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Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:14
Topic: Medication Issues

HI - our daughter was diagnosed over the summer with Absence Seizures. Her pediatric neurologist has recommended starting her on Ethosuximide. She has assured us that the side effects are primarily "upset stomach" and that can remedied by taking the medication with food.

 We are new to all of this and quite overwhelmed. Currently, these seizures are not interferring with her school work, behavior, or social activities. Since it is most likely that she will "out-grow" them we are reluctant to start medication.

 Is there anyone "out there" who has never medicated OR started the medication and then stopped it b/c of the side effects?

We don't want to make the wrong decision. Thank you for any insight.

Comments

Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Submitted by hnubtshiab on Wed, 2010-02-17 - 23:08
Thanks, PK! That gives me hope that this can get better.

Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Submitted by vsidles on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 11:37

I was having memory issues also, which is why I went to the neurologist in the first place.  However, I first thought I was having TIA's.  After the MRI came up empty, I was sent to the neurologist and tested for seizures.  

At work, people would ask me a question that was a follow up and I had no recollection of the conversation.  I could not retain anything.  I could not sit in a church service without "blanking" out.  The memory issues are BECAUSE of the siezures.  On medication, I am able to function in a (pretty much) normal lifestyle.  I still do not drive long distances because I do occasionally have breakthru seizures.  I am on Carbatrol.  It has very little side effects except for fatigue.  After about 3 months on meds, this seems to "settle" down.  I was on Lamictal before that but it did not hold back the seizures.

Hope this helps.

Vicki

I was having memory issues also, which is why I went to the neurologist in the first place.  However, I first thought I was having TIA's.  After the MRI came up empty, I was sent to the neurologist and tested for seizures.  

At work, people would ask me a question that was a follow up and I had no recollection of the conversation.  I could not retain anything.  I could not sit in a church service without "blanking" out.  The memory issues are BECAUSE of the siezures.  On medication, I am able to function in a (pretty much) normal lifestyle.  I still do not drive long distances because I do occasionally have breakthru seizures.  I am on Carbatrol.  It has very little side effects except for fatigue.  After about 3 months on meds, this seems to "settle" down.  I was on Lamictal before that but it did not hold back the seizures.

Hope this helps.

Vicki

Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Submitted by pgd on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 13:17
Vicki wrote:  I was having memory issues also, which is why I went to the neurologist in the first place.  However, I first thought I was having TIA's.  After the MRI came up empty, I was sent to the neurologist and tested for seizures.  At work, people would ask me a question that was a follow up and I had no recollection of the conversation.  I could not retain anything.  I could not sit in a church service without "blanking" out.  The memory issues are BECAUSE of the siezures.  On medication, I am able to function in a (pretty much) normal lifestyle.  I still do not drive long distances because I do occasionally have breakthru seizures... --------  Vicki - Thanks for sharing how verbal conversations in your case are simply not recollected at times.  A question - Do you feel that the Carbatrol somehow temporarily improves your ability to process auditory information a little?   Would you go so far as to say perhaps the Carbatrol improves your hearing a little or would you describe the hearing improvement using different words (like reducing the length of an absence seizure a little)?  Footnote:  absence seizures vs central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) - auditory processing -  http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.htm - Agree with you:  the idea of retaining auditory sounds/ verbal conversations is closely linked to the idea of memory/a memory cache/memory storage areas.  - pgd
Vicki wrote:  I was having memory issues also, which is why I went to the neurologist in the first place.  However, I first thought I was having TIA's.  After the MRI came up empty, I was sent to the neurologist and tested for seizures.  At work, people would ask me a question that was a follow up and I had no recollection of the conversation.  I could not retain anything.  I could not sit in a church service without "blanking" out.  The memory issues are BECAUSE of the siezures.  On medication, I am able to function in a (pretty much) normal lifestyle.  I still do not drive long distances because I do occasionally have breakthru seizures... --------  Vicki - Thanks for sharing how verbal conversations in your case are simply not recollected at times.  A question - Do you feel that the Carbatrol somehow temporarily improves your ability to process auditory information a little?   Would you go so far as to say perhaps the Carbatrol improves your hearing a little or would you describe the hearing improvement using different words (like reducing the length of an absence seizure a little)?  Footnote:  absence seizures vs central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) - auditory processing -  http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/auditory.htm - Agree with you:  the idea of retaining auditory sounds/ verbal conversations is closely linked to the idea of memory/a memory cache/memory storage areas.  - pgd

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