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Finally a diagnosis... prescribed Keppra

Thu, 05/17/2007 - 11:12
Hi! So my daugther Kaitlyn who just turned 2 this month started to have a seizures in March and the neurologist that we were seeing at that time didn't give us any information or help us to feel informed. So we found a new one, 7 hours away but she is an E Specialist. So we just went there on Wed. and we were told that Kaitlyn is having simple partial and complex partial and prescribed her Keppra. I am wondering what everyone elses experience with Keppra has been?? I am just wondering if the behavior issues are something that everyone else has encountered? The first neuro told us to give her Topamax but couldn't tell us the kind of sz's she was having so we never started it, so now we are coming to terms that we have to start the meds, just a little worried.

Comments

Re: Finally a diagnosis... prescribed Keppra

Submitted by ScreeFi on Thu, 2007-05-17 - 11:52
I've had complex/simple partials since I can remember, and was diagnosed with it two years ago. I was put on Keppra at that time, but went off of it again before I reached full dosage. Everyone's brains, epilepsy, and reactions to meds are different, sad to say, to it's difficult to say how she'll handle it. Some people have wonderful experiences with Keppra. For me, it put a glass ceiling on shielding that I had against the world. Severe panic attacks due to this were debilitating, and made it impossible for me to go to work or school. But again, this is just one experience. I've heard from others who love the stuff. I would discuss with your neuro how vital it is that Kaitlyn be medicated at this point (ie, does the ep have a danger of progressing beyond complex partial) because meds that effect the brain do change personalities, and some (mostly the more powerful ones) can actually impede learning, memory, and other things like that. For me, the seizures aren't likely to progress (I went through puberty without them changing, so they're pretty solid) and the meds were more debilitating day-to-day than the actual seizures. It's good to be asking these questions. Good luck!

Re: Finally a diagnosis... prescribed Keppra

Submitted by bradysmom07 on Thu, 2007-05-17 - 12:32
Hi again, AEDs do work differently for each person but I can tell you our experience with Keppra. My son, Brady, has been taking Keppra for the last year. He's almost 2 now. At first he was a mess, miserable, cranky, temper tantrums at 8 months old. It was crazy! His neuro said to wait it out. Things have gotten better but he does have some behavioral issues. I'm still not sure if it's the meds. At 12 months they had to add trileptal because we ended up back at the hospital with breakthrough seizures. We are on a good stretch right now, almost 4 months seizure free. Does your daughter have cluster seizures? Brady has partial and complex as well but they usually start out as small clusters.

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