Low Glucose level

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Suman

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Hello,

My son is on 300 mg of Vimpat (150 mg X 2) a day. We just got his comprehensive metabolic panel report. His blood glucose level is 53, without fasting. This is very unsettling for us.

Anybody face the same thing while on seizure meds or any idea why this may be happening?

-Thanks much,
Suman
 
Hi Suman --

Did your son have any problems with hypoglycemia before starting the Vimpat?

If not, then he may be experiencing a relatively rare Vimpat side effect.
It's listed here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03589.x/full
And I found one mention from a CWE member:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/yet-another-newbie-vimpat-low-blood-sugar-19607/
As well as one in this blog:
http://www.thefrustratedepileptic.c...ts-the-vimpat-seizures-drugs-and-side-effects

Definitely let the neuro know.
 
Suman said:
Anybody face the same thing while on seizure meds or any idea why this may be happening?
Click to expand...

Hi Suman,

Unfortunately, some of the AEDs can cause low blood sugar for some folks. Plus some other meds (for bi-polar disorders) can cause Type 1 Diabetes, like it did for me. So make sure you get all the facts from the prescribing physician and your pharmacist.

Here is some info on Vimpat:
http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lacosamide

Laboratory abnormalities
Blood tests sometimes show abnormalities in patients taking Vimpat. Liver abnormalities were seen in blood tests of 7 of 935 patients (0.7%). A few patients had lowering of blood counts which could potentially lead to anemia or lowering of resistance to infection. Electrocardiograms (EKGs) of heart rhythms showed prolongation of conduction of the electrical signal in the heart (called PR prolongation) in 0.4% (4/944) of patients randomized to receive VIMPAT and 0% (0/364) of patients randomized to receive placebo.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys.

He did have low glucose levels when on Lamictal and more seizures. The same thing is happening with the Vimpat. Dang, no medication works for him and the ones that work have terrible side effects. (I'm feeling so helpless at this point)
 
Have you asked the neurologist or family doctor what you can do to raise his glucose levels? Sometimes this can be successful managed without having to go off a medication. As Nakamova mentioned, perhaps your son had an undetected underlying condition even before starting medication and it may be worth asking to have your son evaluated by an endocrinologist to rule this out.
 
Hello Suman,

I would also suggest seeing your primary doctor or endocrinologist to rule out an underlying condition. When I had a tonic clonic last year, they tested my blood glucose (this was right after eating) and it was 60. As time went on, I met with my primary doctor for a regular check-up. My blood glucose gave the same low level reading whether or not I was fasting. As far as I knew, I had never had any issues with blood glucose up to this point. We found out that I have reactive hypoglycemia. Eating foods such as oats and russet potatoes cause my blood sugar to drop, which in turn lowers my seizure threshold.

Best of luck!!
 
Thank you all. We will be meeting with the endocrinologist on Monday.

Your responses are very helpful.
 
We met with the endocrinologist, and began our testing of glucose levels 4 times a day. His glucose level was at 57 as soon as he woke up in the morning, and after breakfast, it was 117.
I'm hoping the data for a week will shed light into what may be happening to him. Keeping my fingers crossed..

PS: I worry that I post information that may not be useful, then again I think.. perhaps someone has the same experience. Thanks for reading.
 
Good luck, and keep us posted.
 
Update:
We decided to add the 50 mg of Zonegran back at night. I couldn't go ahead with the controlled experiment to check if Vimpat was solely causing very low glucose levels. We began a regimen of making sure our son eats a fruit/yogurt/nuts every 2-3 hours (except for the 10 hour stretch at night).
Our one week data averaged a glucose level of 75-80 in the morning as soon as he woke up.
Endocrinologist got back saying that he does not have underlying condition. Met with our neurologist today, he wasn't of the opinion that Vimpat could alter glucose levels. He said that the data did now support this. Perhaps, my son is the only outlier. The only thing that we got from today's appointment was a few more medications we could try including Breviate (a cousin of Keppra).
I'm too spooked to do anything yet...
 
Good luck Suman, I hope your son stabilizes on the Zonegran.
(Zonegran suppressed my appetite and gave me low blood sugar, but I assume that's not the case for your son).
 
Update:

He had another tonic clonic yesterday morning. Convinced that the Vimpat is not working to control his seizures. I was too devastated to check his glucose levels after his seizure, so I don't know).
The current trend is a tonic clonic after every 3 weeks on the current medication regimen.

We are considering CBD at this point (not feeling strong enough to try Briviact)

Thanks for reading!
 
Sorry it not tonight in States all the better there hopefully be expert about to help you You about 3pm please do it soon bank holiday next few days
 
Seagull,

I'm rather obtuse.. don't really understand what you're saying..

I know you're making an effort to help and I appreciate it!
 
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