell me if I'm on the right track or am I crazy? Please help.
Oct 17, 2010
 wow
by: Wray

Hi there It sounds very much like a peri-menopausal problem, as you've not had them before. For more info please see our page on Peri-menopause. The stress points to it too, as progesterone levels drop sharply if stressed. At what point in your cycle did you have the seizure? As that can have a bearing on it too, although I've found if stressed they can occur at any time. From about the age of 35 our progesterone levels start dropping, as we have more and more anovulatory cycles, when no progesterone is made. Progesterone is excellent for seizures if they are hormonal in nature, please see here, here, here and here. If you should consider it please this page on How to use progesterone cream. But before you do, please read this page on Oestrogen Dominance first. I recommend between 100-200mg/day, the more severe the symptoms, the more is needed. As you are stressed you might need the higher amount to begin with. It's essential to make progesterone the dominant hormone. Take care Wray
Oct 17, 2010
 I hope I found my problem also
by: Wray

Hi Mrs Fleming No you are not crazy, and it was undoubtedly the tubal ligation which has caused the problem. Although it's made out to be a benign op, it does throw our hormones into turmoil. For more info please see Tubal ligation If after reading this website you want to get it reversed, please see the Lakeshore Tubal Reversal Center website. Progesterone is excellent for seizures if hormonal in nature, please see here, here, here and here. If you should consider it please this page on How to use progesterone cream. But it's essential to read this page on Oestrogen Dominance first. I recommend between 100-200mg/day, the more severe the symptoms, the more is needed. Take care Wray
Jan 27, 2011
 Seizures by my period
by: Anonymous

I have been having these events for about 1 1/2 years and to date, the only thing I have been told by the Neurologist is that they are anxiety, stress or previous trauma related. My symptoms are I get nausea, sometimes profuse vomitting, diaherra, my speech starts slurring, all my senses get off, I get a little out of it but remain concious, my teeth start to clench or chatter, my heart beats strangely, I cannot walk normal, my breathing is off, then I start to jerk and shake (mainly in my arms and head but it has happened in my legs before too). I can tell that all the muscles in my body are tightly drawn. These episodes are very, very painful. They last from 20 minutes to 3 hours. I am exhausted when they are over, feel like I have been beat up and I take several days to recover from them. I started tracking them and noticed that they ALWAYS happen either 1-2 days before, during or 1-3 days after my period. I have been dealing with a bunch of idiot doctors who will not even try hormonal therapy on me. They say that it is in my head so using hormones would be useless. I have been told that hormones cannot cause seizures - dispite what I have read on the internet. I am so frustrated and feel that I have been suffering needlessly.
Jan 28, 2011
 I thought I was alone..
by: Anonymous

Hi everybody, I have had seizures since the age of nine but it has always been controlled with medication. I have had a wonderful life seizure free for a very long long time now. This is very hard on me as I was an active person.

Now that I am peri menopausal I am finding that they are no longer under control and I am finding it very hard to explain my symptoms to the doc's cuz they happen so fast, I feel they don't believe me at times. I went from being seizure free to at least 3 to 4 a month. All my mri and ct scan have been normal, I have changed meds with no success.. I am at my wits end.

Any Suggestions??

cat..
Feb 03, 2011
 Seizures by my period
by: Wray

Hi there I'm amazed the neurologist says they are anxiety related, particularly as you have a pattern of the episode occurring round your period. This is known as catamenial epilepsy, and is caused by excess oestrogen in ratio to progesterone, see here, here, here, here, here and here. The following is taken from "Once a Month", a book by Dr K Dalton, available on Amazon...."In August 1948 I came across my first case of premenstrual asthma, I had found a further case of asthma, two of epilepsy, and two of migraines that all occurred just before menstruation. They also responded successfully to progesterone..... One of the most satisfying experiences for a doctor is to be able to diagnose and treat a woman with premenstrual epilepsy. She can be treated with progesterone and taken off all anticonvulsant tablets, with their many unpleasant side effects." That's 63 years ago she was using progesterone for epilepsy! You can understand my amazement at the neurologist. So it's not in your head, it is hormonal. If you should consider using progesterone, please make sure it's sufficient. I recommend 100-200mg/day, please see the page on How to use progesterone for more info. Dr Dalton would initially give a 50mg injection, then "progesterone suppositories, which could be inserted rectally or vaginally and used instead of frequent intramuscular injections.... It was soon established that suppositories needed to be given at least twice daily for any beneficial effect, and that at least two hours were needed between insertions. The maximum effect of each suppository appeared to be 400 mg and lasted for an average of eight to eighteen hours, so the minimum dose of suppositories was 400 mg twice daily." Please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance before you try it. Take care Wray
Feb 03, 2011
 I thought I was alone..
by: Wray

