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effect of tegretol on 5 yr old
Wed, 01/19/2005 - 23:35Hi ! Im a mum of a 5yr old boy that has recently been diagnosed with early onset Benign Occipital epilepsy. Pannanyotious syndrome (or something like that) !
I posted the following text but would liketo put it out where more people reading this site might see it, im very keen to hear feedback and thoughts/advice regarding his condition ...here it goes
I have just read your post regarding your childs stuttering problem, I will share with you my experiences and observations of my own son who is 5yrs old.
My son's seizures started about 5 months ago, he has recently been diagnosed with Early onset occipital bengin childhood epilepsy, he had one sleep deprived EEG, and has been prescribed tegretol. (that issue i will talk about later) .
My son has also had a stuttering problem primarily IIIIIIII at the start of a sentence, and repetition of the same word over and over in a sentence, and having difficulty recalling the end of a sentence-taking a while to get it out. He was referred to speech therapy last year in pre primary this was before the epilepsy was known, so is somewhat similar to your situation, i should note that he is of normal intelligence for his age and is in mainstream school and is up to the same standard as his peers.
I also am curious to know if his speech problems are related to the e .
The speech therapist found that his speech problem was minor and gave us some excercises to do at home only. I have found that his repitition and stutter was quite bad when he was about 3 to 3and half yrs then didnt seem so bad but has recently struggling to finish his sentences.
I 'm also concerned about the lack of information we have been given by the treating hospital (im in australia) i was told that he needed an MRI scan to see the possible cause ie scar tissue ect but i have been waiting more than 4months for the appointment i was told we would possibly be seen in february 05. He is now booked for another EEG at the end of this month. Im also worried about the effect of Tegretol on him he is only 5yrs old but is crying every day over general everyday things, he has an out of control temper then will cry and cry and even hit himself and has even said he wants to die...all this from a 5yr old beautiful child it breaks my heart....im unsure how to handle his behaviour and how much is epilepsy related (if any) /medication related or just being a young child....any advice out there regarding all of the above would be much appreciated.
Susie
mum of 5yr old boy.
Comments
RE: RE: effect of tegretol on 5 yr old
Submitted by nikki123 on Tue, 2005-01-18 - 07:58
RE: effect of tegretol on 5 yr old
Submitted by wendymartinez on Wed, 2005-01-19 - 19:43
Susie,
Hi, I read your post and it sounds like a reply to my post about my 4 year old son with Epilepsy and Stuttering/speech problems. You are the first post I've read that is almost exactly like my story with my little Zachary.
You didn't mention if the Tegretol is controlling his seizures? My son was put on Lamictal from the very beginning and he is now controlled. As far as mood changes and temper tantrums, I do think the lamictal changed this a little at the very beginning, but not to the extreem you explain with the Tegretol. He would cry if he didn't get his way and he seemed a little sad at times, but it only last a few weeks to a month tops and now he is back to his normal self. I have been very happy, for the most part, with the reasults and minimal side effects of the Lamictal. Maybe if you discuss your concern with the doctor of your sons mood changes and the severity of his saying he wanted to die, maybe the doctor will want to switch and you might mention Lamictal to see if it is an option for you. They come in very small chewable tablets and my son is a pro at swallowing them now.
I was also given info from my post that some AED's can cause speech problems. My son had an MRI and a sleep deprived EEG when he was first diagnosed, but his speech problems were not a concern at that time as he seemed to be at normal level (per the speech pathologist) and we were considering being done with speech therapy. Then a few months later he had the setbacks and his stuttering seems worse than ever. He has some good days and some bad days, but your info makes me think about having the Neurologist look at the MRI again to see if there is any evidence of speech problems. What exactly would be shown on the MRI if speech or language is connected with the Epilepsy?
My husband works in a labratory invironment and recently during a training session was given some interesting info on food additives, artificial sugars (particularly saccharine), artificial flavors etc. that are said to cause seizures in some people. I've been looking up info on the internet and it is very interesting that they say a lot of these additives that are in our foods today can mix together and some children are supersensitive to them and serious disorders and diseases can come from them, Epilepsy and speech problems, Eczema and skin conditions (my son has Eczema as well) among the long list of disorders. Check it out and reasearch it on the internet. I'm interested to hear what others think of this?
There is so much info out there and its tought being a mom and knowing what to do for your child. Good luck, I hope your son's moods & depression are getting better or that they can switch to a med that won't have this effect. Keep me posted.
Wendy
Zach's mom
Susie,
Hi, I read your post and it sounds like a reply to my post about my 4 year old son with Epilepsy and Stuttering/speech problems. You are the first post I've read that is almost exactly like my story with my little Zachary.
You didn't mention if the Tegretol is controlling his seizures? My son was put on Lamictal from the very beginning and he is now controlled. As far as mood changes and temper tantrums, I do think the lamictal changed this a little at the very beginning, but not to the extreem you explain with the Tegretol. He would cry if he didn't get his way and he seemed a little sad at times, but it only last a few weeks to a month tops and now he is back to his normal self. I have been very happy, for the most part, with the reasults and minimal side effects of the Lamictal. Maybe if you discuss your concern with the doctor of your sons mood changes and the severity of his saying he wanted to die, maybe the doctor will want to switch and you might mention Lamictal to see if it is an option for you. They come in very small chewable tablets and my son is a pro at swallowing them now.
I was also given info from my post that some AED's can cause speech problems. My son had an MRI and a sleep deprived EEG when he was first diagnosed, but his speech problems were not a concern at that time as he seemed to be at normal level (per the speech pathologist) and we were considering being done with speech therapy. Then a few months later he had the setbacks and his stuttering seems worse than ever. He has some good days and some bad days, but your info makes me think about having the Neurologist look at the MRI again to see if there is any evidence of speech problems. What exactly would be shown on the MRI if speech or language is connected with the Epilepsy?
My husband works in a labratory invironment and recently during a training session was given some interesting info on food additives, artificial sugars (particularly saccharine), artificial flavors etc. that are said to cause seizures in some people. I've been looking up info on the internet and it is very interesting that they say a lot of these additives that are in our foods today can mix together and some children are supersensitive to them and serious disorders and diseases can come from them, Epilepsy and speech problems, Eczema and skin conditions (my son has Eczema as well) among the long list of disorders. Check it out and reasearch it on the internet. I'm interested to hear what others think of this?
There is so much info out there and its tought being a mom and knowing what to do for your child. Good luck, I hope your son's moods & depression are getting better or that they can switch to a med that won't have this effect. Keep me posted.
Wendy
Zach's mom
RE: effect of tegretol on 5 yr old
Submitted by lemond on Mon, 2005-01-17 - 19:53
Susie,I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 5 as well. I know how frustrating it can be to be a kid and grow up on drugs.I've taken tegretol as an adult. As a kid the only drugs available at the time were phenobarb and mysoline. As an adult, tegretol made me absolutely crazy. I was very seriously depressed, agitated, anxious, frustrated, etc. No five year old should be thinking about dying. I hope you can talk to your doc about it and tell him/her that you think it might be the drugs and that you'd like to discuss making a change. Good luck with your son.