Is anyone else taking epilepsy medication because they had a seizure due to lupus?

[Bigbang2022]

I had a series of seizures when I first had lupus, it got into my brain and caused all types of havoc. I’m nearly 3 years down the line and am finally off steroids but still taking hydroxychloroquine and still taking leveteracetum (kepra), I was going to come off it but lost my job and then had to drive for work but it makes me quite angry (on a normal scale probably very low anger but on a scale of what I’m used to it’s insane!) has anyone switched medicine and been able to drive continuously or did anyone’s symptoms get better with time? If you stopped taking epilepsy meds did the seizures remain stopped? Sorry this is loads of questions but the anger (mostly at drivers not following the traffic rules) is getting quite unbearable.

[Jianna35]

Hi there yes I was on lamictal for many years. My seizures were diagnosed as epileptic type fits and lost my driving licence for 3 years. Also on other meds before lamictal. Iweaned myself off them while increasing the amount of fat in my diet. I've done this with all prescribed meds over years. I now use a keto diet, clean keto with a couple of supplements thrown in and from 14 prescribed meds now just on warfarin, for APS. I wish I could find a way to stop that as the calcification in my heart is getting quite bad. I didn't realise when prescribed it that that was one of the side effects. Everything I have now is due to side effects from prescribed meds.

Good luck

[Bigbang2022 in reply to Jianna35]

Thanks, well done for getting off most of your meds, interesting about the keto diet I will try that.

[Partner20]

Keppra "rage" is a well-known phenomenon in children, so I would assume it is the same with adults. Many children get accustomed to this medication and their symptoms subside, others have to change medication.I would definitely mention this to your consultant and see what they suggest. In certain circumstances epilepsy medication can be stopped, usually depending on the type and cause of the epilepsy but, again, this is a question for your consultant. It is always a carefully-monitored process with the dosage gradually tapered down. Unfortunately there is never any guarantee that seizures will not return after stopping medication, at which point the treatment and any accompanying regulations will begin again.

[Bigbang2022 in reply to Partner20]

Thanks, yeah I have discussed this with the neurologist over the years and as my anger levels are probably only at a normal persons annoyances they suggested with the hassle of changing meds and not being able to drive whilst doing this that it was better to just taper off as they think it will work; it’s just the reality of not being able to drive for so long which makes it impossible to do now. I’ll take your advice and speak to the consultant now and see what options there are for trialling different medicine and how long that impacts driving for.

[Partner20 in reply to Bigbang2022]

Good idea! All the best.🙂