Anyone have a child on Keppra?

[Ottakee]

After a nice long talk with the neurologist yesterday (and psychiatrist Monday) we are looking at trying to switch my 14dd from Tegretol to Keppra. She is loosing IQ points--to the tune of 30-40 points in the past 7 years. We are not sure if it is a side effect of the Tegretol, one of her other meds, the seizures or her mitochondrial disorder (which can be degenerative).

Meds is about the only thing we can play around with so we are going to try a slow switch--over about 3 months time.

Just wondering about Keppra. He said he had some kids that did fabulous on it while a few had trouble with it. Very rarely it can cause aggitation and irritability (not good in a child with bipolar) but we will watch very very closely for it and he said to report any problems right away.

We can't do Depakote due to liver issues. Trileptal and Neurontin caused mania.

She is also on Lamictal but that doesn't seem to be enough.

Dd is very nervous about a med change as she doesn't want a seizure or negative side effects---she is functioning about a 1/2nd grade level so it is harder to reason with her.

[sheryl]

After a nice long talk with the neurologist yesterday (and psychiatrist Monday) we are looking at trying to switch my 14dd from Tegretol to Keppra. She is loosing IQ points--to the tune of 30-40 points in the past 7 years. We are not sure if it is a side effect of the Tegretol, one of her other meds, the seizures or her mitochondrial disorder (which can be degenerative).

Meds is about the only thing we can play around with so we are going to try a slow switch--over about 3 months time.

Just wondering about Keppra. He said he had some kids that did fabulous on it while a few had trouble with it. Very rarely it can cause aggitation and irritability (not good in a child with bipolar) but we will watch very very closely for it and he said to report any problems right away.

We can't do Depakote due to liver issues. Trileptal and Neurontin caused mania.

She is also on Lamictal but that doesn't seem to be enough.

Dd is very nervous about a med change as she doesn't want a seizure or negative side effects---she is functioning about a 1/2nd grade level so it is harder to reason with her.


Hi Ottakee! Yes, my dd was on Keppra in the very beginning! Either she was on Keppra first or Lamictal first...don't remember which. We pulled her from K, she was on another med I think...still continuing poorly. We switched neuor and the new dr gave her zarontin in addition to lamictal. She's been seizure free ever since which is 20 months this weekend!

Now, my dd did *terrible* on Keppra. HOWEVER, I know other kids do well on it. I think my dd is just more sensitive or whatnot. She's also on the smaller side...which shouldn't be a factor, just trying to paint a picture.

Also, we were new in understanding side effects and what to look for...is this her usual behavior or is this heightened possibly due to med/s?

Why is it being prescribed? Is it in the same family? Perhaps you could compare it that way to determine how she might do. Read side effects first or talk to n.

My dd has behavioral issues now which are being handled nicely....for now!

O, you're so knowledgable on these issues, I don't know if this will help or not, but there you have it.

[Ottakee]

We know we are keeping the Lamictal. We love that med.

I looked up Zarontin and it is more for absence seizures and Keppra more for complex seizures and that is the type we think she has.

I am still waiting on the neurologist office to call back about getting approval for the meds as I would like to start it this weekend if possible so I can watch her closely.

[sheryl]

Right, good thing to do. Each child's body chemistry is so different. I was going to mention Depakote until I read that can not be considered. Unfortunately though alot of meds pass through the liver. THat was one question I kept asking the dr with each new med that was prescribed. Lamictal is "clean", the others my dd takes not so much. One of her drs just recently suggested Depakote for the behavioral stuff. But, I'm leary about it as the Lamictal and Zar are working for her.

:grouphug:

[Ottakee]

We got approval for the meds and she just took it. No drama about the new med tonight. I think she was just overly stressed yesterday.

Now to watch closely for side effects, etc.

[asta]

Just an aside, Keppra is in its own "family" - there is no other drug like it. I have taken it as an adult, and it worked well, but I could not continue taking it. I needed to take 2000mg for my seizures, but that dose induced a crippling psychological depression that (obviously) was not acceptable by me or my doctor.

As you already know, anticonvulsants work completely differently in kids than they do in children, so my experience is not indicative for your child. I just wanted you to know that it *is* a good drug and that it stands alone - completely different from any drug out there.

Also, they have done studies on it and found it to be "neuro generative" meaning that it helps to rebuild pathways in the brain that have been damaged by seizures or other insults. I credit the drug with helping my brain heal as much as it did.

A good place to get info about pediatrics and neurological/psychiatric meds (if it is still operational - I think it is) is a place called Least Restrictive Environment II, run by a blogger called Rett Devil who works with Autistic kids. Just Google Rett Devil.

Good luck.


a

[Ottakee]

We are trying Keppra because it is so unique and it has reports of helping with stuttering which is a big issue here---actually more word finding than true stuttering.

That said, we are watching VERY closely for any depression, irritability, aggression, etc. as she does have bipolar. She is on meds for that though so hopefully they will help hold any side effects away. If not, we will have to switch.

It would be great if would help the cognitive skills as well. Yesterday I talked to the speech therapist and she said it is if dd can think so much higher than she can express herself.

[theretohere]

Coming late- but my 2 year old takes Keppra and has since she was one. She does really well on it and we're very happy.

[Ottakee]

So far, so good here. Tomorrow we increase from 500mg to 1000mg.

Coming late- but my 2 year old takes Keppra and has since she was one. She does really well on it and we're very happy.

[Pajama Mama]

Ds10 has been on 1250mg twice a day of Keppra for about 5 years. He also takes Lamictal 150 mg twice day. He just had a seizure last month. Before that he was seizure free for a year. His seizures are so much better with the Keppra/Lamictal combo.