If only the best of intentions, good thoughts and prayers could be used as a successful treatment for seizures.
Unfortunately, Will had another seizure. He woke up very early one morning. I coaxed him back to sleep. Within 30 minutes of going back to sleep, he had a seizure. Thankfully I caught it early and with the emergency medicine, the seizure was short lived. Will seemed normal, though a bit tired afterward. We didn't need a trip to the ER.
We saw the neurologist that same day. We agreed that the Keppra wasn't working anymore. Unfortunately, the other drugs that treat Will's type of seizures all have some significant side effects. The first one that we're trying (Lamictal) has a high risk of allergic reaction. I'm not talking about sneezes and watery eyes. I am talking life-threatening skin reaction. So we have to watch Will very closely on this medicine. We also have started with a teeny dosage, and will work our way up to the full dosage slowly over the next 6 weeks. We'll also start weaning Will off of the Keppra and B-6 vitamin if he is successful on Lamictal over the next couple of weeks.
The most frustrating thing about neurologic disorders such as seizure disorder is that the only way to know that a drug is working is to wait and see if Will has another seizure. If he does, then the drug probably isn't working. So we try, try again. And again, and again, and again...
1 comment:
That is so frustrating about waiting to see if a drug works or not. I know the same is true for antidepressants...you have to wait 4-6 weeks to see if they work, which seems like a lifetime. Then if it doesn't work, it's on to the next one. Someone has to come up with a better solution. Interestingly, Lamictal is also used to treat Bipolar disorder.
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