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Ethosuximide treatment

Tue, 01/06/2009 - 18:24

I am writing hoping to find out a bit more about the treatment of Ethosuximide.  My 7 year old Son was diagnosed 1 month ago with Childhood Absence Seizures.  His Neurologist started him on 250ml a day of Ethosuximide and after 1 week 250ml twice a day.  He is on day 15 and my husband and I have seen a huge decrease in the amount of seizures he has a day but we are still noticing that he is still having them. They seem to last for just a split second and I have noticed that they occur when he is tired.  Usually early in the morning or in the evening time.  I told his Dr that he was still having them (less frequent) after the first week on medication and she said that was to be expected.  So I guess my question is Ethosuximide suppose to stop seizures completely or just decrease the amount that you have a day.  Or is it still too soon on the medicine to see a difference?  Any answers on this subject will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Comments

Re: Ethosuximide treatment

Submitted by marisa_833 on Thu, 2009-01-29 - 13:54

My daughter has definitely started to have more seizures and she has been on Etho for almost three months.  They completely stopped for awhile but now it seems like they are longer than before.  My daughter had many problems sleeping because she was having bad dreams.  From the moment she started taking the medicine she was waking up at least 3 times a night.  I think her doctor said if we switch the medicine, we would go to lamictal next.

 Marisa

My daughter has definitely started to have more seizures and she has been on Etho for almost three months.  They completely stopped for awhile but now it seems like they are longer than before.  My daughter had many problems sleeping because she was having bad dreams.  From the moment she started taking the medicine she was waking up at least 3 times a night.  I think her doctor said if we switch the medicine, we would go to lamictal next.

 Marisa

Re: Ethosuximide treatment

Submitted by Miss Shelly on Thu, 2009-02-19 - 19:08

Hi, Our 9 year old son has been on Etho since April 2008.  Now his dose is 5ml in the am 6 ml in the afternoon and 10 ml at night.  At this dose I am pretty sure his seizures have stopped.  And, that is important.  The absence seizures must be stopped completely in order for the child to grow out of them.  Sometimes it seems like he might be having a seizure so we watch him closely.  Now he tries to fake it for a joke and we tell him it's not funny. 

When he first started taking the Etho his seizures would stop, then they would start up again, and the doctor would raise the dose.  And, that happened time after time.  It would make me think that I forgot to give him his medicine.  When I finally figured out the pattern I would make sure to call the doctor and have him adjust the dose.  It shouldn't take more than 2 to 3 weeks for the dose to work if it is going to work.

I am hoping this is it.  Otherwise the doctor will add another medicine.  Each time we get to a new dose I expect that this will be it.  It can be nerve racking.

Shelly

 

Hi, Our 9 year old son has been on Etho since April 2008.  Now his dose is 5ml in the am 6 ml in the afternoon and 10 ml at night.  At this dose I am pretty sure his seizures have stopped.  And, that is important.  The absence seizures must be stopped completely in order for the child to grow out of them.  Sometimes it seems like he might be having a seizure so we watch him closely.  Now he tries to fake it for a joke and we tell him it's not funny. 

When he first started taking the Etho his seizures would stop, then they would start up again, and the doctor would raise the dose.  And, that happened time after time.  It would make me think that I forgot to give him his medicine.  When I finally figured out the pattern I would make sure to call the doctor and have him adjust the dose.  It shouldn't take more than 2 to 3 weeks for the dose to work if it is going to work.

I am hoping this is it.  Otherwise the doctor will add another medicine.  Each time we get to a new dose I expect that this will be it.  It can be nerve racking.

Shelly

 

Re: Ethosuximide treatment

Submitted by anaiyahs on Wed, 2009-03-04 - 13:29
Hi my daughter was just diagnosed about 3-4 weeks ago. She is on Etho>>>>> . She has the axact story as you. She is on day 17. Is your child having nightmares? my daughter is, so i was wondering if you new if they would go away or not?

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