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Ethosuximide treatment
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 18:24I 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 soxoreo on Wed, 2009-03-04 - 21:00
Re: Ethosuximide treatment
Submitted by DawnMaries on Thu, 2009-03-05 - 09:47
Thank you! After researching more about Depakote I am actually more comfortable switching to it if we have to. Our Neuro expressed to us that she wants to see total control and Depakote seem's to be the best at doing this. My son experiences nausea with the Etho sometimes too. His appetite is no where near what it use to be and he has actually lost a few pounds. Have you experienced this with your daughter also? Please keep me posted on your daughter and if her sz stop after switching to Depakote. Best of luck to you and your family!!
Dawn
Thank you! After researching more about Depakote I am actually more comfortable switching to it if we have to. Our Neuro expressed to us that she wants to see total control and Depakote seem's to be the best at doing this. My son experiences nausea with the Etho sometimes too. His appetite is no where near what it use to be and he has actually lost a few pounds. Have you experienced this with your daughter also? Please keep me posted on your daughter and if her sz stop after switching to Depakote. Best of luck to you and your family!!
Dawn
Re: Ethosuximide treatment
Submitted by DawnMaries on Wed, 2009-03-04 - 20:24
Greeting's! Since I posted that my Son is now at 10ml am and pm and is still having a couple sz a day. He is at the limit for this medication and will have to switch to Depakote if they continue. His Neuro ordered a 24 hour eeg to determine that he is indeed having sz's and nit just zoning out (daydreaming) because they do look different than before....they are very brief and his eyes do not flutter like before. So after that we will decide if Depakote is the best choice. But about the nightmares, he has not mentioned having any. He has in the past had them and wakes us up right away. I know that this is a side effect of this particular drug but I am not sure if they go away. My Son however does laugh a lot in his sleep. Just this past week he has woke me up twice literally laughing. He has no recollection of it in the morning. Wishing you the best of luck I know firsthand how frustrating this can all be. Take care.....Dawn
Greeting's! Since I posted that my Son is now at 10ml am and pm and is still having a couple sz a day. He is at the limit for this medication and will have to switch to Depakote if they continue. His Neuro ordered a 24 hour eeg to determine that he is indeed having sz's and nit just zoning out (daydreaming) because they do look different than before....they are very brief and his eyes do not flutter like before. So after that we will decide if Depakote is the best choice. But about the nightmares, he has not mentioned having any. He has in the past had them and wakes us up right away. I know that this is a side effect of this particular drug but I am not sure if they go away. My Son however does laugh a lot in his sleep. Just this past week he has woke me up twice literally laughing. He has no recollection of it in the morning. Wishing you the best of luck I know firsthand how frustrating this can all be. Take care.....Dawn