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8 year old with rolandic epilepsy
Sun, 12/05/2004 - 20:26Hi,
My son was diagnosed in spring 2003 after several mild seizures. He has been on carbitrol since then -150 mg 2xday. Yesterday his neurologist increased the dose to 200mg 2xday. He has been having difficulties in school with distractibility and handwriting. The distraction issue started about the time his meds started, and increased when his dosage increased. We are in the process of working out with Drs. meds for add/adhd. Has anyone had similar distraction problems while on carbitrol/tegretol? And, how about handwriting?
Thanks, robin510
Comments
RE: 8 year old with rolandic epilepsy
Submitted by e_nuffofthis on Thu, 2004-11-11 - 08:44
Was his seizures controlled before the increase? Was the med increased because he was still having seizures or because his level was lower than what the doc liked and he just decided to increase it because of that?
The problems in school are related to the medication; however it could be abnormal activity in the brain also. Been going through this for years, and seizure control, unfortunately, has to come before the problems associated with the meds. We have no choice. Being it's handwriting, find out what area in the brain is responsible for that (maybe right prosterior region?) and try to associate it with where the docs think the seizures are beginning. Maybe there is a correlation.
I can't tell you whether or not your child may have ADHD on top of the seizures, or if it is purely the meds/seizure activity. It's something you need to use your instincts for, talk to your doctor and decide if you want to medicate for both. Does your child have an IEP plan at school? If not, you should start finding out about that so that he gets the extra help he needs.
Was his seizures controlled before the increase? Was the med increased because he was still having seizures or because his level was lower than what the doc liked and he just decided to increase it because of that?
The problems in school are related to the medication; however it could be abnormal activity in the brain also. Been going through this for years, and seizure control, unfortunately, has to come before the problems associated with the meds. We have no choice. Being it's handwriting, find out what area in the brain is responsible for that (maybe right prosterior region?) and try to associate it with where the docs think the seizures are beginning. Maybe there is a correlation.
I can't tell you whether or not your child may have ADHD on top of the seizures, or if it is purely the meds/seizure activity. It's something you need to use your instincts for, talk to your doctor and decide if you want to medicate for both. Does your child have an IEP plan at school? If not, you should start finding out about that so that he gets the extra help he needs.
RE: RE: RE: RE: 8 year old with rolandic epilepsy
Submitted by drsjg on Thu, 2005-02-17 - 00:03
BRE has a very distinct EEG pattern. If it is found than a diagnosis can be made even if only one seizure.
BRE has a very distinct EEG pattern. If it is found than a diagnosis can be made even if only one seizure.