3 year old

[tom__0__0]

  i've sent you a message a few days ago and thank you for your reply, here is a update and another question, my son came home from the hospital monday. here is improving every day but he still has myclonic jerks when he wakes up in the morning and from his nap also he stumbles and falls alot( but i don't see any jerks when he does and it doesn't look like atonic attacks) do you think his falling is due to the dilantin he has been recently been put on( about a week) and any reason why the jerks seem to happen only when he wakes up.thanks tom p.s. he is being treated at charlotte epilepsy center at carolina memorial hospital( have you heard anything on it)
Dear Tom,
It is hard to say whether his falls may be from his dilantin.  One of the side effects of dilantin is ataxia, that may elicit falling just because of the ataxia and not atonic seizure events.  What is his level of dilantin?  Does he have any other side effects such as nystagmus, double vision, nausea, etc?  Myoclonic jerks seem to be enhanced upon arising from sleep or a nap.  Valproate is a good medications to get the myoclonic jerks under control.  Since he is having break throughs, maybe you ought to talk to your physician about valoproate levels.  No I haven't heard of the epilepsy center you mentioned.  That does not mean that it isn't outstanding.  Hope that your son is doing better.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro[P], MD RPS