what medication have you found to be the most tolerable in particular with respect to drowsiness/sleepiness

[smileysal]

[e-in-me]

The best to date - zonegran(zonisamide) and keppra (levetiracetam) ,Tegretol (carbomazopine).

The worst so far - epilim,phenytoin,phenobarbitone,vimpat.

All tablets can make you sleepy or drowsy,especially when first taken and of course different people means different results.

[smileysal in reply to e-in-me]

thanks for your answer - my best so far is lamotrigine but it works for neuralgia but not my focal seizures (i'm on that anyway) - out of your worst ones i've only had epilim and agree with you there - i hope keppra is good for me as this is the one i am about to start, as the tegretol is making me too tired - the only problem is that i've got to come completely off the teg in order to start the keppra so it will be not good for a while - i've been on quite a few and have had to come off them for different reasons (part of the problem is that i'm on other tabs for different things so the tiredness is a combination of all of them)

[e-in-me in reply to smileysal]

I was on lamotrigine that long ago have now forgotten what it was like!But had to come of tegretol for other reasons(took some time to wean off them), Keppra did make me sleepy for a month or two at first then things settled down.

Best of luck. e-in-me.

[smileysal in reply to e-in-me]

I didn't realise the sleepiness could stop after a while - thats useful to know - thanks

[w3igh3lly]

Just my luck!! I've been on 2000mg of EPILIM and 400mg of PHENITOIN each day.. No wonder I can sleep on washing line!!

[smileysal in reply to w3igh3lly]

crikey thats a big dose!!! its a wonder you are ever awake lol

[Hidden]

Hi, currently on Carbamazapine and Phenytoin. Carbamazapine is taken during the daytime (3 daily) and Phenytoin (2 at night). Taking Phenytoin at night certainly helps me sleep... I tried Phenytoin during the daytime previously, but regret too drowsy so changed the time pattern to take medication. All medication can have a drowsiness effect... Taking Vitamin B Forte during the daytime which relieves drowsiness and gives me more energy.

[monaco1]

Hi. I was on lamotrigine 300mgAM and 200mgPM for 16 years - I was a heavy sleeper during all those years. When I started zonegran, I was the lightest sleeper ever - I could hear myself thinking during my sleep! Now I have just started fycompa, I sleep better.

[Lioncub56]

I'm on tegratol and lamotragine, i am really tired mind you I have CKD as well and this causes fatigue as well.