Does Keppra XR work for petit mals and grand mals?

[Boorman]

Hi. I'm new here. Please excuse me if I am not following the proper protocol with posting here.

I would like to please ask some questions.

I was wondering if Keppra XR will work to stop absence seizures or petit mals and grand mals or tonic clonics?

I have post-traumatic epilepsy. First it was nocturnal seizures, and then turned into petit mals.

I suffered a head injury and developed epilepsy. I took dilantin, and it was awful. The side effects were terrible. I didn't want to believe that I had epilepsy and I weaned myself off of dilantin.

The nocturnal seizures started and then I tried acupuncture and herbs.

Last year I suffered a petit mal and fell down, and someone saw me and called an ambulance. The DR at the ER gave me a prescription for Keppra XR.

I was still in denial about having epilepsy and the neurologist and his nurse at the hospital were extremely rude to me and arrogant.

So I didn't take the Keppra XR.

Here we are a year later, and I'm having the petit mals along with nocturnal grand mals.

I don't have a job or insurance.

So last week I started on the Keppra XR, 1000 mg at night, to stop the seizures, but I still had a minor absence or petit mal.

I'm trying to find a clinic to go to.

This week if I cannot, I plan on going to the ER or the Walgreen's Walk in Clinic, or the Health Department.

Please, I understand that I have been hard headed. I am not wanting to fight with anyone. Please, I'm just asking for help. I do not desire to fight with anyone. If I have violated some rule, then just ban me and delete my post. There is no need to fight with me.

I really need some advice and help and understanding. Thank you.

Does Keppra XR work against petit mals and grand mals?

Or will I have to have Lamictal added?

Or just a higher dose of Keppra XR?

Or Depakote?

I just want to have an idea before I meet with a DR at a clinic or Health Department or ER.

I have a teaching certificate, and if I can get these seizures under control I can get a job and have good health insurance. Otherwise, I guess that I will have to apply for Medicaid but that will take at least 60 days.

So, I'm just asking, because it's so hard to find out information about Keppra XR working on absence seizures as well as generalized tonic clonic seizures.

Thank you all.

 

[notime]

I have primary generalized seizures, which is genetic or at least my neurologist assumes so. He suspected I had complex partials at first, but was never able to confirm it. He did an MRI and EEG, and it showed abnormalities that were generalized seizures; he prescribed Keppra XR. I assume they can treat partial and tonic-clonic seizures, not sure about the others. He told me that it's a newer medicine with fewer side-effects, which can be upped pretty quickly, and wanted to try that so we gave it a shot. I have tonic seizures, without the shaking, but I always bite my tongue, confused, and sore after one, and make a strange noise. My father never caught me shaking or anything. I was never able to accept my epilepsy diagnosis. I often ask myself, 'What did I do to deserve epilepsy?' It's just difficult to accept, and depression is more common in people with epilepsy. We can still live a normal life, but it's still hard to accept. People told me to take an anti-depressant or see a therapist, but I don't have the money. Plus, it's hard to deal with, so usually I try to find things to keep myself busy. You could see a neuropsychiatrist, and ask for an anti-depressant, if you wish. It's your choice.

In my opinion, that's dangerous to take yourself slowly off of medicine. There are complications such as serious side-effects, status-epilepticus (long lasting seizures), and it could be dangerous for your health or in rare cases sometimes death. You should always consult a doctor about this. I am not trying to scare you, I just want you to be careful with your life. I know it's hard to accept epilepsy. Doctors should never be rude, instead give you their professional medical opinion and never judge you. It's your body, and it's your right to refuse treatment and they have no reason to be a jerk. You shouldn't refuse treatment which could reduce or eliminate your seizures, just because a doctor is rude. You can always find a better neurologist.

For now, you should look for free clinics near you. Usually, there are medical students or family physicians working there. If you have a bottle for prescription, or anything then take it to them. They may also point you to a neurologist who will help you despite your income. However, be warned that usually general physicians will not change your medicine, instead perhaps up or down your dose.

"Please, I understand that I have been hard headed. I am not wanting to fight"

Why would we do that? You're asking for help, so I am giving you my opinion. Epilepsy is a struggle to live with, and I understand how difficult and depressing it is to live with it. At least, I am not trying to fight with you. I just want you to get the help you want and need.

