Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Losing My Mind
Tue, 08/21/2007 - 13:01Topic: Parents & Caregivers
Well its been a while since I posted about Ariana. It's been two months that she has been on Keppra alone after being weaned off trileptal and failing lamictal because of the rash. Since being on the Keppra she has only had one partial seizure in 2 mos. YAY! BUT.... the rage and anger is getting worse. She was a bit emotional when she started it but now is out of control again and that is the same thing that the trileptal did to her. She is also very hyper. I have read others saying their children are sleepy, but not Ariana. She doesn't even walk anymore. School last year was a nightmare and this year she is going to a self contained classroom of about 7 other kids from 3rd to 5th graders. She will be in 3rd. I am very concerned about the outbursts that have started and the anger. She has hit her 4yo cousin, thrown things at him, her brother, me. I do know one of the problems is that the nights when she is with her father, he lets her go to sleep at any time and she is not getting her keppra at the same time each night. The other night she got it at 11pm and went to bed around midnight. I give it to her at 8:30 and she goes right in bed at that time. Her neuro said that can affect things and I have tried to speak to her father but forget it. The thing is that even the weekends and nights she is with me and i'm consistent, she still has this rage and anger. School is just around the corner and I dont want another wasted year or a child getting hurt by her. The thought of switching meds again makes me crazy but I think part of her issues is the keppra.
Shar
Comments
Re: Re: Losing My Mind
Submitted by rbenz on Wed, 2007-08-22 - 17:02
Have you tried to give a B6 vitamin in addition to the Keppra? Ask you neurologist about it, apparantly there are studies that show it helps with the Keppra fits.
Re: Re: Re: Losing My Mind
Submitted by Shar on Thu, 2007-08-23 - 09:18
Hello,
Thank you for your responses. It gets tough sometimes and I feel like no matter what med we try, she will never be the same happy and funny girl she used to. I have tried the B6 and it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Her neuro said she is just very sensitive to the medications and seems to get the negative side effect from them so we just have to keep trying until we get it right.
She is starting Topamax today. She takes one 25mg sprinkle capsule twice a day and then next Thursday I have to call him and he will start weaning her off the Keppra. Its a shame because the Keppra kept her complex partial seizures under control but her anger and rage seem to get worse the longer she is on it. Plus it is almost like she has gone backwards. I have to watch her like you would a toddler. Gets into everything you can imagine.
Thank you again for your comments and hopefully the topamax will make her happy again.
Shar
Re: Losing My Mind
Submitted by chiyoung27 on Wed, 2007-08-22 - 12:03
Hi Shar, I'm new to this site but have gotten several encouraging responses from some of the moms here. I just wanted to let you know that our son Jacob, who is 6, was also on Keppra. He had what everyone calls Keppra rage. He would jump off the couch onto me and hit me all day. He was so angry and violent and it wasn't even controlling his seizures. Our neuro took him off of it after 3 months. Right now, he is on Neurontin and Depakote. His behavior has gotten better since he's been off Keppra. He is still moody but nothing compared to what he was like when he was on that drug. What kind of seizures does your daughter have? Jacob has complex partials and generalized seizures. He only gets them while he is sleeping since he started Neurontin. Jacob starts school for the first time at the end of this month. He will be going into 1st grade and I have so many fears about it. I'm worried about how he will interact with the other kids and wonder if he will have learning problems. I know how hard it is to watch your child experience so many changes with all these crazy medications. I just wanted to let you know that I understand what you are going through. Hang in there, it will get better. Chi