I wrote a paper on Vimpat last semester, and it seems to have a different mechanism of stopping seizure activity. There are several actions that take place in transmission of electrical activity that can have an affect on allowing a seizure to develop. Each drug may focus on one or more of those actions. However, in case it does not work and with the statistics being what they are re meds, once one aed fails to stop the seizures copletely there is less than a 15% chance that any AED will ever stop them, please seek out an Epileptologist at a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and discuss other options. There are other options, and with TLE and being refractory, that may be where you find your new life. Complex patials are the hardest to stop with meds. Tattoo

I really need to ask you some questions... my mother started this drug at200mg,she also was taking triasonal(prob. wrong spelling)@600 mg,an lyrica @200mg..she took for only 2 months....She committed suicide,and she was never suicidal,in the happiest time of her life....She had epilepsy for 28+years,had brain surgery 1989,(i dont know exactly what kind except it was the part removed right behind ear)I think she tried just about every sz med on market, ...... so do you know what the the suicide rate or warnings for it is....I'm just trying tofind out some info...I keep trying to talk to nuerologists trying to find answers,and they are so tight lipped,i guess they are afraid o lawsuits...I'm not wanting any money just want to keep this from happening to someone else...I realize everyone responds diff. to meds. but I can't just sit here knowing this med is very dangerous some people out there

any info would be greatly appreciated........thank you for your time

First I am so sorry for your loss. I am not aware of any statistics re suicidality and the AEDs. Each med comes with it's own adverse reactions discovered during trials. Vimpat has been used in the UK much longer than in the US and is too new for that info to be known I think. I do know with the AEDs and with other meds like antidepressants, it is always suggested to watch for signs of suicidality because no one really knows how a med will affect a person. Those around the patient will reconize differences in behavior and emotions first I would think; changes in sleep patterns, appetite, energy, outlook such as apathy, no desire etc. Also you mentioned several meds that she was on. Lots of meds and too much can cause seizures too. Not only does each med have its own effects The combination of the drugs has concomitant effects as well. I wish she had gone to an epileptologist at a Comprehensive Center since she had had surgery and was still having seizures on so many meds. Again I am sorry for your loss. Tattoo

Kimberly, I'm so sorry for your loss. I was just reading about vimpat on drugdigest.com and one of the side effects is "suicidal thoughts or change in mood".

I started taking vimpat five months ago. I have had 7 seizures. It's not perfect but better. However I hope the bit of double vision I just had is due to Evista, which I started taking for bones. I am quiting Evista. With Vimpat 100mg in the morn & 100mg at night was a bit too much & made me dizzy. So I started cutting my pills in half taking 50mg at morn, 50mg in afternoon then 100mg at night. Since that worked, my Dr liked it & gave me 50mg pills so I don't have to split them.

roybean88, Weight loss is not one of the side effects. I wish it was.