Hi Cat Was there a pattern in your seizures, ie did they occur around your period? If so they could be hormonal. Peri-menopause is a difficult time, our cycle becomes very erratic. So it could well be your seizures are hormonal in nature as they are now occurring again. Oestrogen is high in peri-menopause, whereas progesterone is low. In case they were related to your cycle, please see these papers here, here, here, here, here and here. Another thing to consider is vitamin D, a lack of this causes seizures, plus seizure medication destroys vitamin D, has anyone checked your level over all those years? It could be it's low after years of meds. See here, here, here, here, here and here. If you think it could be related to low progesterone, and you consider trying it, please read this page on Oestrogen Dominance first. If you think it's vitamin D related please see the Vitamin D council website for more info. Take care Wray
Feb 04, 2011
 Dr name ?
by: Cat

Hi Everybody, this is very interesting as I have felt the exact same way. Would you happen to have the name of the doctor in Boston who has done some study on peri menopause and seizures. At this point I am so desperate I will try anything. I want to live an very normal life and not worry about having seizures.
Feb 20, 2011
 Dr name ?
by: Wray

Hi Cat I can't help you, but if you do find out, please let us know. Take care Wray
Feb 24, 2011
 I am not alone and its great
by: teresa

i just got thru with an eeg and veg ,,, yes i have seizures and no its not epilespy but they say its stress or trauma ,,, i have had a normal life and childhood. Than they started shoving papers at me wanting me to see a therapist, and a behaviorhal one at that,wrong move. I am not crazy and I have a computer. A wonderful tool they didnt have in my mothers day.

For over three years I have been dealing with these "events" too. they have not called them seizures. I have lost my license, two jobs and feels like my sanity some days. Then when the doctors said I am having seizures, they were because of stress or trauma. I did go nuts and I did not care. I have been confused, like most of you, massive headaches, can not speak (I have it in my head but can't get it out), in a constant fog, my memory is shot, i go from one room to another and just stand forget why i am there, can't finish a task, light headed, dizzy, and all of this is on a good day. During a seizure without my meds (I take topamax and vimpat) i shake, stare, don't speak, go limp, and incoherent for several minutes.

The thing i have noticed however that is different is i have never had a normal cycle, and when it is time for mine cycle it does get worse.

I am so glad i have found that i am not alone, and i may have what is causing my seizures. Now i have something to take back to my neuroligist, when i see him and have a piece of mind that i am not alone.

Is there any way to contact each other so we can keep in touch ?? and see how we are doing.
Mar 10, 2011
 Hugs kisses and thanks!
by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for posting this. I started having seizures at 43. Suddenly - at night (early a.m.) always right before my period. After 2 I realized this and mentioned to the docs. We were also dealing with my asthma which had suddenly come back from childhood. They did not recognize either of these as a reason for the seizures, nor was there any physical prob. with eeg and scans with dye. I suspected an oxygen problem/stroke. My O2 levels were low, but no evidence of any damage or probs.

Suddenly a few months ago (at 46) I get the feeling I'll have no more seizures - I'm not sure why. My asthma went away again. The morning fuzzouts or partial seizures seem to have stopped. Maybe that's why.The scared anticipation of the next seizure just went away. Last month the hot flashes started. I'm printing your article for the doc.
Mar 22, 2011
 I am not alone and its great
by: Wray

Hi Teresa I wouldn't say you were crazy, apart from seizures and headaches, I had all those symptoms you mention. All gone now, thanks to progesterone. I do hope you come right too. The irregular cycle points to a lack of progesterone too. And if you are not in peri-menopause, progesterone can help regulate the cycle. Please have a vitamin D test done too, seizure meds reduce the level, and a lack of vitamin D can cause seizures. For more info on this see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. Take care Wray
Mar 22, 2011
 Hugs kisses and thanks!
by: Wray

Hi there I do hope the doc takes notice! Please read those links I gave above on the effect low progesterone and vitamin D has on seizures. Both these also help asthma too, see here, and here and here. Please consider having a vitamin D test done, see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. The reason your asthma went away again a few months ago, was summer. We make vitamin D during the summer months, not in winter. Take care Wray
Mar 25, 2011
 Tubal Reversal
by: Tubal Reversal

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Mar 25, 2011
 Evening Primrose oil
by: Cat

Hi everybody, just wondering if anybody has heard of Evening Primrose Oil. Its a nature remady to help with hot flashes and menopause. I have done some reading on it and have read that it can cause
seizures.. Has anybody tried it?
Aug 24, 2011
 Seizures started at 45 year old
by: Anonymous

Hi. I just happen to come across this. I am now 60. At 45 I started having seizures. I knew something was wrong with me, but didn't know what. The Dr. said I was hypoglcemic and thought I was pre diabetic. I had 2 grand mal seizures. One 1 day prior to my period and the other 4 months later 2 days before my period. I had been feeling odd at times prior to that, but could not put my finger on a cause. I really went through a very difficult time for years. Today at 60 I'm still on medication. I had my period til I was 58 years old. I take phenytoin. Once in awhile I still have odd sensations. They tried to wean me from the phenytoin but could not. Just wanted to share.
Oct 26, 2011
 finally!
by: Heidi

