Place Your Advertisement Here
All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project
 
UPDATED: Sat, 11/07/2009 - 5:48pm

  • Epilepsy First Aid
  • Seizure Medication
  • Videos
  • Seizure Diary
  • Find a Doctor
  • Epilepsy Centers
  • Clinical Trials
  • Event Calendar

Place Your Advertisement Here
All ad revenues support the mission
of the Epilepsy Therapy Project
baubua24
baubua24

Topamax,Keppra causing liver damage?!

Hi, my name is Allie(18) and my mother(40's) has temperal lobe epilepsy and has absence seizures.  She has tried several medications but has found that a combination of Keppra and Topamax works pretty good for her...So we thought.  She was very tiny to begin with but has lost almost 20lbs since starting to take Topamax.  It has severely lowered her apettite, she has to practically force herself to eat 3 meals a day and even then they're very small portioned meals.  Just recently she has been complaining of abdominal pain and her stomache sort of sticks out and she's spotting as well.  I was wondering if anyone had any helpful information.  Her doctor is not at all helpful!!!  Her doctor hasn't once had her liver or kidneys tested in the past 2 years, as I fear her liver may be faling due to such heavy medication and she's just so frail.  I'm extremely worried and we don't really have funds to rush to the ER unless it's an "emergency" she says...  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you!   

By baubua24 at Sat, 11/07/2009 - 5:48pm | 17 views | 3 comments

Recent Comments on this Discussion

Hi Honey, I understand your concern for your mother and she's very lucky to have you.  First, if you think she needs to be seen "at any time" in the ER...GO!  They will work with you financially and "financially" is not your biggest concern.  I've never taken Topamax, but I've been on Keppra XR 1500mg since April of this year.  I have also lost 20-25 lbs and don't require much food to cure my hunger.  I needed to lose 20 or so but it doesn't sound like your mother did.  I would suggest getting her a supply of "Ensure".  She needs to drink at least one per day for nutrition.  Don't hesitage to call her doctor and make an appointment or find another doctor who cares about her.  There are plenty of other doctors out there.  It took me four new doctors before finding one that would actually listen to me and not treat me like I didn't matter and just another number.  Take care of yourself and your mother.  God bless you both.

pwalker

most anti-seizure medications break down through the liver. i have been on dilantin, topomax, lamictal, depakote... i finally was put on keppra, which thankfully does not go through the liver. her physician SHOULD be doing bloodwork, or liver testing, on a regular basis. i do not know many epileptics who are not staying up to date on their bloodwork and checkups. it sounds like, perhaps, you may need to consult a new physician/neurologist for your mother.

as far as nutrition, it is always important to keep up with the "supplementals." i have always taken folic acid, centrum, and potassium pills with my medication. as well, in agreement with what pwalker stated, it is important to find the right doctor for your mothers needs, and that you feel comfortable with. a good patient-physician relationship is extremely important on finding the right road to healing!

take care. i wish you the best for you and your mother!

imcstay

Hi i also had seizures they were coming from the right temporal lobe, i had a right temporal lobectomy in Nov of 2007, It took four medications til i finally stopped having them two times a day, My neurologist started me on Carbomezaphine that made me irritable, than it was Keppra that did not work for me at all it gave me thoughts of suicide so he than put me on  Topamax and Lamictal had no problem, what i'm trying to get at to hopefully help so your mom can maybe get on different meds is that Topamax is used for epilepsy and treatment of Bi-polar, and it also helps to lower appitite, My doctor wanted to get me on that because of the seizures and also cause i'm overweight he wanted my appitite to be a little suppressed, It helped i wasn't having seizures constantly and it helped by me not eating alot i lost like 50lbs and right now i haven't been on the meds cause i got laid-off and having financial difficulties i hope i have helped so you can find different meds or find another doctor.

 

I hope this helped and i wish all the best for you and your Mom.

camaro...

Related Content

View all Forums
 
Wardy01
Wardy01
New - Clobazam's initial side effects
Created by Wardy01at11/16/09 - 5:28 pm
Posted To:
hkhoyt
hkhoyt
New - Purchasing Medication from Canada
Created by hkhoytat11/13/09 - 9:09 pm|3 Comments
Posted To:
carmenk
carmenk
New - Chasing our tail with meds
Created by carmenkat10/28/09 - 3:31 pm
Posted To:
JohnDe...
JohnDe...
New - Me to The Site and Want a friend or friends to talk to b/c i don'...
Created by JohnDe...at10/14/09 - 2:15 am|3 Comments
Posted To:
jojo76
jojo76
New - Keppra AND Topamax....any history anyone?
Created by jojo76at9/24/09 - 4:57 pm|2 Comments
Posted To:
christ...
christ...
Anyone having problems with generic Neurontin?
Created by christ...at9/16/09 - 8:27 am|1 Comment
Posted To:
stream...
stream...
should I take meds?
Created by stream...at9/13/09 - 7:49 am|2 Comments
Posted To:
BenjiMom
BenjiMom
Phenobarbital, Babies & Developmental Delays
Created by BenjiMomat8/28/09 - 10:21 am|4 Comments
Posted To:
silver...
silver...
Ever Have a Screwy Day?
Created by silver...at8/27/09 - 12:24 am
Posted To:
Amy-Lou
Amy-Lou
Medication and Pregnancy?
Created by Amy-Louat8/18/09 - 9:20 pm
Posted To:
BenjiMom
BenjiMom
What are the effects of Phenobarbital on babies?
Created by BenjiMomat8/17/09 - 10:40 am|1 Comment
Posted To:
Magpie...
Magpie...
I want to get on Medication, please help!
Created by Magpie...at8/11/09 - 1:39 pm|1 Comment
Posted To:
tiff_25
tiff_25
Changing Medication
Created by tiff_25at8/1/09 - 8:58 pm|1 Comment
Posted To:
johnan...
johnan...
My story and some questions! Does anyone else have pains in there...
Created by johnan...at7/29/09 - 5:24 am|6 Comments
Posted To:
seakats
seakats
Lamictal xr
Created by seakatsat7/27/09 - 2:34 pm|2 Comments
Posted To:
aramey
aramey
Seisure free for 11 months then had a seisure out of the blue... Why?
Created by arameyat7/24/09 - 5:31 am|4 Comments
Posted To:
Row_cat
Row_cat
changing from carbamazepine (Tegretol) to keppra
Created by Row_catat7/21/09 - 3:06 pm|1 Comment
Posted To:
amorgante
amorgante
side effects of keppra for 11mo old
Created by amorganteat7/16/09 - 7:15 am
Posted To:
Dragool
Dragool
Medication Side Effects
Created by Dragoolat7/15/09 - 10:21 pm|13 Comments
Posted To:
mandyv
mandyv
Depakote ER and Lexapro
Created by mandyvat7/12/09 - 2:19 pm
Posted To:
kattat...
kattat...
New, Scared & In Need Of Support
Created by kattat...at7/8/09 - 7:57 am|14 Comments
Posted To:
carbogir1
carbogir1
Help!! Medication seems to make seizues more frequent
Created by carbogir1at7/6/09 - 3:36 pm|1 Comment
Posted To:
reba
reba
medication reduction
Created by rebaat6/30/09 - 1:48 pm
Posted To:
adamss...
adamss...
any good experiences with trileptal?
Created by adamss...at6/29/09 - 5:51 pm|19 Comments
Posted To:
Jammin...
Jammin...
New - Too many side effecs with Keppra. What should I switch to??
Created by Jammin...at6/22/09 - 5:30 pm|13 Comments
Posted To: