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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 vsidles on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 13:53

I think in my case, I was "spacing out" and just not remembering the conversation.  I know there were times when I was semi-aware of my surroundings but not able to comprehend what was said.  The neurologist explained it to me that while most hear 1+1 = 2, I was hearing 1=2.....the blip in my brain left a portion out....if this makes any sense at all.  I try and explain this to someone without partial complex seizures and they look at you like they are the ones having the out of brain experience!

With church or long meetings, I would feel as if I were passing out or asleep.  My kid would jar my arm and I look up....eyes were open the whole time but I didn't see anything, and I felt as if I were in a vacuum or something...hard to explain the feeling.  And taking notes became a scribbling mess.

Did I answer that question right?  I hope so.  I came on here looking for medication info.  I am on Carbatrol (was on Lamictal for a while too) and have gained 80 lbs in 4yrs.  That might not seem like much to some folks (over the course of time) but it is to someone who has always been a normal wgt.  I am now 49 and struggling to get it off (not the first time since I've been on meds).  I was considering asking my Doc to take me off the Carbatrol and put me on Topamax.  Any suggestions or comments on that?

Thank you, Vicki

I think in my case, I was "spacing out" and just not remembering the conversation.  I know there were times when I was semi-aware of my surroundings but not able to comprehend what was said.  The neurologist explained it to me that while most hear 1+1 = 2, I was hearing 1=2.....the blip in my brain left a portion out....if this makes any sense at all.  I try and explain this to someone without partial complex seizures and they look at you like they are the ones having the out of brain experience!

With church or long meetings, I would feel as if I were passing out or asleep.  My kid would jar my arm and I look up....eyes were open the whole time but I didn't see anything, and I felt as if I were in a vacuum or something...hard to explain the feeling.  And taking notes became a scribbling mess.

Did I answer that question right?  I hope so.  I came on here looking for medication info.  I am on Carbatrol (was on Lamictal for a while too) and have gained 80 lbs in 4yrs.  That might not seem like much to some folks (over the course of time) but it is to someone who has always been a normal wgt.  I am now 49 and struggling to get it off (not the first time since I've been on meds).  I was considering asking my Doc to take me off the Carbatrol and put me on Topamax.  Any suggestions or comments on that?

Thank you, Vicki

Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Submitted by vsidles on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 13:55
PS:  Does Carbatrol help me with the hearing and comprehension?  Yes, because the seizures are the cause of the hearing/comprehension problem.  Therefore the meds keep the seizures from occurring and I can actually function like a normal person (sort of ha, ha)

Re: Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?

Submitted by pgd on Wed, 2010-04-07 - 14:39
vsidles wrote:  PS:  Does Carbatrol help me with the hearing and comprehension?  Yes, because the seizures are the cause of the hearing/comprehension problem.  Therefore the meds keep the seizures from occurring and I can actually function like a normal person (sort of ha, ha) ------- Thank you for sharing that the Carbatrol helps you with the hearing and comprehension.  Appreciate it.  At one time it was thought I might have absence epilepsy, however, multiple EEGs over a period of years were normal and a trial of several epilepsy medicines failed to work for me.  My condition was finally slowly clarified with a diagnosis of ADHD Inattentive, central auditory processing disorder, mild dyspraxia, and mild left-side hemiparesis (weakness, not paralysis).  Due to the ADHD Inattentive, tried a number of central nervous system stimulants - alerting agents.  What finally worked a little for me and better than Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, or Adderall XR was the old medicine coffee/caffeine (not a cure).  For me, 100 mg of caffeine (described by the FDA as an alertness aid) will temporarily reduce some ADHD Inattentive symptoms a little (not a cure) and also temporarily improve aspects of my hearing a little (not a cure).  Like you, I can actually function like a normal person (sort of) who has normal hearing/is CAPD-free.  For me the caffeine works a little like the following (not identical to the following):  RSNA.org:  Coffee Jump-starts Short-term Memory Nov 30, 2005 ... Caffeine exerts a positive effect on short-term memory and reaction times. ... meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). ...
http://www.rsna.org/rsna/media/pr2005/Coffee.cfm -  As many know, caffeine can lower the seizure threshold for some of those with epilepsy. -  pgd

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