"Does Keppra XR work against petit mals and grand mals?"

Not sure about petit mals, but I have primary generalized epilepsy, and my neurologist put me on it.

"Or will I have to have Lamictal added?"

Usually depends, my neurologist just put me on Lamictal because Keppra XR didn't stop my seizures and didn't even reduce them. I continued to have them once a month, even when I took it right. So I assume it's not working. At least, I don't think they got worse but perhaps it's because I am on the generic version.

"Or just a higher dose of Keppra XR?"

The max recommended dose is 3000mg, if it cannot control your seizures at that point, then a neurologist may attempt to put you on another medicine and perhaps reduce it until you're completely off of it. People are different, and neurologists have different opinions. So, it's hard to say.

"Or Depakote?"

My doctor is pretty sure that depakote would completely eliminate my form of seizures called primary generalized seizures. But, it is damaging to your liver and perhaps kidneys which requires blood tests multiple times a year. I am obese, so it causes weight gain in about 10% of patients and he wants me to lose weight before I attempt it. But, as I said it's trial and error, and they continue to find the right medicines that may work for you.

"I just want to have an idea before I meet with a DR at a clinic or Health Department or ER." + "I have a teaching certificate"

You can work with or without seizure control, depending on how many times you have seizures, if it's just a few times a month then you can work without any problems. Usually, people with epilepsy are protected under the ADA (americans with disabilities act); depends on the job though. If you're a pilot, firefighter, empt, police officer, surgeon, or even in the military and perhaps a few other certain careers then you wouldn't be protected. Since you have a teaching certificate, then I think you would qualify for protection by ADA unless you teach something like chemistry and deal with toxic chemicals which could be a hazard to your health. Yes, it's pretty hard to prove that an employer didn't hire you based on your disability alone so lawsuits rarely happen.

Epilepsy, at least in my state requires you to be on medication and have more than one seizure a month while on medication before you can qualify for disability. You'd have to talk with them in your state, and perhaps consult a lawyer if necessary.

I could be wrong, since I am not a medical professional or a law expert. This is just from research and experience that I delt with, so take my advice with caution. I hope this helps you.

 

[Fedup]

Boorman

First let me welcome you to C.W.E make yourself a coffey or tea and sit down everybody here will try to help you. Ask the questions and we will try answer but we are not doctors. We are very lucky here to have some great people to help us out like Bernard our host and his team who will help us if as you say break protocol, I think you really mean make a mistake. Nobody here is going to fight with you, we are no different to you, stubborn/hardheaded in our own ways and each one of us have our bad days but you allow for people especially me.

Keppra is a drug I hate but that being said yes I believe it is good for those that can take it, I even felt it was good for my seizures but the side effects were too much for me. So keppra will work for those who can take it, finding a drug that suits you and helps with your seizures is a bit hit and miss no matter what type of seizure you have.

It takes more than a few days for the drugs to get around your system and for it to adjust to the drugs so nothing will work straight away no matter what the name is or the time you have a seizure and there is nothing you can do about it. You been hardheaded :roflmao: we all have at some stage, The keppra might work for you or you might have to try lamictal or vimpat or depakote or some other drug until you get what suits you.

Exactly what do you want to know before meeting the doctor.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi boorman, welcome!

Everyone reacts differently, so the meds don't come with guarantees unfortunately. Keppra is listed as therapy for partial seizures and tonic-clonics (grand mals). It isn't considered to be treatment for absence seizures (petit mal).

But if you fell down after the seizure you had last year, I don't think it was a petit mal. (Petit mals are like very brief losses of attention -- to someone observing them, it's as if you've zoned out for a few seconds. Most people don't know that they are having them). If you ARE having petit mal (absence) seizures at other times, you could look into trying the Modified Atkins Diet -- it has shown success in treating absences, and you don't need a prescription to try it.

I do think it's worth the effort to see a specialist if you can swing it. I recommend that you write down all of your questions about your seizures and any possible treatments prior to seeing the neurologist, so you can make the most of your appointment. And please feel free to ask questions here as well. We aren't doctors, but we can provide support and empathy and make suggestions to help you cope.

Hang in there.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[Lonewolf]

Keppra XR will work for grand manl's and petit mal's but you might still have the seizures. Hopefully you don't though.

 

[seagull]

aTKINS DIET