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Altitude Change and Medication Effectiveness?

Sun, 01/02/2005 - 17:12
Hi - I've been diagnosed with epilepsy for about 15yrs (am now 43yrs). Until Christmas last yr I was seizure free for 7 yrs. We went on holiday for 2 weeks down to the coast and then returned to altitude in Johannesburg (6 000ft?) and 2 days later I had a seizure - my mediction was increased by 50% and was then found to be in the therapeutic range. Then 2 days ago it happened again after coming back from holiday at the same place. My meditation is Convulex (3x300mg/day) i.e. valproic acid. My pharmacist thinks there may be a link with haemoglobin level changes with altitude and medication effectiveness - any ideas?

Comments

RE: Altitude Change and Medication Effectiveness?

Submitted by harish2 on Mon, 2004-04-19 - 21:56
Hi Rob. Glad to hear that your diagnosis came in.A good guess by your neuro regarding JME,and sounds as if he/she is confident regarding your blood levels being at a theraputic level.You cannot beat the benefits of a good night's sleep either,so enjoy,let it help alleviate the stress.Sorry we can't send you back on holiday.Though your treatment sounds as if it's suiting you.If you check out the link I've enclosed you should learn a bit more about JME and sodium valproate.A good drug,so far found to be the best at treating JME by stabilising the electrical nerve activityand preventing sodium from entering the nerve cells when they begin to fire rapid and repetitive electrical signals. A build up of sodium in the nerve cells is necessary for an electrical signal to build up and be passed on, so sodium valproate may also prevent seizures in this way.As in your case. The link I found as well regarding altitude,is quite interesting from a different perspective.Good luck.Harish.http://www.roadandtravel.com/health/altitudesickness.htm

RE: Altitude Change and Medication Effectiveness?

Submitted by tibet2 on Mon, 2004-04-19 - 23:02
rob, that's wonderful that you got in with the neuro so soon! JME was something i was unfamiliar with a few years ago. but if you read enough you end up remembering a few things ;-) there was a recent thread on this board concerning a woman with JME who was considering pregnancy, so we were just talking about it a week or two ago. you will have to be careful with your sleep. but the good news is JME responds well to medication and if you are careful with your sleep that should help as well. everyone with E should be careful with their sleep, but JME is particularly sensitive to sleep.

RE: Altitude Change and Medication Effectiveness?

Submitted by RobJW on Tue, 2004-04-20 - 13:56
I'm sure my life will get back to "normal" in the next couple of weeks. I suppose epilepsy is usually something like alcoholism - once an epileptic always an epileptic one just can't afford to become complacent. Fortunately I think I have come to live with it and accept it. Finding www.epilepsy.com and this forum/community has been a very positive experience - thanks Tibet and Harish for your input and support.

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