Med question!

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

LisaBee

New
Messages
115
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Hi! How long does a med usually take before it starts working? How much time do you give a med before you decide its not the one for you?
 
It depends on the person and their individual sensitivity. Some people get seizure control at low doses, some need average ones, some need high ones. And people not only have different seizure thresholds, but different tolerances for side effects.

In terms of getting the med into your system, meds like Dilantin and Keppra can get up to a working dose very quickly, whereas other meds like Lamictal need to be ramped up slowly (over many weeks or) because of the greater risk of allergic reaction.

As a general rule of thumb, I say give a med at least 2 weeks at a full stable dose to see how it does with seizure control. In terms of side effects, I say give it 2 months (unless the side effects are truly intolerable), since for some meds, side effects can lessen or disappear after that time.

Which med are you giving a whirl?
 
We (well, my daughter 11) have been on Keppra since June 20th and started Trileptal August 17th. Finally no more T/C since August 4th but still having partials in her sleep nightly. Keppra levels were at theraputic so we added Trileptal and are now on a decent dose with blood levels to be drawn again the 18th.
 
So the Trileptal is supposed to help with the partials? Sounds like it's not doing the trick. Worth asking the doc about on the 18th.
 
Yes, she has been on 1200 mg for 12 days. We are doing levels to see if it needs to be upped. It has helped with the intensity and duration (from 20-30 sec to maybe 5-10 sec) but not the frequency. Based on her weight I think she will need more mg added.
 
Last edited:
LisaBee

Like Nakamova said every persone is differant when it comes to taking drugs and every body reacts differantly. You will notice some of the side effects youself. You will see the change in mood, and everything else. You should make yourself familar with all the side effects of each medication. Nakamova is right about bring it up with your doctor. personaly, and this is only me, I would bring up the keppra as well.
 
Lisabee, since its ur child I would take extra precaution and there right everybody reacts differently and meds can take longer in your system but with a child I would talk to her neurologists and keep an eye on her moods like fedup said rwgarding keppra.
 
Back
Top Bottom