Hi,

I'm new here. Usually I just read the post and don't participate but seeing as I really wanted to ask a question I thought I'd join in. Just to give you a brief idea of my epilepsy history I was diagnosed with epilepsy (not sure what kind it was) when I was 6yrs old, then at 17yrs old when I wanted to get my licence I had to go to a neurologist and get a form signed to say I was fine. Unfortunately I was still having problems so I had an eeg and was diagnosed with primary generalised epilepsy instead of the juvenile one that they thought I had. So I changed meds and had a grand mal seizure. I changed from Tegretol to epilim and lamictal. I have been going well on these meds for the past 5 yrs now. I think however that I have become increasingly impatient, irritable and unable to get to sleep at night but feeling sleepy all day. I was wondering if it is all in my head that my drugs may be the cause of all of this. Plus my neck often feels sort of cramped as though my head wants to start shaking but it's sort of suppressed. I have had a few really bad panic attacks in the past year as well.

Not sure if I put all of that down very clearly but in general I wanted to know if other people have this sort of reaction to drugs.

PS. I love the range of icons you have on this board. The smileys are awesome!

Hi BecE,
Welcome to the forum! I've had epilepsy for 35 yrs. and I've taken all of the meds (AED's) that you have taken. I started having seizures (sz.) when I was 10 yrs. old (absence, complex partial, simple partial,) later I had 2 brain surgeries to help reduce my sz.
I found that tegretol worked well for me until I broke out with a rash after yrs. of taking the drug. Lamictal caused a rash for me after being on it for only 4 days and I immediately had to go off the drug.
Take my word sz. meds (AED's) can make a person very tired until their body gets used to it. Tegretol made me very irritable also. Just be sure to stay away from grapefruit and grupefruit juice while taking tegretol because the enzymes in the fruit can mess up the tegretol.
If the cramping in your neck continues and you notice the pain going down your arm you might want to see your family Dr. I ended up getting frozen shoulder a few yrs. ago from the mysoline I take. You might want to check out these websites to get more info.
www.epilepsy.com
http://www.neuropat.dote.hu/neurology.htm
Click on epilepsy when the main page comes up.
Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

BecE,

I have had epilepsy for about 40 years. During childhood I never was really good with all the medicines. Then about eight years ago a neuro started me on Tegretol, well that didn't work because I started seeing about five things at the same time going in circles. My neuro quicky drew me off and started me on Keppra (which he is reducing slowing) and Lamital. I haved had rashes or really any other sym.

About five years ago I did have a VNS implanted and it has help me. It is not a cure but it has help me. There is a large number of people it does help, though. My spells are shorter, and I am not sleepy.

I guess I better quite running my fingers off. My prayers are with you.

Darlene

Thanks for your replies. It's always reassuring to know others are going through the same problems as you. Although obviously it would be better if none of us had these problems.

Cheers,
Bec.

VNS = VAGAL Nerve Stimulator


LIZARD

tee hee

welcome to NeuroTalk, Bec