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15 year old son just diagnosed with epilepsy
Wed, 03/01/2017 - 16:26Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
My 15 year old had two seizures and has been diagnosed with generalized epilepsy. My question/problem is the medication. They started him on Keppra, and that made him angry, depressed, and isolating. So I called the doctor, they switched to Depakote. I have prior experience with Depakote, and I'm just wondering, how do people with epilepsy handle the drugged-feeling on these medications? He is a straight A student on the football team and now he's too tired to do anything. Can anyone give some insight? Does the drugged feeling ever go away? How do you function?
Comments
all medications have side
Submitted by just_joe on Thu, 2017-03-02 - 22:14
all medications have side effects. Yes most of them drag the body down. Just like the keppra did going the ways you stated. It takes 4-6 weeks and at times up to 8 for the side effects yo go away. Adjustments are needed and can be made in a phone call. Lowering the dosage could help and gradually increasing it until the levels are where the neurologist wants them may take a little longer but it could be what is needed. When I was diagnosed the medications were different but they are still being used today. Yes I was tired but I learned how to deal with being tired. I was in sports and yes on the honor roll. During the first 2 months I was a c student. But Once my body got used to the medications most of the side effects went away. It takes time to learn how to work with the side effects and still get things accomplished. Yes it can be done. mereloaded's son did it and reading Jessica's post shows that others learned how to deal with side effects and be like everybody else
My 12 year old son had two
Submitted by Maddie_58b8e1f43f355 on Thu, 2017-03-02 - 22:24
My 12 year old son had two grand mauls last Monday and was put on 5ml of keppra twice a day. We've had 3 smaller episodes , no grand mauls, since then and have raised the ML to 10 now. Is this normal that it can take a few increases of meds to make it finally stop all seizures? This is so hard. The worry it causes. Ive too noticed tiredness and a little more moodiness but it comes and goes.
Hello, I just wanted to say I
Submitted by jwoodrome on Thu, 2017-03-02 - 11:36
Hello, I just wanted to say I am in the same boat with my 9 year old. He was just diagnosed a month ago. We started him on depakote. He's just visibly tired and not himself. I hope it balances out soon. Which it should get better with time. My daughter also has epilepsy and she has been on depakote for 3 years. She eventually balanced out and was more herself. Still I think it makes her tired sometimes, but no where near the amount when we started. Good luck.