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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
6yr old petit mal epileptic and depakote; afraid
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
6yr old petit mal epileptic and depakote; afraid
by Patricia__0__0, Mar 26, 1999 12:00AM
My daughter (age 6) has recently been diagnosed with Petit Mal Epilepsy. And was prescribed Depakote. We had noticed the starring episodes as far back as 3 or 4 years. We just thought she was ignoring us or being disrespectful. She has been doing this in school and around family and friends. My questions are:
Is this medicine necesary since she has been doing fine all these years?
Will her condition get worst without medication?
How does the doctor determine from her EEG that they are seizures?
Could the activity be something else and should I get a second opinion?
Can she grow out of it without medication?
If so, How long should I wait to see if she grows out of it before medicine is given?
Is depakote safe for her age?
And what things should I always be on guard about with this medication for my baby girl?
Please help me understand more. I am very afraid!!
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS M.D.-SW, Mar 26, 1999 12:00AM
_
Patricia,
It is expected that a parent would want information when there child is diagnosed with epilepsy. Petit mal epilepsy is also called absence seizure, it may be accompanied by myoclonic jerks of the eyelid or facial muscles. Some children may suffer upto one hundred seizures a day. An EEG is usually diagnostic with characteristic 3hz spike waves. Medication such as depakote is effective in reducing frequency of seizures. The most common side effects of depakote are tremor, nausea and weight gain. The most serious side effect is liver failure (1 in 40,000). Some children may out grow petit mal epilepsy during adolesence. Its is important to talk to your neurologist about your concerns. In all cases the benefits are compared to the risks.
This response is provided as general information only. Always contact your physician regarding health care concerns.
Sincerly,
HFHS M.D.-SW
*Keywords: Petit mal epilepsy, absence epilepsy, seizure, depakote.
