stopping seizure meds safely

[persephone5394]

My 14 yr old has not had a seizure in two years and the doctor wants to try to take her off of her Tegretol.  She has been taking 1100 mg a day.  Her dr. wants to take 200mg off of her dose per week.  Should this be discontinued more gradually, or is this a common procedure?

[tisatenn2005]

sry thats she didnt remember what happened. And no seizures on her dads side on my fathers side her grandfathers. her great great uncle might have had them.

[tisatenn2005]

Hello, My daughter age ten had what is beleived to be a seizure on thursday. No doctors were open i spoke to on call am making an appt for her come mon. But heres the ?. She had been playing her nintendo ds for an hour or so then watched some tv for 15-45 minutes. She then went up stairs and talked and joked with her grandfather. He had jammed his finger and it was bleeding. SHE HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH BLOOD! She was sitting. She stood, and flopped back in the chair, and shook for 10 or so seconds. No history of seizures. Felt tired afterward and did remember what happened. Felt fine later that night. Claims had a headache and tummyache right before the incident. PLease tell me did she have a seizure?

[persephone5394]

Thank You for your input.  It does help to put my mind at ease, Thank You!!!  The only information I could find anywhere talked about a one or two year process.  Your time was greatly appreciated!!!

[Dr Santos]

How are you? How is your son? Most doctors will consider tapering the dosage and discontinuing seizure medicines after a seizure-free period of 2 years. Some doctors taper seizure medications over 6 weeks. There is this study that shows no difference whether the medications are tapered over a six-week or a nine-month period. One advantage of shorter taper period is that the outcome of the attempt to discontinue treatment may be known sooner, shortening the period of adjustment for the patient.(http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/330/20/1407).

I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted.