Just a few more qustions..

[JJandKylesMom]

Hey Everybody! I sure hope everyone is enjoying their day! I have a few questions about medications..My son has been on the generic form of Depacote ER...I feel he is having some issues and have talked to his Doctor about it...He has been very sluggish, very moody, very tired...just not the same. The doctor said he could down the dose but would need to put JJ on yet another med...and he would take both of them...He hasnt had anymore Siezures(thank you God!) so I need to see what people think..help me weigh this out...leave it alone...cause it is helping...will the unwanted side affects ever go away? I would really like to find out what the underlying cause of the siezure was...they didnt run any test other then a EEG and then put him of meds for the rest of his life. Im not sure if I except the fact this is the way it has to be...Im trying to help JJ cope and its hard when Im having a hard time myself. If anyone has any insight on anything I truely would be grateful for any! Hugs to all and thank you in advance!
Joanna

 

[epileric]

I've had seizures all my life & never known what the cause was until I was 39.

To be honest, knowing the cause of the epilepsy doesn't really make a difference. The seizures are still treated the same, the ability to cure it is still the same & nothing really changes.

I can understand that you feel as though it is a need but even if you do discover the cause it doesn't change the situation at all. Personally I would focus on how your son reacts to medications & what other treatments exist that he might respond to, possibly a ketogenic diet or neurofeedback

First I'm curious how long your son has been on Depakote. Some side-effects do vanish in a few months. If it is controlling his seizures & you haven't waited a while I would suggest you do that because it isn't always that easy to find an anti-epileptic drug that works. Also, I'm assuming the doctor likes depakote because it is actually working on your son but be careful as the more drugs you use, the more side-effects you are likely to encounter.

Also, I moved this post from the lounge to the kitchen as the lounge is mostly off topic stuff. This is extremely on topic.

 

[Nakamova]

I agree with Eric -- the length of time your son has been stable makes a difference. If has been stable for a while, you could ask the doc about very slightly reducing the Depakote dose to see if that helps reduce the side effects while still controlling the seizures. Also, ask your doc about the possibility of trying a different drug for monotherapy (a single med), rather than lowering the Depakote and simple adding another med. Always preferable to be on a single med if at all possible. If he were to go that route, that would mean some overlap time where your son would be on both meds, but only while he was tapering off the Depakote and ramping up on a different one.

Many docs will revisit the question of trying to go completely med-free after several years being seizure-free. The shortest time is usually after two years. The decision can depend in part on how stress-free the patient is -- getting plenty of sleep, healthy overall, stable balanced eating patterns, minimal alcohol consumption, etc.

 

[JJandKylesMom]

Thanks for that quick reply! I just got his meds RX filled he is going on a month. I was hoping that it would take time for his body to adjust and maybe his side affects would slowly go away. So many helpful people on this site...and I feel so alone does that make since!? A parent that cant help their own child...its such an awful feeling. This is all still new to us and boy what an adjustment! I just was hoping to have not to settle for this...Im so thankful his meds are working and just need to look at the good side of this...hoping to find that somewhere in this mess. Please bear with us...we normally are happy go lucky people and just feel as if the wind has been taken out of our wings!
Breathe..Smile...life is a blessing...and Im going to the other room right now and give hugs and kisses to my Son...who is a true blessing....
Hugs to all!
Joanna.....

 

[Nakamova]

Hang in there with the Depakote for a few months -- the side effects may yet even out. But if it does seem that the negatives start to outweigh the positives, then don't hesitate to ask your doctor about reducing the dose or trying something else.

You might want to keep a record of how your son is feeling overall -- sometimes the behavioral changes either way can be very gradual. I hope you and he feel better soon!