Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

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My 7 year old daughter was diagnosed with Epilepsy a year ago this coming April. She has been on Depakote since the beginning. It seems to be doing very well at controlling the seizures, but she has become a whole different child. It breaks my heart, and every day seems to get a little bit worse. She is regressing academicaly, socially, and emotionally. Her neuro seems to think it is all "behavior issues". He doesn't want to change the meds but has mentioned it a couple of times. He seems to think she will be like this no matter what we put her on. I want my little girl back. Anybody else struggling with this?

Comments

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by aramey on Wed, 2009-07-22 - 01:42

I am 20 years old and was diagnosed at 16. I am on Depakote (I am in Australia and here it is called Epilim) along with Lamictal and Tegretol. On these medications I experience lack of energy, exhaustion, lack of concentration, loss of memory, loss of motivation and mild depression. I don't know which of my medications is causing this. Just support your daughter, tell her specialist about the symptoms and ask about alternative medications. I am just about to lower/change one of my medication and I hope that it works. My email is aramey.tuggeranong@ljh.com.au please email me if you need any help with anything. I hope all goes well.

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by Bri_Christine on Wed, 2009-07-22 - 10:55

I completely understand how this feels. I'm 18. I started dating my boyfriend 8 months ago. He has epilepsy & the last 6 months have been a rocky road with medications. I've seen him become a completely different person, almost die & have two seizures right next to me. It's a terrifying ride. It's scary what medication can do to a person. Topamax made him extremely forgetful. Zorantin made him pyscotic. Keppra made him sleepy. None of them stopped his seizures. Right now we're on a mix of Depakote & Vimpat, it seems to be going pretty well, not a lot of side effects that we can see right now. 9 days without a seizure too. He hasn't gone that long in a long time.

Medications do different things to different people, we're all different and have different body chemistries. I think you should tell her doctor that you're geinuly concerned. Yeah you want to stop the seizures, but at what price? Completely changing your daughter's personality for a switch of maybe controlling seizures. It's a tough desicion but something else could help stop them.

Discuss your options with her doctor, tell him your concerns, he should listen, if not, maybe it's time for a new doctor. Be your advocate, do your research when new meds are discussed.

Much love & hope

Bri

I completely understand how this feels. I'm 18. I started dating my boyfriend 8 months ago. He has epilepsy & the last 6 months have been a rocky road with medications. I've seen him become a completely different person, almost die & have two seizures right next to me. It's a terrifying ride. It's scary what medication can do to a person. Topamax made him extremely forgetful. Zorantin made him pyscotic. Keppra made him sleepy. None of them stopped his seizures. Right now we're on a mix of Depakote & Vimpat, it seems to be going pretty well, not a lot of side effects that we can see right now. 9 days without a seizure too. He hasn't gone that long in a long time.

Medications do different things to different people, we're all different and have different body chemistries. I think you should tell her doctor that you're geinuly concerned. Yeah you want to stop the seizures, but at what price? Completely changing your daughter's personality for a switch of maybe controlling seizures. It's a tough desicion but something else could help stop them.

Discuss your options with her doctor, tell him your concerns, he should listen, if not, maybe it's time for a new doctor. Be your advocate, do your research when new meds are discussed.

Much love & hope

Bri

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by Marsman on Sat, 2009-08-08 - 16:29

My daughter has been on Depakote off and on since age 3, and continuously for the last 20 years. Depekote, like most seizure medications, impacts brain chemicals such as dopamine or GABA - which control thought processes and brain functions. The inevitable result is that anyone does all-too-quickly become a different person on these drugs. Equally inevitable, however, is the brain damage that occurs with continuing seizures, and the decline here can be far worse. In a sense, brain damage or alteration occurs both with and without medication, but the medication is much kinder and slower and some medications minimize these problems (though depakote is not one of them). The real name of the game is to control the seizures for x number of years, eliminate the threat of seizures (if at all possible) and then get off the meds. Depekote is effectively the industry standard - the most effective at controlling seizures of all anti-seizure medications. However, other newer meds might also do it for your child, and with less mental impairment. Alternatively, you can try the vagus nerve stimulator route, which was somewhat successful with my own daughter. Schools are not that helpful in arresting the mental decline of kids with seizures. Parents need access to vouchers, in my opinion, that would allow them to obtain some of the federal money used in special ed for the purpose of hiring their own psychologists and/or special ed consultants and bypassing the corrupt and inept song-and-dance of the school systems (this comes from someone who has fought tooth-and-nail for public education). I've essentially given up on outside help. What you've got to do, in my opinion, is give your daughter all the stimulation you can (without generating seizures), and make a very special effort to create a kid with real physical stamina and endurance so as to make exercise a real option for eliminating weight-gain later on, and for stimulating her mind in other ways. Body and brain development go hand-in-hand. After 32 years of this game, I continue to be surprised by what the neuros don't know and surprised even more by what they don't want to touch or delve into. Medicine is often too bifurcated to allow efficaceous treatment, and this is especially true in the realm of neurology. It's best for you to keep in mind that she's your kid, and it's going to be up to you to take care of her needs and shape/reshape her in the manner that you feel is essential. The influence of depakote is probably going to mandate a continuous effort on your part to shape and reshape her. Ask for advice often from lots of professionals, including psychologists, but in the end remember that it's going to be up to you to perform. That's the bottom line. I've been there. I wish I could tell you something a bit easier, but that's the way it is. You as her "informed" parent will be able to take appropriate actions, and you must not hesitate to do so once you have thoroughly researched them! Best wishes and God's speed !!

