Suggest treatment for multiple calcified brain lesions
Patient: Hi.I have been taking medicines from neurocysticercosis for the past 27 years approx(my age is 40).The current dosage is zenretard 500 in the morning & zenretard 600 + gardinal 60 at night.There has been no fit recurrance for the past 14 - 15 years.The current brain MRI shows multiple calcified lesions.Do I need to take the medicines for life or decreasing the medicine gradually and eventually stopping it can be considered.What are the chances that the fits wil not occur now that I didnt have any for the past so many years.Am a bit hesitant to consider reducing the medicine but would like to.Thank You. Doctor: I understand your concernsif you have no recurrence of seizures for last 14-15 years, your thoughts to taper them is genuine.Previous neurocysticercosis might be all calcified in so many years. Though calcifoed and gliotic areas in brain can also cause seizureI will advice you to get MRI Brain with contrast (to see for any new active neurocysticerci in brain) and EEG to look for any epileptiform discharges.If there be no new cysticerci & perilesional edema  and no epileptiform discharges in EEG, you can try to slowly taper your antiepileptics (of course with consultation of your neurologist). Nobody can predict exact chances of recurrence of seizure. But if your investigations are in favor, you can try taper the medicines.I wish you all the best