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Is Levetiracetam Better Than Sodium Valproate In Treatment Of Epilepsy?
Question: In levetiracetam and sodium valproate which one is beneficial for general tonic clonic,absence and solar epilepsy i have little beat confusion on these two drugs,please explain.
Brief Answer:
Provide more details about patient
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Sodium Valproate is better and time tested for most of seizure types and is indicated in absence seizure too.
The side effects profile is better in levetiracetam and preferred in young females.
You can provide more details regarding patient and diagnosis.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Provide more details about patient
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Sodium Valproate is better and time tested for most of seizure types and is indicated in absence seizure too.
The side effects profile is better in levetiracetam and preferred in young females.
You can provide more details regarding patient and diagnosis.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Priyanka G Raj
I have seizure in 2009,2011,2014 and on now on 9th july.
In 2011 doctor prescribed me sod.valproate 200mg twice daily after further episodes of 2014 he revised the dose to 300 twice daily and after 9 july he increased morning dose to 500mg and 300mg dose in evening.
Later on i took second opinion he prescribed me levetiracetum 500mg three times a day.in my eeg subcortical epilepsy is detected.I am 35 years old.i have solar episodes also observed with GTC.kindly suggest me which medicine is better either sod.valproate or levetiracetum.
Yours
XXXX
In 2011 doctor prescribed me sod.valproate 200mg twice daily after further episodes of 2014 he revised the dose to 300 twice daily and after 9 july he increased morning dose to 500mg and 300mg dose in evening.
Later on i took second opinion he prescribed me levetiracetum 500mg three times a day.in my eeg subcortical epilepsy is detected.I am 35 years old.i have solar episodes also observed with GTC.kindly suggest me which medicine is better either sod.valproate or levetiracetum.
Yours
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Is there any Mri available?
Upload eeg report or images.
What is your weight?
Any family history of seizure?
Any history of childhood or adolescence age seizures?
The earlier dose of Valproate was low if you were having weight of more than 40 kg at that time.
You have two options either increase dose of Valproate to atleast 500 mg twice daily ( if weight more than 40 kg) or levetiracetam 500 mg twice daily.
Recurrence of seizure occurs due to missing doses, night awakening, decreased sleep, fever or another drug causing decreased levels of antiepileptics in blood.
You can provide more details as asked.
Both drugs are good and choice depends upon tolerability as Valproate may cause weight gain and levetiracetam may cause irritation, decreased memory and concentration.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me with details.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Is there any Mri available?
Upload eeg report or images.
What is your weight?
Any family history of seizure?
Any history of childhood or adolescence age seizures?
The earlier dose of Valproate was low if you were having weight of more than 40 kg at that time.
You have two options either increase dose of Valproate to atleast 500 mg twice daily ( if weight more than 40 kg) or levetiracetam 500 mg twice daily.
Recurrence of seizure occurs due to missing doses, night awakening, decreased sleep, fever or another drug causing decreased levels of antiepileptics in blood.
You can provide more details as asked.
Both drugs are good and choice depends upon tolerability as Valproate may cause weight gain and levetiracetam may cause irritation, decreased memory and concentration.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me with details.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
My weight is between80-85kg
MRI not available.
In EEG report writen that it is slightly abnormal it indicates subcortical epilepsy.
My mother had seizures.
At the age of 3 i had seizures and at that time i suffering from measles. it till upto age of 6 in that period i i am under treatment after age of 6 i completely cured and medication has stopped.after that in 2009 seizures are awakens.
MRI not available.
In EEG report writen that it is slightly abnormal it indicates subcortical epilepsy.
My mother had seizures.
At the age of 3 i had seizures and at that time i suffering from measles. it till upto age of 6 in that period i i am under treatment after age of 6 i completely cured and medication has stopped.after that in 2009 seizures are awakens.
Brief Answer:
Take treatment as advised and get investigated too
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You may be having febrile seizures in childhood and now have developed mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
You need to get a MRI with epilepsy protocol for hippocampal sclerosis.
As your weight is on higher side you may require higher doses of antiepileptics like 750 mg twice daily of Valproate or levetiracetam.
You can try levetiracetam now as weight gain is not a problem with this drug.
The dose of drug has to be increased with increasing weight and this was the reason for your seizure recurrence with Valproate. Moreover the doses were low as according to your weight.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Take treatment as advised and get investigated too
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You may be having febrile seizures in childhood and now have developed mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.
You need to get a MRI with epilepsy protocol for hippocampal sclerosis.
As your weight is on higher side you may require higher doses of antiepileptics like 750 mg twice daily of Valproate or levetiracetam.
You can try levetiracetam now as weight gain is not a problem with this drug.
The dose of drug has to be increased with increasing weight and this was the reason for your seizure recurrence with Valproate. Moreover the doses were low as according to your weight.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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