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Keppra, Zonegran Side Effects
Wed, 01/11/2006 - 14:13My 16 year old son is having quite a difficult time
with medications. This is the third medication
change we have had to make.
My son has had 4 seizures since May 2005.
For the past 10 days at night my son has had
dizziness, blurred vision, vomiting, can not
walk unassisted and new to us chest tightnes Two nights ago we had to bring him to the emergency room, quite concerned about chest tightness. Side effects only happen at night usually after 8:30 pm
and last about eight to sixteen hours.
Everything checked out at hospital. They did blood tests, MRI and chestx-rays. I thought his blood pressure was low 92/42 and pulse rate was 47. My son unable to sleep until 4/4:30 a.m. Usually sleeps most of day until 3/4:00 pm. Can not send him to school until side effects are alot better.
He was on Keppra 750mg 2x daily, but his
doctor cut down to 250 mg daily & started
him on 100 mg Zonegran,working up to 400 mg
of Zonegran, we are weaning off Keppra.
After hospital visit doctor cut down Keppra
to 125 mg. He also had same side effects
with Trileptal 600 mg 2x day at the beginning
of December.
Did anyone have problems like this? I am
hoping for a little normalcy for my son.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated
Thank you
Caddle
Comments
Re: Keppra, Zonegran Side Effects
Submitted by txrhb1 on Wed, 2006-01-11 - 15:11
We went through the very same type of experience with Jessica, especially during her teenage years. Seems as if she would stabilize on one medicine, then start having problems a few months later. Her boyd was growing, her hormones were changing, and every drug we tried had different side effects. At one point, she became toxic on one med, and we had to pull her off of it and keep her home for several weeks until the new meds began to take affect.
I know how hard this is on you and on your son. See if the doctors will let you change the time of day he is taking meds, so the sleepiness is more at night than during the day. Also, if you have not seen an epileptologist (specializes in epilepsy), you might consider getting him an appointment to see one. I know my epileptologist has made a huge difference in my treatment.
((( hugs ))),
Barbie
***************************************
"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other." -lucian de crescenzo
Re: Re: Keppra, Zonegran Side Effects
Submitted by caddle on Thu, 2006-01-12 - 15:47
Dear Barbie,
Thank you for responding, I was quite touched by your concern
for us. It seems lately life is an uphill battle with his
medications.
I did not know that there were specialists in epilepsy, I
will look for a specialist for my son.
Good health really is everything. May good health
surround you and your Jessica.
Thank you for your kindness.
Caddle
My son Jeff diagnosed with
Submitted by dmb1217 on Fri, 2017-06-16 - 05:22
My son Jeff diagnosed with JME age 14, he's now 22, currently taking Zonisamide 300mg 2x daily, and Keppra. 2500mg 2x daily, seizure free 1 week now, however, nausea poor appetite big problem, has lost 15 lbs in last few months, takes zofran for nausesa, not much helpDr considering weaning off Keppra and replacing with Lamictal Any suggestions or experiences most helpful at this pointThx Dianna