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My daughte is 35 and she had petite mall seizures when she was little, and now has grand mall seizures. She has had all sorts of testing done as to why she has the seizures and all of them come out with normal results, not giving any reason why she continues to have seizures. We are wondering if she doesn't need the medication anymore, and the fact that she is taking Keppra could that be causing her to continue to have seizures? Her dr. is a child neurologist, and she wonders if he is doing all that can be done for her? There are only two neurologists in Southbend, In. and neither one of them seems to be helping her. Can you please help her?
Age: 35; Female, Indiana Already Tried: She has been taking Keppra for several years. She has had MRI's and a number of other tests for this problem and every one of them come out not showing any reason why she should be having seizures. If she is just an hour or two late taking her medicine, she has a seizure. We are wondering if she still needs the medication, and the fact that she is still taking it is what is causing the seizures to continue?
Hi jensmom 1973,
Thank you for submitting your question. I understand that your daughter has had seizure since she was little. Now she has grand mal seizures that are not well-controlled by Keppra.
First of all, it is not surprising that her tests results are all normal. In fact, less than one-half of epilepsy cases have an identifiable cause.
Secondly, if she continues to have seizure where on Keppra, her treatment needs to be adjusted. Keppra is a good medication for grand mal seizures. If she is still experiencing seizures while on this medication, the dose needs to be adjusted. If she is already on a high dose and still has break-through seizures, then she should be on a different medication ( e.g. valproic acid).
Combination therapy should be attempted only if at least two adequate trials of single medication have failed. Freedom from seizures, the desired outcome, is achieved with combination therapy in only a small percentage of patients who have failed single drug therapy.
My suspicion is that she is not on a high enough dose of Keppra. She should discuss with her neurologist. Perhaps he/she is not familiar with the adult doses of Keppra.
I hope this is helpful to you.
I also added in my question if it was possible that she doesn't need the medication anymore, and that it is causing her seizures to continue on the medication?
Hi Jensmom 1973,
I don't think Keppra is causing her seizures to continue. The dose is either inadequate, or she needs a different medication. She should not discontinue Keppra on her own.
Doctor (MD)
Board certified family physician, extensive experience in adult medicine, specalizes in geriatrics.