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advice, anyone?
Mon, 05/15/2006 - 19:27Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
I am 15 years old and have had epilepsy since about the 1st grade. I am on 500 mg Depakote 2 times a day and have been seizure free for almost 3 years. My parents, my doctor, and of course myself all want me to get off this sometime, but i am afraid i will have a "relaspe". I am also afraid of the fact I might have one at school, which would turn into a social and mental nightmare for me. Does anyone have any suggestions or experiences they'd like to share with me regarding going off of medicine? I am scared and don't know what to do.Also, I don't really want to stay on Depakote because if I get married and decide to start a family, there is the risk of birth defects as a result of the Depakote.
Comments
Hi Elizabeth, I have been on
Submitted by lilseizures on Mon, 2006-05-15 - 22:22
Hi Elizabeth, I have been on Depakote for almost half of my life and I am 41 years old. With my understanding of the drug and what it means to be a teen with epilepsy, I suggest you plan on doing so since the school year is about to come to an end. This way you have the summer to see how things work for you. But remember you have to wean yourself off of the drug or risk breaktrough seizures. Only do so under your doctor's care. Take care and love yourself. I wish you well. Brenda xxxxx "BEING DISABLED IS IN YOUR MIND.... IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU'RE NOT DISABLED!"
Re: advice, anyone?
Submitted by soph on Mon, 2006-05-15 - 20:44
Eliabeth, my neuro doctor brought me off Tegretol after 6 years seizure free. But at the same time my GP took me off Depo Provera, a contraceptive that I'd been having for the same length of time. I had a sz then, but because the two meds were being changed at the same time, the doctors decided the Depo had nothing to do with it and put me back on tablets for life! I had an EEG test to see how I was going with the reduced dose, which actually showed up abnormal but the doctor translated it the way he wanted to, instead of intervening. If you do decide reduce your dose, make sure they test you along the way, to know that it's safe to progress! What category is Depakote (for pregnancy)? There may be another medication that has a better pregnancy rating...xxSoph