Q. Is there a link between epilepsy disorders and bipolar? I ask because I know some people who have both. Do they both run in the same families, and if I have bipolar does that mean I will end up with epilepsy too?

My cousin got diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 22 even though his doctor said he probably always had it. Then he got diagnosed with bipolar in October and told me he did not even need more medications because both disorders were pretty much the same thing. His doctor just said he needs to be even more careful about not missing doses so that he won't have another manic episode. Now I am worried because I have bipolar too, but so far I have never had a seizure that I know of. I hope you can help.

A. I am not a psychiatrist or neurologist so I am not sure how much help I can offer here. I do know that there is some speculation that the two disorders are in some way related, and it is true that many of the medications prescribed to treat epilepsy are also prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Depakote, tegretol, lamictal, and neurontin are all anticonvulsant (antiseizure) medications that are used to treat both epilepsy and bipolar. It is also theorized that bipolar disorder is subject to kindling just as epilepsy is.

I suggest you bring up this concern with your psychiatrist. As far as I know, a diagnosis of bipolar does not increase your chances of developing epilepsy. But, as I said, this is not my area of expertise.

Anna