Meds still not working. Time to give up ?

[niceguyVZ]

This is from a patient.co.uk site about epilepsy treatments
"seizures caused by some underlying brain problems may be more difficult to control"

Ok so if we got underlying brain problem then is it worth it to continue taking meds if they're not gonna work?

And when do you stop the current meds and try something different?

 

[masterjen]

How long have you been on your current medication for? What kind of improvement have you see so far? Any change in frequency, duration, severity of post-seizure symptoms, etc?
Often before trying a different medication altogether, the neurologist will try increasing the dose, especially if there are signs that the medication has been doing at least something.
If you have been on the medication a few months and are already at the maximum dose you can tolerate due to side effects at higher doses and the medication still isn't helping, then the neurologist might potentially consider a change to a different medication or possibly might add in another one.

 

[Belinda5000]

your not going to see a change in a few weeks it might take as long as a month.
Everyone doesn't get control within the first three aeds either.
:twocents::agree:

 

[Cint]

And when do you stop the current meds and try something different?

First of all, never give up!! From your previous postings, it seems like you've missed several of your doses of meds, therefore it will be much more difficult to get the seizures under control. Do you have a pill box and/a reminder to take your meds?

If you are taking them religiously and still having seizures, then your dr. (are you seeing an epileptologist?) may increase your dosage or add another medication. And check out this website:

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treat...ment-101-basics/if-first-medicine-doesnt-work

~Write down if there’s anything that could be affecting or triggering your seizures. (link to Seizure Triggers) For example, are they happening at a certain time of day, if you are sick with another illness, if you miss a medicine, or during sleep? What about if you are not getting enough sleep, or if you’re under a lot of stress? There may be other lifestyle factors going on that you aren’t aware of, so try to keep track of how you are feeling and what you are doing when you have a seizure.
~Review the list of triggers with your doctor. There may be lifestyle changes you can make.
~Go over how you are taking the medicine and if you’ve missed any doses. There may be easier ways to take the medicine that will prevent missed doses.
~A higher dose of medicine may be needed. When a seizure medication is first started, usually it’s at a low dose and increased slowly. The dose will be increased over time as you and your doctor see how it works.
~If the dose of medicine is changed or the times you take it are different, make sure you know what the changes are. Write these changes down and the date you make the changes!
~If seizures still continue and you are on the highest amount of the first medicine that you can tolerate, your doctor might recommend changing medicines.

*If you are seeing a primary care doctor, ask to see a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in disorders of the nervous system, including the brain) or an epileptologist (a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy)

 

[valeriedl]

My neurologist told me that it usually takes a few weeks to find out how a medicine is going to work for you.

After that they may need to change the dosages, increasing or decreasing them. They may need to add another pill and mess around with the dosages between the two to see how things go. They may also try adding another pill along with the ones that you are already taking. They may need to take you off of one pill completely because it's not working for you and put you on another. I went through this for a few years before my neuro found the right recipe for me.

It's very rarely a 'certain pill and/or dose' that works the very first time you are put on it.