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keppra vs. topamax

Sun, 12/23/2007 - 15:06
i'm a 28 year old woman diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy when i was 16 - and have been on depakote since. my doctor has, of course, always told me that i should let him know when i'm thinking about getting pregnant. well, it's now within a couple of years of wanting to get pregnant...so i decided to switch over to lamictal. in the last couple of months, i've been ramping up lamictal and decreasing depakote. lamictal and i did not agree so well. so, my doctor has suggested to look at keppra vs topamax -- any thoughts???

Comments

Re: keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by mmclaughlin107 on Fri, 2008-05-16 - 12:07
I was also 19 when I started having seizures but didn't find out why until about a month ago when I switched neuorologists and did some more testing and he diagnosed me with JME. I almost 21 and I am still having seizures and I was wondering what medicine you took when you were diagnosed because I would love to be seizure free in order to lead a normal life where I can drive, hang out late, etc.

Re: keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by cacaspa on Tue, 2008-03-25 - 22:32
I was diagnised with temperol lobe epilepsy when I was 11 years old.  I am now 26.  I tried everything from tegretol, lamictal and depakote.  10 years ago my neurologist put me on topamax and eventually ALSO keppra.  My seizures dramatically decreased from 10-15 a week to 3-4 a week, and eventually stopped.  I have now been seizure free for 5 years and 9 months.  I loved the combination because I was finally able to get my license and have been discharged from my neurologist.  I suggest asking your neurologists about this combination.  I value every day so much better now!!

Re: keppra vs. topamax

Submitted by writermom on Thu, 2008-08-21 - 17:57

My son was also started having seizures at age 11, although his began as simple partial only (one arm) and ending up generalizing into full seizures 3-4 times (to date).  He was on Keppra and it did not seem to control him on its own, but now he is on Topamax...again it does not yet seem to be controlling everything although we are still ramping up dosage...but I am wondering about the possibility of adding Keppra to it.  Were your seizures partial seizures?  The fact that you tried everything and finally got it under control gives me great hope for my son!

This is my first post, and I am not sure where to look for your reply, but I will try to come to the keppra vs. topamax thread to check.  Thanks!

My son was also started having seizures at age 11, although his began as simple partial only (one arm) and ending up generalizing into full seizures 3-4 times (to date).  He was on Keppra and it did not seem to control him on its own, but now he is on Topamax...again it does not yet seem to be controlling everything although we are still ramping up dosage...but I am wondering about the possibility of adding Keppra to it.  Were your seizures partial seizures?  The fact that you tried everything and finally got it under control gives me great hope for my son!

This is my first post, and I am not sure where to look for your reply, but I will try to come to the keppra vs. topamax thread to check.  Thanks!

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