Been looking to see if this is happening to anyone else for 2 or 3 years now...before all I found was the reverse, where an epileptic was suddenly NOT due to menopause. Sometimes I do black out but more often I just have the aura; a strange taste in my mouth and the not being able to speak thing (I like how she put it, "it's in my head but I can't get it out"). I started with a neurologist and she just wanted to diagnose me epileptic; made me VERY angry to have a doctor disregard what I was saying. Then I tried 2 different endocrinologists...one of them (without knowing why) just blindly gave me the progesterone cream I wanted only because I told him to, and the other just sat there and kept saying "huh...interesting...I've never heard of that before", etc. I go to a woman's center now and the doctor there is very interested in getting to the bottom of it all, thank goodness. I'm on progesterone therapy right now but it's not 100% effective as I still have the partial seizures about once a month, give or take. It's very depressing but I hope to see it taper off and finally cease (as it did from 2004-2009) forever. I'll be celebrating my 50th birthday next week...just throwing that in there.
Instinctively, I KNEW I wasn't alone but it sure is good to have proof!!!
Nov 28, 2011
 Seizures started at 45 year old
by: Wraa

Hi there Thanks for sharing this. Please have a vitamin D test done, as you can see from the papers I've given above, it's often a cause of seizures. And please consider progesterone too. Take care Wray
Nov 28, 2011
 finally!
by: Wray

Hi Heidi I'm so pleased you finally realised others have the same problems, with their doctors too! I do hope you're using enough progesterone, and that it's not oral progesterone. This is the least effective Delivery system. And please have a vitamin D test done too, it's such a vital nutrient, low in most of us. Take care Wray
Dec 30, 2011
 Seizures at 42
by: Kim

For the past month I have been going to the ER and doctors because of seizures and seizure like activity that have interfered with my job and everyday life. I have been keeping track of events and surrounding conditions on a calendar for my neurologist. I noticed my periods are getting closer together and my worst incident have been right before. I pointed it out to my general practitioner and had my hormone levels tested... Normal!! I am still waiting to get into my gyn since I haven't been in a while, I am considered a new patient.
I am wheat intolerant so I will have to get my vitamin D levels checked. Thanks for the idea.
I was relieved to hear other people have similar experiences. No one has reassured me of that, everyone listens to me and asks if I am stressed. Of course I am now! Still looking for answers!
Jan 02, 2012
 thank you..
by: Anonymous

Hi Jennette, as you probably read I am having the same problems. Can you supply me with the name of the doc in boston.. Cathy
Jan 04, 2012
 Seizures at 42
by: Wray

Hi Kim I love your remark about everyone asking if you're stressed. It's hardly surprising! Unfortunately when hormones are checked the ratio very rarely is, this is the critical factor, not the amount. We've found from Saliva Tests a naturopath runs for us, that the ratio of P:E2 should be 600:1 and over to feel well. If you have your results please check this. And please have that vitamin D test done soon, most of us have far too low a level. You might consider using progesterone too, it begins dropping from about age 35, as anovulatory cycles begin. It sounds as if you're in the early stages of Peri-menopause. This page gives info on how to use progesterone. Take care Wray
Jan 25, 2012
 sounds like me!
by: carla

hi, so many of these stories sound like mine. I had a seizure almost two years ago. I woke up in the hospital and had no idea what was going on, i am about to turn 49. After being taken off dilantin two months later i had the same thing happen. I was sent home and had another one an hour after i was sent home, both incidents were two days before my period, which i pointed out to my drs. They dismissed the possibility of the two being connected. Now my cycle is pretty irregular and i have been feeling terrible again, i am sure the seizures are related to menopause. Reading this helps me feel better already, going to follow thru with my female dr. I have had terrible experiences with drs. Its been a nightmare!
Jan 26, 2012
 sounds like me!
by: Wray

Hi Carla Please read the papers I gave to Cat on Feb 3rd, and if you have problems with your doctors again, please print them out as evidence that a drop in progesterone can cause seizures. The vitamin D too, as that has a bearing on them. In fact please have a test done. For more info on vitamin D levels, testing etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth, Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Take care Wray
Jan 26, 2012
 sounds like me
by: carla

I just had a bunch of tests ran by my neurologist on the 20th, after my internal medicine dr. threw me out of her ofc for insisting i get a lyme disease test, my vitamin d was at 34, thanks so much for your quick response and all the information. The stress of no answers is as bad as the condition! I will bring the papers with me to my appt with my new np that i switched to after my last nightmare experience. This site is a godsend to me!
Jan 26, 2012
 sounds like me
by: Wray

Hi Carla I'm glad it's been of help! And please get your vitamin D level up to a minimum of 50ng/ml, better if it's in the 70-100ng/ml range. Knowing how long it took me taking 5000iu's per day, I suggest you take 10,000iu's for a month, before dropping to the 5000iu's. Then have a test done after 3 months to see how high it's got. It's best to have them regularly every 6 months, as stress in particular drops levels, and it seems you've had more than you fair share of it! Let us know you you get on. Take care Wray

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