My daughter has  been on Depakote off and on since age 3, and continuously for the last 20 years.  Depekote, like most seizure medications, impacts brain chemicals such as dopamine or GABA - which control thought processes and brain functions.   The inevitable result is that anyone does all-too-quickly become a different person on these drugs.  Equally inevitable, however, is the brain damage that occurs with continuing seizures, and the decline here can be far worse.  In a sense, brain damage or alteration occurs both with and without medication, but the medication is much kinder and slower and some medications minimize these problems (though depakote is not one of them).  The real name of the game is to control the seizures for x number of years, eliminate the threat of seizures (if at all possible) and then get off the meds.  Depekote is effectively the industry standard - the most effective at controlling seizures of all anti-seizure medications.  However, other newer meds might also do it for your child, and with less mental impairment.  Alternatively, you can try the vagus nerve stimulator route, which was somewhat successful with my own daughter.  Schools are not that helpful in arresting the mental decline of kids with seizures.  Parents need access to vouchers, in my opinion, that would allow them to obtain some of the federal money used in special ed for the purpose of hiring their own psychologists and/or special ed consultants and bypassing the corrupt and inept song-and-dance of the school systems (this comes from someone who has fought tooth-and-nail for public education).  I've essentially given up on outside help.  What you've got to do, in my opinion, is give your daughter all the stimulation you can (without generating seizures), and make a very special effort to create a kid with real physical stamina and endurance so as to make exercise a real option for eliminating weight-gain later on, and for stimulating her mind in other ways.  Body and brain development go hand-in-hand.  After 32 years of this game, I continue to be surprised by what the neuros don't know and surprised even more by what they don't want to touch or delve into.  Medicine is often too bifurcated to allow efficaceous treatment, and this is especially true in the realm of neurology.  It's best for you to keep in mind that she's your kid, and it's going to be up to you to take care of her needs and shape/reshape her in the manner that you feel is essential.  The influence of depakote is probably going to mandate a continuous effort on your part to shape and reshape her.   Ask for advice often from lots of professionals, including psychologists, but in the end remember that it's going to be up to you to perform.  That's the bottom line.  I've been there.  I wish I could tell you something a bit easier, but that's the way it is.  You as her "informed" parent will be able to take appropriate actions, and you must not hesitate to do so once you have thoroughly researched them!  Best wishes and God's speed !!

My daughter has been on Depakote off and on since age 3, and continuously for the last 20 years. Depekote, like most seizure medications, impacts brain chemicals such as dopamine or GABA - which control thought processes and brain functions. The inevitable result is that anyone does all-too-quickly become a different person on these drugs. Equally inevitable, however, is the brain damage that occurs with continuing seizures, and the decline here can be far worse. In a sense, brain damage or alteration occurs both with and without medication, but the medication is much kinder and slower and some medications minimize these problems (though depakote is not one of them). The real name of the game is to control the seizures for x number of years, eliminate the threat of seizures (if at all possible) and then get off the meds. Depekote is effectively the industry standard - the most effective at controlling seizures of all anti-seizure medications. However, other newer meds might also do it for your child, and with less mental impairment. Alternatively, you can try the vagus nerve stimulator route, which was somewhat successful with my own daughter. Schools are not that helpful in arresting the mental decline of kids with seizures. Parents need access to vouchers, in my opinion, that would allow them to obtain some of the federal money used in special ed for the purpose of hiring their own psychologists and/or special ed consultants and bypassing the corrupt and inept song-and-dance of the school systems (this comes from someone who has fought tooth-and-nail for public education). I've essentially given up on outside help. What you've got to do, in my opinion, is give your daughter all the stimulation you can (without generating seizures), and make a very special effort to create a kid with real physical stamina and endurance so as to make exercise a real option for eliminating weight-gain later on, and for stimulating her mind in other ways. Body and brain development go hand-in-hand. After 32 years of this game, I continue to be surprised by what the neuros don't know and surprised even more by what they don't want to touch or delve into. Medicine is often too bifurcated to allow efficaceous treatment, and this is especially true in the realm of neurology. It's best for you to keep in mind that she's your kid, and it's going to be up to you to take care of her needs and shape/reshape her in the manner that you feel is essential. The influence of depakote is probably going to mandate a continuous effort on your part to shape and reshape her. Ask for advice often from lots of professionals, including psychologists, but in the end remember that it's going to be up to you to perform. That's the bottom line. I've been there. I wish I could tell you something a bit easier, but that's the way it is. You as her "informed" parent will be able to take appropriate actions, and you must not hesitate to do so once you have thoroughly researched them! Best wishes and God's speed !!

Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Comments

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by aramey on Wed, 2009-07-22 - 01:42

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by Bri_Christine on Wed, 2009-07-22 - 10:55

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by Marsman on Sat, 2009-08-08 - 16:29

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