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Which med. for 4 yr old? Topamax, Depakote or Keppra?

Wed, 09/27/2006 - 21:38
Hello, New here but not to seizures. Cameron my 4 1/2 yr old has been on tegratol for just over a yr now. He is tiny so the dr. has him on a light dose of tegratol. Move it up to more Teg. and Cameron was monster. Hitting, not listening, moving all the time. So we kept him at a good level and he was fine. Well in the past weeks he has had seizures again and one at his PreK class. The dr. wanted to change meds from tegratol to either Topamax, Depakote or Keppra. Hope I am spelling those right. I know each child is different but is there one that seems to work well with complex partial seizures and not getting aggressive behavior? I am leaning towards topamax as the one I go with. Depakote maybe next if Topamax is not so good then keppra 3rd choice. Is that what you would say? Thank YOU! Paige (Cameron stroke at birth, right side weakness, sensory issues, speech delay (apraxia) complex partial seizures)

Comments

Which med for a 4-yr. old?

Submitted by wilddog181 on Fri, 2007-12-14 - 17:39
I have had eplilepsy since age 13 and I'm soon to be 26.  My type of epilepsy has changed a few times.  Most recently I found out that I have primary generalized epilepsy.  I use to take tegratol, but had not luck.  I took Depakote and felt non-functional, tired all the time and always hungry, I gained 30+ pounds in 6 months.  I took Topomax and it about KILLED ME!  I was bed-ridden for 6-8 months and had all 19+ symptoms.  I would BE VERY CAUTIOUS to put my baby on Topamax especially or Depakote.  If your son is already tiny, you should know that topamax is known for taking your appetite completely away.  I lost 30 + pounds in 3 months.  These two anti-siezure meds. will control your son's seizures, but may worst yet, give him some horrible side-affects.  I'm now in the process of switching from Dilantin to Keppra.  It has only been a week, so far so good.  I just seem to be tired, weak, and dizzy.  All common side-effects for the first 4-8 weeks.  I hope I didn't bore you, but I just so happen to have a little experience with some of these meds. KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and children 4 years of age and older with epilepsy.

(KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonicclonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy).

Good Luck! Jules

(KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myoclonic seizures in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. KEPPRA is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonicclonic seizures in adults and children 6 years of age and older with idiopathic generalized epilepsy).

Good Luck! Jules

one vs the other

Submitted by jakesmom on Thu, 2008-01-17 - 02:09

I have a 5 year old son who was diagnosed with complex partial seizures when he was 3.  We started out on Tegratol and my son could barely be lived with.  I consulted his doctor and they assured me it was not from the meds.  I insisted that I was sure the meds were the problem and after 3 weeks of basically begging, the doctor changed his medication to Depakote.  We are much happier with Depakote, he is still a little aggressive at times but nothing like when we were on Tegratol.  We notice al ot of crying.  He is 5 now and he still cries like a small child every time he gets the least bit upset.  We have never tried Topamax so I could not tell you anything about it.  I certainly wish you the best of luck, and I think you will see improvement with a change in medication, we sure did and fast.

 

Good Luck

Sandra

I have a 5 year old son who was diagnosed with complex partial seizures when he was 3.  We started out on Tegratol and my son could barely be lived with.  I consulted his doctor and they assured me it was not from the meds.  I insisted that I was sure the meds were the problem and after 3 weeks of basically begging, the doctor changed his medication to Depakote.  We are much happier with Depakote, he is still a little aggressive at times but nothing like when we were on Tegratol.  We notice al ot of crying.  He is 5 now and he still cries like a small child every time he gets the least bit upset.  We have never tried Topamax so I could not tell you anything about it.  I certainly wish you the best of luck, and I think you will see improvement with a change in medication, we sure did and fast.

 

Good Luck

Sandra

Paige,   My son is 4

Submitted by Gagesmom on Thu, 2008-01-17 - 15:17

Paige,

 

My son is 4 as well...He had the same reactions to Depakote...hitting, kicking and very, very hyperactive!  We switched to a combo of Lamictal and Depakote and he was better, but not great.  We are finally solely on Lamictal and he seems to be doing well.  He was originally diagnosed with generalized seizures, but a new EEG shows he has partial seizure not generalized.  Hope I helped a little!

Paige,

 

My son is 4 as well...He had the same reactions to Depakote...hitting, kicking and very, very hyperactive!  We switched to a combo of Lamictal and Depakote and he was better, but not great.  We are finally solely on Lamictal and he seems to be doing well.  He was originally diagnosed with generalized seizures, but a new EEG shows he has partial seizure not generalized.  Hope I helped a little!

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