New member

[Jennifer Henry]

Hi,

My name is Jennifer and I have a 9 year old son, Carter.  He was just diagnosed in early January.  We began noticing staring spells in December, after his EEG he was diagnosed with absence seizures and started on ethosuxemide.  It seemed to be working as we'd not seen any more episodes after day 2 of meds.  At one week, he had a tonic clonic while outside in our backyard playing with friends.  He'd just gotten over strep.  It seemed to take him a long time to recover from the seizure and was lethargic and not himself.  He was started on depakote and two days later, woke with a fever and rash.  Neurologist pulled the depakote and added clonazipam until the rash went away, he then tested positive for influenza A! The day we pulled the clonazipam to restart the depakote, he had another tonic clonic on the school bus!  So scary.  Anyway, back on the depakote and weaning the ethosuxemide, and so far everything is going ok. 

I was wondering what you guys knew about giving a child a stimulant for ADHD while on anti-seizure meds?  The neurologist said it was ok for Carter to continue his Concerta, but he's been off it for almost 2 weeks since he was so lethargic and didn't need it while sick.  He really needs something though now that he's feeling better.  I'm a little nervous about giving it to him though, in case that was causing the seizures, although he wasn't on it with this last tonic clonic.  I gave him a dose of short acting methylphenidate this morning to see how he'd tolerate it. 

Also, do any of you give omega 3'a or any other supplements to your children?

 

Looking forward to getting to know you all and learning more.

Thanks.

Jennifer

[Nicole Heideman]

Jennifer,

Welcome to the group.  I'm nicole mom to two kids.  Dylan is 12 and had lots of issues, but no seizures and mom to phoebe 7.5yrs with speech, complex partial epilepsy into generalized seizures, adhd.

My daughter is on the Methylphenidate and takes 10mls.  I was told when giving an meds you have to watch them because it will lower the seizure thrush hold.  So far she's done ok while on it and no problems with her having seizures, but we recently changed her meds and have been having lots of seizures....I would love to get my daughter onto another med, but she's one for not taking pills....I would love to do one med for her, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.  I would think if his Neurologist says that it won't bother I would go with it and keep him on the Concerta....This is my daughter's frist adhd med and so far she's doing ok with it, but may have to bring it up a little, but need to get her seizures under control before we do anything with that.  Good luck...Hope everything works out...and again welcome to the group.

Nicole

[Jennifer Henry]

Thanks Nicole.

Carter just recently began taking pills, I ordered the pill cup online that has a spout and helps them learn.  Google it and it should come up.  Its been a lifesaver now that he's been having to take a bunch of different meds lately.  He took the liquid methylphenidate for over 4 years before starting the concerta, and both have worked well for him.  Good luck!

Jennifer

[Nicole Heideman]

Jennifer,

Your welcome and thank you...I will have to check into that...she does not like taking the meds at all and even if I can try different things before starting her on the pills it may work, but not sure...