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Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Mon, 02/11/2008 - 19:22
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 skymom on Tue, 2009-11-03 - 23:40
My four year old son has been on Depakote for a year and a half for frontal lobe epilepsy and his behavior changed dramatically since he started it- He became sad, extremely angry, very irritable, etc. not long after starting.  Our neuro office told us that he may need to see  ped psychiatrist and that his behavior is unrelated to the Depakote or his seizures.  After reading these comments, I am really wondering if it is side effects from the Depakote.  Also, has anyone experienced strange speech, like nonsensical baby talk?  He just started this two days ago and it is really bizarre...  Anyone else experienced this?   Thank you everyone for sharing - this has been such a big help!!!

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by mom2b on Tue, 2010-04-06 - 12:27

It was very difficult to read all of the posts thus far on this board, but I did it. I find it uplifting when I read a great post on how awesome this drug is for some. It's also heart breaking to read the down side on depakote, on which my family can mostly relate to.

 

At the age of five my son was diagnosed W/Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and has been taking depakote since. We've experienced nightmare-ish side effects to the awesome seizure control. My son went from being a bright eyed young innocent boy to being a very explosive behaviored young boy. Having 1-100 seizures a day, down to one a night. That itself is a miracle and we welcome it in our home.

 

I've noticed a few posts and thought to interject some thoughts. There is a price, on health over all to be paid if you don't use a drug that is successful w/seizure control and nasty side effects vs one that doesn't cover seizures as well w/out nasty side effects. The brain, even though resilient at times, can handle a lot...but over years and years of seizures it can develop other issues for the epileptic. Cerebral Palsy or cognitive delays just to name a few.

 

It's a difficult road to walk and always make sure you're on the right path, when it comes to medication and side effects. We all have different chemistries and react differently, hence all the different medications. Over the years I've had to deal w/the explosive behavior that changes in a moments notice w/out warning, and no matter what you do as a parent, it won't go away.

 

It's quite exhausting. Then to have doctor's say it's give to people w/Bi polar, so there's no way on this God's green earth that your child could have a behavior issue from the medication. Reading many forums and this board itself, shows me that science isn't always right.

 

Just make sure you communicate w/your doctor and stay on the same page. Make sure you let them know what you will tollerate and what you wont, for your child's sake. I've let go one neurologist due to his lack of being able to listen. Our newest neuro is awesome, but he always is on the side of science. And rightfully so, after all it's science that diagnoses us and treats us.

 

We decided to try Topamax with Depakote for more seizure control and found out it helped w/my son's behavior. Immediately the next day he could sit still, not be compulsive. It was amazing. Yet we still have behaviorial issues and are going to see a specialist for this.

 

I hope this sheds some light on anyone's current situation. Never give up hope and always challenge the doctor's. Always.

 

Peace

 

It was very difficult to read all of the posts thus far on this board, but I did it. I find it uplifting when I read a great post on how awesome this drug is for some. It's also heart breaking to read the down side on depakote, on which my family can mostly relate to.

 

At the age of five my son was diagnosed W/Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and has been taking depakote since. We've experienced nightmare-ish side effects to the awesome seizure control. My son went from being a bright eyed young innocent boy to being a very explosive behaviored young boy. Having 1-100 seizures a day, down to one a night. That itself is a miracle and we welcome it in our home.

 

I've noticed a few posts and thought to interject some thoughts. There is a price, on health over all to be paid if you don't use a drug that is successful w/seizure control and nasty side effects vs one that doesn't cover seizures as well w/out nasty side effects. The brain, even though resilient at times, can handle a lot...but over years and years of seizures it can develop other issues for the epileptic. Cerebral Palsy or cognitive delays just to name a few.

 

It's a difficult road to walk and always make sure you're on the right path, when it comes to medication and side effects. We all have different chemistries and react differently, hence all the different medications. Over the years I've had to deal w/the explosive behavior that changes in a moments notice w/out warning, and no matter what you do as a parent, it won't go away.

 

It's quite exhausting. Then to have doctor's say it's give to people w/Bi polar, so there's no way on this God's green earth that your child could have a behavior issue from the medication. Reading many forums and this board itself, shows me that science isn't always right.

 

Just make sure you communicate w/your doctor and stay on the same page. Make sure you let them know what you will tollerate and what you wont, for your child's sake. I've let go one neurologist due to his lack of being able to listen. Our newest neuro is awesome, but he always is on the side of science. And rightfully so, after all it's science that diagnoses us and treats us.

 

We decided to try Topamax with Depakote for more seizure control and found out it helped w/my son's behavior. Immediately the next day he could sit still, not be compulsive. It was amazing. Yet we still have behaviorial issues and are going to see a specialist for this.

 

I hope this sheds some light on anyone's current situation. Never give up hope and always challenge the doctor's. Always.

 

Peace

 

Re: Depakote, Behaviors, and personality

Submitted by Allyson L on Tue, 2010-04-06 - 12:49

I have found that each E drug has a common side-effect. DEPRESSION.  Every drug that I have taken, I was depressed. I have been taking Buspar for ten years. This works great. Of course, the age of you daughter will be a factor in prescribing an anti-depressant. I would talk to my neuro or GP about it.  Depakote ER seems to have less side effects, the med stays in the system longer. Consult your nuro about  switching from regular D to D ER.

I have found that each E drug has a common side-effect. DEPRESSION.  Every drug that I have taken, I was depressed. I have been taking Buspar for ten years. This works great. Of course, the age of you daughter will be a factor in prescribing an anti-depressant. I would talk to my neuro or GP about it.  Depakote ER seems to have less side effects, the med stays in the system longer. Consult your nuro about  switching from regular D to D ER.

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