Anyone have experience with anti-seizure drugs?
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Anyone have experience with anti-seizure drugs?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Anyone have experience with anti-seizure drugs?

  • Post
    • August 29, 2012 at 2:09 pm
    jmmm
    Participant
    My husband (stage 4 since Jan. 2011) had a grand mal seizure over the weekend. He has been “fine” for about 6 months and even had a NED scan 3 weeks ago, so the seizure came out of nowhere. The CT at the hospital showed nothing new (he has a large cyst from a huge brain tumor from last October…treated with a craniotomy and gamma knife). He’ll go in Friday for a MRI to. Rule out new growth, but for now he’s on Keppra. Since he started taking it, he’s been like a zombie…completely glassy-eyed, wants to sleep all the time and can barely function.

    My husband (stage 4 since Jan. 2011) had a grand mal seizure over the weekend. He has been “fine” for about 6 months and even had a NED scan 3 weeks ago, so the seizure came out of nowhere. The CT at the hospital showed nothing new (he has a large cyst from a huge brain tumor from last October…treated with a craniotomy and gamma knife). He’ll go in Friday for a MRI to. Rule out new growth, but for now he’s on Keppra. Since he started taking it, he’s been like a zombie…completely glassy-eyed, wants to sleep all the time and can barely function. I have a call into the doctor, but am wondering if someone has experience with any type of anti-seizure drug. This is not how he wants to live…we’re both thinking that the risk of another seizure is better than living like this. Any thoughts? They did not find an immediate cause for the seizure.

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Replies
      • August 29, 2012 at 3:34 pm
      MikeWI
      Participant

      I take kepra for a seizure during interferon treatment.  I have balance and dizzyness issues.  I can't wait for the interferon treatments to be done(only four left) so i can get off of it.

       

      MikeWI

       

      stage 2c

        • August 29, 2012 at 5:07 pm
        Becky
        Participant

        My 27 year old son ( it is my 24 yr old son with melanoma) started having seizures when he was 11. He has been on lots of different meds and combos of meds…the thing about seizures is that it is often trial and error when it comes to what medication i s most effective. Unfortunately, most have side effects..but they seem to get better over time.

        He is now on Keppra, along with a couple of other meds. Keppra actually seemed to have less side effects for him than others. I do know that whenever he stops or starts a new medication, the doctors have him do it gradually..increasing the dose every week or 2…so I am wondering if maybe they gave your husband too much too soon.

         

        Hope things improve for him

         

        Becky

        • August 29, 2012 at 5:07 pm
        Becky
        Participant

        My 27 year old son ( it is my 24 yr old son with melanoma) started having seizures when he was 11. He has been on lots of different meds and combos of meds…the thing about seizures is that it is often trial and error when it comes to what medication i s most effective. Unfortunately, most have side effects..but they seem to get better over time.

        He is now on Keppra, along with a couple of other meds. Keppra actually seemed to have less side effects for him than others. I do know that whenever he stops or starts a new medication, the doctors have him do it gradually..increasing the dose every week or 2…so I am wondering if maybe they gave your husband too much too soon.

         

        Hope things improve for him

         

        Becky

        • August 29, 2012 at 5:07 pm
        Becky
        Participant

        My 27 year old son ( it is my 24 yr old son with melanoma) started having seizures when he was 11. He has been on lots of different meds and combos of meds…the thing about seizures is that it is often trial and error when it comes to what medication i s most effective. Unfortunately, most have side effects..but they seem to get better over time.

        He is now on Keppra, along with a couple of other meds. Keppra actually seemed to have less side effects for him than others. I do know that whenever he stops or starts a new medication, the doctors have him do it gradually..increasing the dose every week or 2…so I am wondering if maybe they gave your husband too much too soon.

         

        Hope things improve for him

         

        Becky

      • August 29, 2012 at 3:34 pm
      MikeWI
      Participant

      I take kepra for a seizure during interferon treatment.  I have balance and dizzyness issues.  I can't wait for the interferon treatments to be done(only four left) so i can get off of it.

