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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Having Seizures. Taking Depakote 1250mg Switched To Keppra Er 1000mg. Will It Cause Side Effect?

My 19 year old son is currently on depakote er 1250mg for tonic clonic seizures . He has been on them for six months . He was diagnosed in September 2012. His neurologist has just switched him to Keppra er 1000 mg. The switch was due to the side effects on the liver long term. Also his valporic level was 91. My concern is about the weaning off of depakote while giving him the keppra . Im concerned about seizures occuring while I slowly decrease depakote and add keppra . Also, very concerned about the side effects of keppra.
Thu, 28 Feb 2013
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hello karenddavis68
Welcome to HCM

Divalporate sodium is a broadspectrum anti epileptic drug and is having good results. Side effects like nausea, vomiting are common and at higher doses deranged liver enzymes are observed.
Keppra is Levatricetam and it is a newer drug that is usually approved for adjunctive treatment of Tonic Clonic Seizure. As per my opinion use alone in tonic clonic seizure which are under control of valporate, should increase the risk of seizure. Addition of other drug with levatricetam like oxcarbamazepine which is comparatively safer should prove useful. So kindly visit your doctor and discuss about your query.
Thanks
Take Care
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Having Seizures. Taking Depakote 1250mg Switched To Keppra Er 1000mg. Will It Cause Side Effect?

Hello karenddavis68 Welcome to HCM Divalporate sodium is a broadspectrum anti epileptic drug and is having good results. Side effects like nausea, vomiting are common and at higher doses deranged liver enzymes are observed. Keppra is Levatricetam and it is a newer drug that is usually approved for adjunctive treatment of Tonic Clonic Seizure. As per my opinion use alone in tonic clonic seizure which are under control of valporate, should increase the risk of seizure. Addition of other drug with levatricetam like oxcarbamazepine which is comparatively safer should prove useful. So kindly visit your doctor and discuss about your query. Thanks Take Care