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Zarontin vs Zonegran Question

Wed, 05/04/2005 - 11:12

Topic: Medication Issues

Our 16 year old son started having Absencse Seizures when he was about 6 years old. First Grand Mal at 9 years. 500 mgs zarontin controlled both the Absence and the Grand Mals whenever he took his meds. He went to a out of state soccer tournament in the winter and forgot to take the Zarontin and we had a couple of Grand Mals within 2 weeks. We went back and they upped the Zarontin to 1000 mgs/day. 5 months went by and no seizure. We went to a new doctor (epilepsy specialist) who put him on 300 mg Zonegran and took him off Zarontin saying the Zarontin did nithing to prevent the Grand Mals. Well, after a 6 week weaning off period of the Zarontin and getting on the 300 mgs Zonegran, our son has had 2 Grand Mals each of the last Saturday nites. Have we been guinea pigs for this "Specialist?" I mean, I can read and it seems that Zarontin should not control Grand Mals according to everything I read.... The facts are that it did in my son. Oh, he has always had a normal eeg, sleep deprived.What am I to do?

Comments

RE: Zarontin vs Zonegran Question

Submitted by jennamay on Wed, 2005-05-04 - 11:12

Here are a few links to information regarding Zonegran and Zarontin which may be useful:

http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/b_zarontin_intro.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/b_zarontin_use.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/b_zonegran_intro.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/medications/b_zonegran_use.html

Zarontin is usually used only to treat absence (petit mal) seizures, particularly in young children. It has no effect against (or may even worsen) most other types of seizures. Zonegran is used for partial seizuresÂ—that is, seizures that begin in a limited area of the brain. Sometimes these seizures spread throughout the brain (generalize). It is approved to be used as adjunctive therapyÂ—that is, to be added to other seizure medicine.

Epilepsy.com Editor