       

      MikeWI

       

      stage 2c

      • August 29, 2012 at 3:34 pm
      MikeWI
      Participant

      I take kepra for a seizure during interferon treatment.  I have balance and dizzyness issues.  I can't wait for the interferon treatments to be done(only four left) so i can get off of it.

       

      MikeWI

       

      stage 2c

      • August 29, 2012 at 5:04 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      My sister has epilepsy and has been on just about every drug there is.  Kepra is a nasty one!  It changed her personalty totally, from a very nice person to periods of a raging maniac.  Worse of all she wasn't even aware of it.  There are so many different drugs he can try, I'd really pursue this further.

      Mary,

      Stage 3

      • August 29, 2012 at 5:04 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      My sister has epilepsy and has been on just about every drug there is.  Kepra is a nasty one!  It changed her personalty totally, from a very nice person to periods of a raging maniac.  Worse of all she wasn't even aware of it.  There are so many different drugs he can try, I'd really pursue this further.

      Mary,

      Stage 3

      • August 29, 2012 at 5:04 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      My sister has epilepsy and has been on just about every drug there is.  Kepra is a nasty one!  It changed her personalty totally, from a very nice person to periods of a raging maniac.  Worse of all she wasn't even aware of it.  There are so many different drugs he can try, I'd really pursue this further.

      Mary,

      Stage 3

      • August 29, 2012 at 8:49 pm
      scots
      Participant
      I take Kepra. It took about 3 to 4 weeks to for my body to adjust and feel normal again. I have been on Kepra for a little over a year now. I felt just like you described . In a fog. I feel fine now. I take 500mg twice a day.

      Scot

      • August 29, 2012 at 8:49 pm
      scots
      Participant
      I take Kepra. It took about 3 to 4 weeks to for my body to adjust and feel normal again. I have been on Kepra for a little over a year now. I felt just like you described . In a fog. I feel fine now. I take 500mg twice a day.

      Scot

      • August 29, 2012 at 8:49 pm
      scots
      Participant
      I take Kepra. It took about 3 to 4 weeks to for my body to adjust and feel normal again. I have been on Kepra for a little over a year now. I felt just like you described . In a fog. I feel fine now. I take 500mg twice a day.

      Scot

      • August 31, 2012 at 12:27 pm
      jmmm
      Participant
      Thanks for all the info…the nurse called back and said to stay on it until next Tuesday until his appointment., then if the MRI was clear, he might be able to try something else or lower the dose. It’s going to be a long weekend…rain + 3 kids + hubby acting like a zombie..fun times:)
        • October 17, 2012 at 10:00 am
        jenniferdraper
        Participant

        Phenytoin is an antiseizure medication (anticonvulsant) used to prevent seizures. It helps control certain types of seizures such as complex partial seizures, grand mal seizures, and seizures that occur during or after brain surgery

        • October 17, 2012 at 10:00 am
        jenniferdraper
        Participant

        Phenytoin is an antiseizure medication (anticonvulsant) used to prevent seizures. It helps control certain types of seizures such as complex partial seizures, grand mal seizures, and seizures that occur during or after brain surgery

        • October 17, 2012 at 10:00 am
        jenniferdraper
        Participant

        Phenytoin is an antiseizure medication (anticonvulsant) used to prevent seizures. It helps control certain types of seizures such as complex partial seizures, grand mal seizures, and seizures that occur during or after brain surgery

      • August 31, 2012 at 12:27 pm
      jmmm
      Participant
      Thanks for all the info…the nurse called back and said to stay on it until next Tuesday until his appointment., then if the MRI was clear, he might be able to try something else or lower the dose. It’s going to be a long weekend…rain + 3 kids + hubby acting like a zombie..fun times:)
      • August 31, 2012 at 12:27 pm
      jmmm
      Participant
      Thanks for all the info…the nurse called back and said to stay on it until next Tuesday until his appointment., then if the MRI was clear, he might be able to try something else or lower the dose. It’s going to be a long weekend…rain + 3 kids + hubby acting like a zombie..fun times:)
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