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Medication does not control absence seizures

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 21:34

Medication does not control absence seizures for my son. 

My 9-year-old son has had generalized absence seizures for about 18 months now.   He has never had any other type of seizure.  He started out on Zarontin, which controlled the seizures but made him feel terrible and caused stomach pain.  He then took Lamictal which successfully controlled his seizures with no side effects for a year.  Then, it gradually stopped working for him, even on the highest dose for his weight.  We then switched him to Depakote, which left him feeling bad and having stomach pain as well.  His blood work confirmed that it was too much for him, even on a low dose.  Now we are trying Lamictal again, and have tried adding Klonopin, neither of which seems to be helping.  He is still having 15 to 20 absence seizures every day.  From what his ped neuro has said, and from the research I have done, there just isn't anything else out there for his type of seizures.  Is anyone else going through this?  Or found another answer?  It is very frustrating for him and for me. 

Comments

Re: Medication does not control absence seizures

Submitted by revawave on Fri, 2010-05-07 - 14:07
Unfortunately, Depakote and Zarontin are probably the best medications for absence seizures.  Maybe try Dilantin?  I am unfortunately having a hard time controlling my seizures at the moment.  I have been on Depakote successfully for years and then my insurance company sent me the generic form and I began having them again.  When we switched back to the brand name, it didn't seem to help.  We're trying to figure out what next to do.  Good luck.  You might want to try the Depakote again and see if the side effects go away after a while.  And stay AWAY from generic!

Re: Medication does not control absence seizures

Submitted by sgreenfield on Wed, 2011-07-13 - 17:16
How is it going now? My daughter is having a similar experience We are frustrated that zarontin gave her stomach trouble and depakote is not working at all to reduce zzz She is 7

Re: Medication does not control absence seizures

Submitted by milmaymom on Sun, 2012-04-01 - 11:27
Milmay Mom same with my daughter age 5 1/2 . We are told to have her on the modified Atkins diet We are seeing the nutrionistlist in two weeks to start. Have you tried that?

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