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Depakote

Tue, 08/10/2004 - 21:50
Hi, I am new to this comunity, and I need some support.In December 2002 my husband had a scheduled aneuryzm surgery. 3 days later he had a stroke, was in coma for 15 days, and paralized on his left side. Doctors put him on Dilantin 300mg a day. This medication worked pretty well at the beginning, and he did not have seizures, but later on his Dilantin level was very unstable, and every time it was out of the therapeutical level he had seizures. As you know the free level is therapeutical btw 1-2, and the total level is btw: 10-20. These seizures lasted sometimes 30, 40, and 50 minutes, so we ended up at the ER, and in the ICU with status epilepticus. Every time they knocked him out, because they were not able to stop the seizures otherwise. What was stange in this seizures, he was always conscieus, you talked to him, and he aswered your questions. In 2003 he was more at the hospital, and rehab centers than at home. They changed his medication several times. First Dilantin, than Keppra, than Dilantin again, than they added Topomax to his Dilantin. This last combination was on for a long time, but because he was still having this long seizures, some doctor called it grand mal, some other partial tonic clonic seizure, doctors changed again medication. Left him on Dilantin and added Trileptal. This combination was no good either, then they eased him off of Dilantin and added Keppra. I think the best combination for him was Trileptal and Keppra, because he acted like as he was before the surgery. But doctors changed again (in my opinion for some mistake,because they thought he had a seizure, and he did not) and we ended up with Depakote and Keppra. Now he is taking 1250mg of Kepra 2x a day and 500mg of Depakote 3x a day. He is very sleepy, sleeps from 8PM to 8AM every day, sometimes longer, and takes other naps during the day, and now lately he has difficulty walking with the cane, or walker and has difficulty transferring to the wheelchair or bed or toilet. The last time we checked, his Depakote level was 100.33, still acceptable, because the therapeutical level is btw. 50-100. I kind of don't like Depakote, but I am afraid of a change, because he still has some seizures, about every 2 weeks, but they are now 2 min or less. He was disabled after the stroke, but rehabilitation get him back, almost as he was before. Then the seizures started, and he was not able to walk again, he is very week. Doctors say, that the scar tissue in the brain causes these seizures. He cannot be left alone, I have a lady who is watching him during the day, when I work. He stilll has therapy, but if it is after a seizure it seems that he made 1 step forward and two steps back. His Neuroligst gave us Diastat, what is a great medication: it is a rectal gel (valium), it has to be given only if the seizure is longer then 5 min. Wherever we go, I take it with me. I had to use it one time, and have to tell, it stopped the seizure instantly.Sorry to bore you, but perhaps sombody has some suggestions, and support for me.ThanksK

Comments

RE: Depakote

Submitted by mexican_fire on Mon, 2004-06-21 - 22:32
I am surprized you think I know something. But, I am pleased you do think so.Your neuro is correct that just because a person has a single seizuer in his or her life doesn't make it epilepsy.Everyone at some point in their lives will experience a seizuer at some point for whatever reason. THere are alot of them, so I won't go into them.Most people don't need medication adn they don't generally amke it a practice to give out meds after only one seizure. Usually they wait to see if there is a second and a third, before they start handing out medication. And then start with all the neuro stuff like EEGs and VEEGs and all that jazz.I know that generics and the name brands are exactly the same chemically and some people can, like you said, take one or the other. I take name brands of Neurontin and Depakote, only cause that is the only thing available.There has been an on-going debate for more than 50 years about generics and name brands, and they are still at war.Nancy

RE: RE: Depakote

Submitted by fishfry on Sat, 2004-07-24 - 14:36

Hi,  I am really sorry about your husband's stroke.  While I have never had one, I have had epilepsy for about the last 25 years.  Presently I am on a cocktail of depakote, dilantin, and phenobarbitol.  My seizures are pretty much under control with my meds and my vns

fishfry

 

Hi,  I am really sorry about your husband's stroke.  While I have never had one, I have had epilepsy for about the last 25 years.  Presently I am on a cocktail of depakote, dilantin, and phenobarbitol.  My seizures are pretty much under control with my meds and my vns

fishfry

 

RE: RE: RE: Depakote

Submitted by ermeszter on Sat, 2004-07-31 - 21:17

Hi,

Thank you for the input,  my husband's epilepsy started because of the stroke.  We tried several medications, not to many, (Dilantin alone, Keppra alone, Dilantin again, combination of Dilantin and Topomax, combination of Dilantin and Trileptal, combination of Trileptal and Keppra, I think this was the best combination; and finally Depakote and Keppra).  I said not to may, but writing it down I see it, it was plenty. Even if all this started at the end  of 2002, and doctors don't like to change medication, because it can cause more seizures.  And I was an idiot and did not realize it, that he had epilepsy until I dropped the question at the neoro's office in October 2003.

Are you now on 3 different medications and the VNS?   You must have had a very rough time also.  I am happy to hear, that your seizures are pretty much controlled.  Are you tired also?  My husband is very tired and sleepy.  Is there anything what can be done about the tiredness?

Thank you

Katalin  

Hi,

Thank you for the input,  my husband's epilepsy started because of the stroke.  We tried several medications, not to many, (Dilantin alone, Keppra alone, Dilantin again, combination of Dilantin and Topomax, combination of Dilantin and Trileptal, combination of Trileptal and Keppra, I think this was the best combination; and finally Depakote and Keppra).  I said not to may, but writing it down I see it, it was plenty. Even if all this started at the end  of 2002, and doctors don't like to change medication, because it can cause more seizures.  And I was an idiot and did not realize it, that he had epilepsy until I dropped the question at the neoro's office in October 2003.

Are you now on 3 different medications and the VNS?   You must have had a very rough time also.  I am happy to hear, that your seizures are pretty much controlled.  Are you tired also?  My husband is very tired and sleepy.  Is there anything what can be done about the tiredness?

Thank you

Katalin  

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