 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / March 2004Too much meds????
I take 600 mg of Dilantin and 1,000 of Keppra (the doctors tried to raise Keppra up to 1500 but I had too many side effects). I have had a lot of people tell me that is a large dose for someone my age (I am 17, going on 18 in 2 mon). Since you all take meds sort-of like mine at least, could anyone tell me if that is considered a large dose? Howdy Dawn! I think that the quantity of meds that you get has more to do with body mass than with age. A 6' 4" person weighing 300 lbs. needs more than a petite 5' 3" person weighing 95 lbs.  SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > I take 600 mg of Dilantin and 1,000 of Keppra (the doctors tried to > raise Keppra up to 1500 but I had too many side effects). I have had a > lot of people tell me that is a large dose for someone my age (I am 17, > going on 18 in 2 mon). Since you all take meds sort-of like mine at > least, could anyone tell me if that is considered a large dose? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- I don't care if you all know what I weigh. I am about 245 lbs and about 5'3". I do not believe in hiding the truth. Everyone (beyond physicians) I know thinks I am on too much medicine. > I take 600 mg of Dilantin and 1,000 of Keppra (the doctors tried to > raise Keppra up to 1500 but I had too many side effects). I have had a > lot of people tell me that is a large dose for someone my age (I am 17, > going on 18 in 2 mon). Since you all take meds sort-of like mine at > least, could anyone tell me if that is considered a large dose? The website at http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/keppra_ids.htm gives some information on Keppra dosage. I was tried on Keppra before my current meds, but dropped it because it not only didn't stop my seizures but made me feel really weird! Bob Bob, I don't get the equation they give on the website to understand the chart. Do you know how to put it in easier terms? You haven't said what your frequency rate of your seizures are. If the drugs are doing the job then maybe your okay. If you are under control maybe over time you can reduce your levels of drugs. Martin I take 600 mg of Dilantin and 1,000 of Keppra (the doctors tried to raise Keppra up to 1500 but I had too many side effects). I have had a lot of people tell me that is a large dose for someone my age (I am 17, going on 18 in 2 mon). Since you all take meds sort-of like mine at least, could anyone tell me if that is considered a large dose? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Martin wrote: >You haven't said what your frequency rate of >your seizures are. If the drugs are doing the >job then maybe your okay. They really do not have a frequency rate. For a few months, I had Grand Mals one or two a month, then I had like the six that one month, and haven't had one since (about two months). I still get the absences at least once a week or more. None are in a distinct pattern. I am a 48 year old man who has had epilepsy for nearly 30 years. I have always taken Dilantin--400 mg daily. Not counting two 5 month time periods where I took myself off the mess--hoping to stop feeling so confused, depressed, stop suffering from the memory loss, and the feelings of wanting to commit suicide. During those "off times" and up until last month, I was so chemically imbalanced I literally could not function. I went to google and put in "dilantin toxicity" and it was like I'd written the symptoms list MYSELF!! My return trip to my doctor, I insisted that something be done to stop the hell I was going through. My meds were cut to 200mg a day...one capsule in the morning and one at night. In the last four weeks, my depression is non-existant; feelings of wanting to hurt myself are gone; I no longer feel like I am bouncing off the walls, and things that seemed to trigger seizure situations are no longer a factor. I feel like getting out and interacting with the human race and, most importantly, for the first time in a very long time, I am at peace with myself. Although I do not drive presently, I feel that I am less of a "threat" without the extra Dilantin than when I was on the higher dosage. So, people, PLEASE!! If you are on a medication that makes you feel so bad that you find day to day life unbearable, see your doctor..don't let your situation spiral out of control like I did. Dave > Martin wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > haven't had one since (about two months). I still get the absences at > least once a week or more. None are in a distinct pattern. I've been trying to convince my consultant psychiatrist and neurologist that my psychophrenic-like symptoms might be due to too much anti- convulsant. My insight came from the only web page I've ever looked at because of it being referred to in this news group. It was a paper called 'Complex Partial Seizures Present Diagnostic Challenge' by Richard Restak printed in 2002 for an American Journal called 'Psychiatric Times'. I have shown it to several doctors but I don't think any of them have bothered to read it as they've certainly taken no notice. However, that