have a brother who was diagonised with epilepsy when he was 2 year old. He is now 21 year old. he has been using the drug phenobarbital for the last 20 years. he has develped behaviours which look like the side effects of phenobarbital. these are:
Hyperactive.
Restless.
Unable to sleep.
AggressiveListless.
Depressed.
Tired
What should i do? should i change to another anti epileptic drug?
Which drug has the least side effects?
Do the side effects of any drug has the same effects on different people?
2006-08-20 22:56:48 · 8 answers · asked by Omar 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Shouldn't you be talking to a doctor about this?
2006-08-20 23:00:25 · answer #1 · answered by Ray 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sympathise with you - I took phenobarbs myself for mild epilepsy as a boy. But you should be checking with a doctor or looking on reputable medical websites rather than asking people on this site. You would be lucky to get an answer from someone really qualified. Good luck.
2006-08-21 06:08:50 · answer #2 · answered by Dunrobin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother is epileptic as well. He is on Valproic Acid. He is showing a lot of the same symptoms. I think it's due to the disorder.
Can't make him do anything, he's an adult 25 now. Don't know much about different drugs, but check out this link.
2006-08-21 06:07:25 · answer #3 · answered by Nicky 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately, these side effects along with more are seen in this and many other anti seizure meds. It's outweighing whether or not you want seizures or all those other things. But, if the med is doing its job of keeping your brother from having seizures, you wouldn't want to chance that theraputic effect by stopping it and starting something new which may not work as well or at all.
2006-08-21 06:03:32 · answer #4 · answered by nurseTINA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah please don't leave this up to the people on here on the internet as well, I have epilepsy myself and I somehow managed to get lucky about 5 years ago now if not a little bit more I stopped taking my medication, I slpwly weened myself off of it and aside from very short petite mal seizures I have had no problems, knock on wood, but just because I got lucky with that does not mean the next person is going to, take him to a doctor and discuss it with the doctor first
2006-08-21 06:03:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would most definatly go to the doctor with this. There are many medications to help with epilepsy, and they can change it to one with maybe not so many side effects.
2006-08-21 06:22:48 · answer #6 · answered by lurky77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to take him back to a neurologist and have him reevaluated they can best determine if he needs his prescirption changed or what is going on. they can do a simple blood test to see where his phenobarbital levels are. but don't stop taking the medication cold turkey are you could have some problems take care!!!
2006-08-21 06:10:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are other more modern drugs now with fewer side effects. he must se a doctor, you cannot ndo this alone.
2006-08-21 06:07:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