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http://www.epilepsy.com/newsletter/...ail&utm_term=0_cf0feb6500-d8df3f196a-12250501
This informative article explains the risks involved in weaning meds after a child has become seizure free, which children are more likely to have relapses after weaning, and whether children can become seizure free after a relapse.
Our personal case history: Jon was weaned from his meds after being seizure free for about 4 months on the Ketogenic Diet (the doctor ordered the wean because of liver damage).
The wean was very slow -- it took about 6 months to get him off of Depakote. He had no seizures during the wean, but did have a seizure relapse about 2 months after being completely weaned. This followed a viral illness, and a change to his diet.
However, Jon fits into the "high risk" category -- he is developmentally delayed, and he had intractible seizures prior to becoming seizure free on the Ketogenic diet.
After about 9 months (adding meds back in and tweaking the diet) Jon became seizure free again, and has now been seizure free for over 6 months. Two of his three meds were weaned in December and January, and he continues on Zonegran and the Ketogenic Diet.
This month we began a slow taper of his Zonegran (due to issues with acidosis and aggression). The plan is to taper down .25 mg every 3 months -- it will take 2 years to do a complete wean (and that's if he remains seizure free). Zonegran is a drug that works well even at smaller doses. Then he will continue on just the Ketogenic diet for a year, and if all goes well, will slowly wean him off that.
This informative article explains the risks involved in weaning meds after a child has become seizure free, which children are more likely to have relapses after weaning, and whether children can become seizure free after a relapse.
Our personal case history: Jon was weaned from his meds after being seizure free for about 4 months on the Ketogenic Diet (the doctor ordered the wean because of liver damage).
The wean was very slow -- it took about 6 months to get him off of Depakote. He had no seizures during the wean, but did have a seizure relapse about 2 months after being completely weaned. This followed a viral illness, and a change to his diet.
However, Jon fits into the "high risk" category -- he is developmentally delayed, and he had intractible seizures prior to becoming seizure free on the Ketogenic diet.
After about 9 months (adding meds back in and tweaking the diet) Jon became seizure free again, and has now been seizure free for over 6 months. Two of his three meds were weaned in December and January, and he continues on Zonegran and the Ketogenic Diet.
This month we began a slow taper of his Zonegran (due to issues with acidosis and aggression). The plan is to taper down .25 mg every 3 months -- it will take 2 years to do a complete wean (and that's if he remains seizure free). Zonegran is a drug that works well even at smaller doses. Then he will continue on just the Ketogenic diet for a year, and if all goes well, will slowly wean him off that.