doesn't surprise me in view of the unprofessional action some of them have taken. eg when I was desparetly depressed and frightened I'd do something drastic if my husband went out a GP came round and without asking any questions proclaimed 'Well, you've had another tiff. There's nothing we can do about your anxiety, your depression or epilepsy so if you want to kill yourself, go ahead and do so. When I quoted this to the consultant neurologist, she couldn't hide her humour. They should both be struck off but who would believe a mere patient who was already classified as mentally ill ?! Chris L. > I am a 48 year old man who has had epilepsy for nearly 30 years. I have > always taken Dilantin--400 mg daily. Not counting two 5 month time periods [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > bad that you find day to day life unbearable, see your doctor..don't let > your situation spiral out of control like I did. > Dave > > Martin wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > haven't had one since (about two months). I still get the absences at > > least once a week or more. None are in a distinct pattern. > I've been trying to convince my consultant psychiatrist and neurologist > that my psychophrenic-like symptoms might be due to too much anti- [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > was already classified as mentally ill ?! > Chris L. G. Actually the Council of Physicians and Surgeons would, depending how easy it is for you to find a New Doctor then. 'Tough Love' treatments went out with the Beatles, but some of them might not realize that (yet). I consider his comments inadequate treatment, and hardly supportive. A Younger Doctor or a more **open-minded one might be more use to you. I had one like that years and years ago (when I first had Encephalitis in 1979). I wouldn't take that now from any of my Doctors if I came across any like that ( *luckily I haven't). I think Dr. Richard Restak (above) is a U.S.? or U.K. (possibly) Neurosurgeon who's written at least one book, possibly more you might be able to find at a Library. I think the 'one' is just called 'The Brain', and goes into quite a lot of current information (as of ~1995? or whenever he wrote it). There are descriptions on various things that can go wrong, MRIs and CAT scans etc. of various types of Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, etc. that can affect it (the brain). I suggested a Library, (unless there are extracts online), since any sections on Epilepsy likely don't exceed 4-6 pages in several different sections (ones about MRIs, Electrical functions, Trauma effects, etc. as each are grouped in the book). He wrote a second one (at least) but at the moment I can't remember the Other Doctor's name he cowrote another one with (something like Frontiers of Neurology? a guess). (I've seen him interviewed on a 'Discovery' (Science) TV Channel in Canada, and possibly on Larry King Live (CNN) in the U.S. I think that was about 1-2 months ago. The Might be a CNN.com site where any transcripts might be filed. I think in that program he was talking about Childhood Trauma injuries, Accidents causing Brain damage, and possibly other types of injury. I seem to remember 'leaving the room for a coffee' when he ran a Video showing internal Brain Surgery to repair some kind of damage.... :-< You might also find more articles by Dr. Restak under a Google or ?? search but they might not necessarily be about seizures, but about other brain research. He's quite good, isn't he? And he writes stuff that's easy for a lay person to read and understand. I think that's why he was so popular on some of the shows I've seen. G.R. > > I am a 48 year old man who has had epilepsy for nearly 30 years. I have > > always taken Dilantin--400 mg daily. <older posts removed> He has his own website with a list of his books at http://www.restak.com/ Bob > > I've been trying to convince my consultant psychiatrist and neurologist > > that my psychophrenic-like symptoms might be due to too much anti- [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > > > I am a 48 year old man who has had epilepsy for nearly 30 years. I have > > > always taken Dilantin--400 mg daily. <older posts removed> Dave, I'm somewhat surprised you could reduce from 400 to 200mg of Dilantin per day. I'm taking 500/day myself and from what I've read and been told your blood serum level needs to be within a very narrow range to be effective against seizures and +/- 100 mg can easily put you above or below this range. Glad if the half dose is working but it sounds like the seizures you had when you stopped were from Dilantin withdrawl rather than other causes and that you might be able to phase off entirely over time. That's my read as an Analyst, not a Doctor :-) > I am a 48 year old man who has had epilepsy for nearly 30 years. I have > always taken Dilantin--400 mg daily. Not counting two 5 month time periods [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > haven't had one since (about two months). I still get the absences at > > least once a week or more. None are in a distinct pattern.
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.