Re: Alternative Seizure Meds

[Guest guest]

Depends on the type of seizures! Staci has complex partial and myoclonic, so

I don't know much about grand mal. What type depends on which part of the

brain is affected by the " alternate rhythms and centers of electrical

activity " [Now, isn't that pc?? (Politically Correct? Ever seen the book of

PC Fairy Tales? It's a hoot, but not worth spending money on. The friend

who gave me that last Christmas gave me a basket of toiletries I'll NEVER

use! " Skin firming cream " , my foot! Well, I might need it later on this

year, after Dr. Atkins and I get this blubber off.....)

Alternative/ newer seizure meds:

A class that came on the market a year or two are:

Lamictal, Topamax, Gabitril. Staci's now on Gabitril and I'm on Topamax.

Works great.

Vigabatril (sp?) was " black market " until it became legal this (whoops!

LAST) year, friends were getting theirs down in TJ (Tijuana, Baja California,

Mexico for those not from CA). Trouble is, I've read about some nasty side

effects.

Check out the list archives for some good websites re: med info.

I've gotta go, the smoke alarm's going off so is through cooking

breakfast.

Yum.

Love,

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

How was breakfast?? LOL!

As for the type of seizure that Alycia had, I would call it a focal seizure

that generalized into a grand

mal. Alycia was completely conscious for about 20 minutes. It wasn't until the

seizure started to affect

her facial muscles that she started to drift off however, Valium was being

infused at about the same time

so it may well have been the Valium that made her go unconscious. I believe

they call that kind of

seizure a " ian March " because it starts in one limb and keeps moving

until the entire body is

affected. The seizure started as a simple hand twitching then moved up her arm

and over to the other side

of her body.

I have a call in to the neurologist but she has been away since Friday so I

haven't got an answer from

her. I hate giving Alycia the Tegretol because I feel like every dose is

poisoning her but I have had no

response from the neuro yet so I can't do anything. The pedi thought the

situation was emergent enough to

call me on a Holiday, fax the results to the neuro and suggest that I call the

neuro myself but she didn't

answer my message so I guess it isn't the emergency the pedi and I thought it

was. I going to bug her

again tommorrow.

I am relieved to hear that there are some choices for meds left besides

Dilantin, Tegretol and Depakote(

I am really afraid to give Depakote to Alycia because I have heard some

frightening stories about the

effect of Depakote on mito kids.). Thanks for the response.

Lori