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Is anyone NOT medicating for Absence Seizures?
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 14:14HI - 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.
Thank you for replying. He
Submitted by Kathy92881 on Tue, 2017-08-01 - 16:05
Thank you for replying. He has a pediatric neurologist. Their insurance is through Kaiser in So. California. Supposedly he is supposed to be the best in their system. Part of the problem is he has a very very strong accent and my daughter has a hard time understanding him. And the doctor doesn't have much patience. Wish he could go to CHOC, but they have to stay in the Kaiser system. My daughter is doing the best she can, but she has 3 young children so having him so aggressive on meds isn't fair to him or his sisters. I'm trying to help out by doing research and find alternative meds or whatever helpful information I can. I worry about my grandson so much and how it's going to affect activities like sports, swimming in the ocean (afraid he might have a more severe seizure), driving when he's older, etc. I also worry about him getting bullied for his seizures and his speech is horrible. In fact, we wonder if his speech problems aren't related to the seizures. Neurologist says no, but we have to wonder.