Now these kind of posts and replies is why I am here! Great info and thank
you all for sharing this. Pat D. Gianna's Dad
_____
From: epilepsy@yahoogroup
Of dawn100670
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 11:30 AM
To: epilepsy@yahoogroup
Subject: [epilepsy] Re: Seizures and blood sugar and Lamictal
Michelle,
Certain medications most definitely can cause hypoglycemia in certain
patients, and doctors are not always aware of these rare reactions. My son
Jonathon (11 years old) has type-1 (insulin-dependant) diabetes, so we are
frequently checking his blood sugars. He has had epilepsy meds that caused
hypoglycemia. The first was zonegran (zonisamide)
time insisted it was safe for diabetics, and the pharmacist said there were
no warnings for diabetics. Within the first 24 hours, he was in the ER with
hypoglycemia that we had difficulty bringing up. The ER doctor said it did
not appear the med could cause hypoglycemia. Jonathon continued having
hypoglycemia the next day, and we decided to check him every 2 hours that
night, because we couldn't figure out what was causing it. The first time we
checked him, he was passed out from low blood sugar, so we switched to
checking him hourly. About the 5th time I was to get up and check him, I
turned off my alarm without waking up, and it ended up being 1-1/2 hours
before I checked him, and he was passed out again. He ended up back in the
ER. The doctors still insisted it wasn't the medicine, but we quit giving it
to him, and his blood sugars started coming back up, but it took a full
month before he was completely back to normal. I went online and within 10
minutes had found several pages that indicated hypoglycemia was a rare
severe reaction to the medicine. Needless to say, I no longer start any new
meds for Jonathon or my family without doing my own research first.
He was switched to Keppra (by a different neuro), and when the Keppra went
generic (levetiracetam)
hypoglycemia, and we now have prescriptions written DAW (dispense as
written). We were told by our neurologist to list Jonathon as allergic to
sulfa drugs (zonisamide is a sulfonamide)
sensitive to sulfa in any form, as one of the inactive ingredients in
levetiracetam is sodium lauryl sulfate. It probably wouldn't affect him in
small doses, but in regular doses (twice per day, 2-1/2 tablets each time)
it seems to affect him.
All that being said, hypoglycemia can also cause seizures. Jonathons first
seizure was caused by hypoglycemia, but none of the others have been. We
have seen facial twitching when his blood sugar was low, but have not had
any more seizures from lows. Jonathon has now been 63 weeks seizure free
with the Keppra.
I hope this helps.
Dawn
--- In epilepsy@yahoogroup <mailto:epilepsy%
"mlauchner" <oldstuff4me@
>
> We have long suspected a connection between low blood sugar and Aaron
having a seizure. Many years ago when we had to call 911 for a never-ending
seizure, of course the first thing the paramedic did was prick his finger
and his blood sugar was in the basement! Then just today I "binged" this
topic and came up with a whole slew of stuff. I'd love to hear what anybody
has to say on this. We are constantly hounding Aaron to not go too long
between meals, but the newest med to be added to the mix (Banzel) is just
plain evil at trashing his appetite. So now I want to know more about how to
maintain a proper blood sugar level, and is Lamictal contributing to low
blood sugar. The search continues!
> Michelle
>
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