Lamotrigine and seizures

[mutual]

Hi

I am new to this group. At present I am taking 150 mg of lamotrigine twice a day. I am still having seizures. They are severe during night but during day time these are for a few seconds and I can sit or stand and even if i am working i keep on doing. My suicidal thoughts are increasing.My doctor wants to add 10mg clobazam. I was on kepra seven years ago. My seizures were controlled then we stop it. Then doctor started Lamotrigine. Should I start kepra again or add clobazam with Lamotrigine. Please guide

[Olialialex]

I am on Keppra 1.5mg morning , 1mg evening and 250 mg lamictal evening. We don’t really know what is the content of what we are taking if it’s not working talk to your neurologist. Be mindful of not always reading side effects of medications.

[EpilepsyAction1 Partner Epilepsy Action]

Hi

If Keppra has successfully controlled your seizures in the past, then it might be a good idea to speak to your doctor about whether this is something you could take again. Sometimes when someone stops taking an epilepsy medicine and then starts taking it again, their body reacts to it the same as it did before. This means they have the same level of seizure control as they did before. But sometimes, their body reacts differently and the medicine doesn’t seem to control their seizures as well as it did before. And sometimes Keppra can cause an increase in suicidal thoughts. Your doctor should be able to give you advice about which medicines they think are the best option for you. But sometimes finding the right dose of the right epilepsy medicines can be a little bit of trial and error.

Regards

Jess

Epilepsy Action Helpline Team

[MKenSin745]

Your doctor's, of course, prescribe different medications based upon the type of seizures you have, frequency, etc... Compleye transparency with your doctor over past medications and their positive and negative effects is always important to your health. I have learned that the hard way!

Be knowledgeable of side effects, but I try to have a good relationship with my pharmacist due to the fact that they deal with multiple types of medications and if you ever need an antidepressant, antibiotic, or anything else, you can easily discuss side effects with them.

I, personally, had a side effect from lamictal. Had hives of some type around my mouth, but that isn't meant to scare you or deter you from trying the medication. Just be aware of side effects, know which are more serious, and who is the most easy person to discuss with about them.

[joeycordle]

Hi Mutual

Bike accident 1996, left temporal lobe damage, ive had more than a thousand complex partial and about 50 tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures. I take 200mg of lamotrigine with 500mg keppra twice daily. I was on just lamotrigine before my neuro added the keppra...It really helped a lot. My seizures decreased radically. Depression is a horrible side effect of many of these meds, I've been there too so i really sympathise, Clobazam is a benzodiazapine, like an antidepressant and can become quite habit forming...never mind that it is very bad for your brain long term. Remember that neurologists and doctors, as essential as they are have never had a seizure before and can only prescribe what they think will work for you from how you describe it to them and as we all know there are so many different AED meds and combos of those meds. The trick is to eliminate seizure triggers. I found my biggest trigger after 21 years...cheese. I was having a seizure a week until I stopped eating normal store bought (cheddar, gouda, edam) because they all contain sodium nitrate. There are brands that do not contain any nitrates, though few, much nicer (little bit more expensive, but no contest) I changed brands and i havent had a seizure for 3 months now, which is unheard of for me. READ every label carefully on all the things that you eat and drink...there are so many things to avoid. Obvious ones, coffee, tea, artificial sweetners, fizzy cool drinks especially coke and Pepsi, energy drinks like red bull, MSG (monosodium glutamate) that poison is in everything and it's carcinogenic too (cancer causing properties), very similar to sodium nitrate. Shop bought sliced bread, it stays fresh for days because it's got preservatives in it as well as white flour...changes in your blood sugar can also trigger, Omega 3 oils for example, they are good for you but they change your blood sugar levels quickly, so big no no for epilepsy, there are many more as well. Excuse my long windedness, I have lots to share. All is not lost for you...Please feel free to email me. [e-mail]

Joey