Guest guest Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Hi Sherri If Depakene is the same as Depakote, which is the same as Epilim in the UK, then I get the feeling from other posts and I know from my own experience that it can/did muck up the effects of the diet and the ketone levels/readings. We started the diet Feb 04 and are now off the Depakote/Epilim completely. Everything is a lot more settled and predictable and I wish we had been able to do it earlier but never mind, thank goodness we are drug-free. Overall Ben is much better for that. Rose Toms, Mum to Ben (9) keto kid since feb 04, drug free since end Sept 04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2004 Report Share Posted October 19, 2004 Sherri, Depakene (valproic acid) and Depakote (sodium valproate) are known to cause problems with the diet. As the body metabolizes fat, one of the many " breakdown products " is an acid that is a direct precursor of valproic acid. There hasn't been a definite connection made, but it makes sense that could be the reason that many kids go " toxic " on depakene/depakote after they have been on the diet for a while. In addition, both the drugs and the diet can deplete carnitine. One of the two alone can do a pretty good job, but both together have a really good chance of seriously lowering carnitine levels. Both drugs can also stress the liver. They can cause increased ammonia levels. Increased ammonia levels along with increased acidosis from the diet can present yet another bad situation. I hope your doc is having you wean Topamax because it is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor which also makes the body more acidic. It, together with the diet has caused some kids to become dangerously acidic. I don't understand why he would want you to start another drug, especially depakene, along with the diet. If it were me, I would ask exactly why he thinks that would be better than the diet alone. The diet usually does best without drugs on board to complicate things. Often, it takes some careful fine tuning of the diet to attain seizure freedom. It's important to give the diet a good chance to work on its own. Hopefully, your keto team can help you make changes, if needed, to adjust the diet to Catie's particular needs. Sometimes, after trying all options, a small amount of medication (one that is " more " keto friendly--really none of them are truly friendly) is added back and seizures improve. Hope this helps... Cammie > > Have a lot of you had to stop Depakene,after starting the diet? > Because our Nero wants to start it after we get off Topamax. Is it > because of the level get to high? > > Sherri (mom to Caitie)keto 4/04 4:1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Depakene is not allowed while on the diet. The syrup contains high amounts of succrose and sorbital. We had to switch to the pill form of Depakote while starting the diet. > > Have a lot of you had to stop Depakene,after starting the diet? > Because our Nero wants to start it after we get off Topamax. Is it > because of the level get to high? > > Sherri (mom to Caitie)keto 4/04 4:1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.