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I need help,thanks.

Tue, 07/26/2005 - 22:31

   Hello,everyone,I am a new comer here.I am a Chinese girl who needs

some help.
   When I was 17,I had my first seizure lasting for one or two

minutes,at summer night,one time in that year of 1998.Then 2000,also

summer night,one seizure,then 2003(four times,summer

nights),2004(once).I did all kinds of tests including EEG and

MRI,there's nothing wrong with me.My family were really

puzzled,recently some doctors think that I have the epilepsy according

to the symptoms.However I have a problem now:two different doctors give

me two kinds of medicines:Topamax and Depakene.I looked for all the

related information I could get,but  I could not get a perfect

answer.Which kind of medicine is the best for me?I am a student now,and

I am a girl ,I like babies very much.I want the medicine which has the

least side effect for me.Would some one tell me that which is better

for me or there is better ones? Thanks a lot:)

Comments

RE: I need help,thanks.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2005-07-26 - 06:45

Unfortunately, it's not unusual to get different recommendations on what medicines to try. There isn't just one answer since the choice of drugs is based on the type of seizures, effect of different drugs as well as side effects and safety. Also, how easy it is to take the medicine, what you are willing to tolerate or try, age and gender are important things to consider, especially for young women. Think about making a list of your concerns and ask your doctor to go through the drug choices with you in relation to each concern! You may find it easier to make decisions this way. Take a look at the information section of epilepsy.com under treatments - look at the guidelines for use of AEDs as well as information about specific drugs that may help you. And if you don't find what you need, let us know and keep asking the questions!

epi_help

 

Unfortunately, it's not unusual to get different recommendations on what medicines to try. There isn't just one answer since the choice of drugs is based on the type of seizures, effect of different drugs as well as side effects and safety. Also, how easy it is to take the medicine, what you are willing to tolerate or try, age and gender are important things to consider, especially for young women. Think about making a list of your concerns and ask your doctor to go through the drug choices with you in relation to each concern! You may find it easier to make decisions this way. Take a look at the information section of epilepsy.com under treatments - look at the guidelines for use of AEDs as well as information about specific drugs that may help you. And if you don't find what you need, let us know and keep asking the questions!

epi_help

 

RE: I need help,thanks.

Submitted by grez-monkey on Tue, 2005-07-26 - 09:11

jloihzn,

Welcome to the community forum. I cannot say which medication(s) would be bad or good, nor specifically the one for the seizures you are having. But I would like to suggest some things. You said that there are two doctors who have given you two different medications. Are either one, or both, of these doctors neurologist, or experienced in the feild of neurology? If it's just one of them is in the feild of neurology then it might be better if you coordinate with that one type of doctor. If both of these doctors are in the neurologists, then they need to work together themselves to do what's right for you. But, if there's the chance that neitherone of those doctors are neurologist, then maybe now would be a good time for you to see a neurologist.

Are you taking both the Topamax and Depakene at the same time, or either one separately? Either way, how are you doing with them? Do you feel or see anything that might be side effects from the medication(s)? Different medications work for different seizures and different people. The more accurate the doctor can diagnose which type of seizure, or seizures, you are having will be much better for deciding what medication you may need to be taking.

Hope this helps, and maybe there's some other people on here who have some good ideas or suggestions for you too.

BruceJ

jloihzn,

Welcome to the community forum. I cannot say which medication(s) would be bad or good, nor specifically the one for the seizures you are having. But I would like to suggest some things. You said that there are two doctors who have given you two different medications. Are either one, or both, of these doctors neurologist, or experienced in the feild of neurology? If it's just one of them is in the feild of neurology then it might be better if you coordinate with that one type of doctor. If both of these doctors are in the neurologists, then they need to work together themselves to do what's right for you. But, if there's the chance that neitherone of those doctors are neurologist, then maybe now would be a good time for you to see a neurologist.

Are you taking both the Topamax and Depakene at the same time, or either one separately? Either way, how are you doing with them? Do you feel or see anything that might be side effects from the medication(s)? Different medications work for different seizures and different people. The more accurate the doctor can diagnose which type of seizure, or seizures, you are having will be much better for deciding what medication you may need to be taking.

Hope this helps, and maybe there's some other people on here who have some good ideas or suggestions for you too.

BruceJ

RE: I need help,thanks.

Submitted by mrsrogers on Tue, 2005-07-26 - 11:12
Hey. I am not really shure how much help I can be, but I am going to giveit a shot. I had my first seizure when I was 12 and was put on depakene and it worked great for me. I think we are about the same age, based on the years you just mentioned. I took depakene for years, over ten years. No real side effects except for some drowsiness and some weight gain~that varies between people. However, I just switched meds because my husband and I want to start a family. Depakene is not the best med to be on while pregnant. I am now taking Keppra and it seems to be working well for me so far! I am not familiar with the other type of med that you referred to. I dont know if I have helped at all but I hope I have given you some insight. Good luck! Meg

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