Newbie Parent

[findacure]

Just found this web site. My daughter started having seizures 2 weeks ago. Scariest thing I had to deal with. Cat scan, MRI all normal. I guess that means she is eplileptic. She had 4 seizures in a 24 hr period. Gade her video eeg and found that she had spikes while sleeping. put her on Keppra and sent her home. Now 2 weeks later and she goy 2 seizures last night. Going to get a second opinion but now worried to send her to school until we get this under control. Lookingfor suggestions on where to go from here.

[Endless]

Findacure,

Welcome to the forum!

Yes, new seizures are scary. There are lots of moms in here, so you'll get lots of extra support and advice.

It takes a long time to get the meds just right. Your doctor ramped your daughter up on the Keppra, right? Is she on her full dose yet? Your neurologist may need to play with the dose a bit to get it just right. After a year, we are still tinkering with mine.

Hang in there.

[findacure]

Thanks for the response. She just ramped up to 2000 mil. Been on 2000 mil for a week then she got hit with the 2 seizures(both grand mal)last night. Doctor just boosted her to 2500. Last night she took an extra and actually had 3000. Tonight back to 2500. Will she ever be rid of the seizures taking the meds? What is the success rate? Does she need to be on the keppra for a while for it to work. Should mshe be back in school before we get this to stop?

[Nakamova]

Hi findacure, welcome to CWE!

I'm sorry you're having to cope with this. i know it can feel very sary, especially early in the diagnosis when it feels like everything is a mystery.

It is tough to predict any individual's seizure outcomes -- everyone is different. Sometimes it can take a while to find the right medicine, or the right dose. Unfortunately a part of having a seizure disorder (or being the caretaker of someone with a seizure disorder), is being patient until the right balance is struck between seizure meds, seizure dosages, seizure control, and side effects. Keppra is often used because it can be ramped up pretty quickly. It shouldn't take more than a week to see if your daughter is responding to it, but it may take some tinkering with the dosage. Once she finds a working dose, it's very important to take that dose consistently. In general, Keppra works well, though it can sometimes have the side effect of making someone moody or cranky. If for some reason it doesn't work for your daughter there are quite a few other meds to try.

I would check with your daughter's doctor about what precautions to take before sending her back to school, as well as what information to provide to her school nurse, classmates, and teachers.

Let us know how she does on the keppra -- I hope the latest dose works.

Best,
Nakamova

[findacure]

Thanks. how high can the dossage go on keppra for a 145 pound girl?

[Nakamova]

At that weight, 3000mg/day would be the maximum dose. (There is no evidence that doses greater than 3000 mg/day confer additional benefit.)

[findacure]

OK thanks. Doctor is boosting her to 3000 m. praying it works. Thanks again.