Epilepsy medication is used to treat the symptoms of epilepsy, but it's not a cure for the disease. When a person starts a new epilepsy drug, it often takes time to find the right dose to provide optimal seizure control with minimum side effects. Since 1990, a large number of epilepsy medication has been approved by the FDA, increasing the treatment options for patients.
How well an epilepsy medication works may be affected by other medications the patient is taking. With Lennox-Gastaut there is no single medication that will control seizures. Also with Lennox-Gastaut, new medications initially improve seizures but within a few months patients develop a tolerance to the drug to the point of ineffectiveness.
Damonito is currently trying a new drug that has just been approved by the FDA. Just in the nick of time. He hasn't been doing well and we've been hoping for a new development.
3 comments:
I'd love to hear what this new drug is. We're doing good on the Felbatol right now, but our options are pretty much up after that. I'd really like to know that there's something else to fall back on.
Just in case this would help your grandson, we've had very good success with the Felbatol AND Diazepam--started at a high dose and tapered down to a low, theraputic dose. My daughter's older than Damonito, but I've heard that this is a very helpful combination for a good number of other LGS kids. It sure is the best we've had so far ;)
Kelly - the new med is called Trileptal (oxcarbazepime). Damonito was on Felbatol for awhile. He did ok at first but then, like with all medication so far, gradually was no longer as effective. Plus there were some side effects with Felbatol that caused problems.
How old is your daughter? When was she diagnosed?
S.H.
I'd LOVE to ask you some more questions as well! Feel free to email me (my address is in my profile).
I can tell you more about my daughter, and maybe I can get more info on Trileptal too :)
Kelly
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