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Lamictal side effects.

Mon, 02/27/2006 - 20:49
Hi, I am really in trouble regarding the medicine. I took Depakote ER for my generalized seizures and been controled by it for about 5 years. In March 2004 I had a child who was born with Fetal Valproate Syndrome-syndrome caused by Depakote. I can't describe to you how painful it is to realize how much damage I did to my own son! It took me about 6 months to find out what was wrong with him because all doctors who saw him couldn't help me. Right now, thank God, he is a very active, happy boy, running and destroying everything around:)). But he underwent two surgeries and maybe one more is coming. Now, we decided to try to have another child and I started to change medication on something safer. There is no safe medication but new generation AEDs sound more promising. At first, doctor put me on Keppra 500mg twice a day. On the fourth day after completely stop taking Depakote and being only on Keppra I had a seizure, first in 5 years. I scared my older son who is 11 years old now a lot. He helped me during my seizure because my husband was at work at that time. My youngest was OK, he didn't understand anything. Doctor increased my dosage to 2000mg a day. But my mood is very affected by it. I am very snappy, angry and tired all the time. Plus there is not enough data regarding pregnancy and Keppra. After talking to my doctor again we decided to switch to Lamictal. There is some data regarding pregnancy on this medication. It's my second week on Keppra 2000mg and Lamictal 50 gr. It's going to take overall 8 weeks to do a complete swith. The dosage of Lamictal at the end will be 400 mg. But since yesterday, I started to have funny taste when I eat-everything tastes bitter. Plus I don't want to eat at all, except bread. I started to wonder, can it be an effect of Lamictal and will it go away? I am lost completely. Did anyone experience anything like that and what did you do? Sorry for such a long blog! Thank you very much for any response! Natalya.

Comments

Re: Lamictal side effects.

Submitted by Sedz on Tue, 2006-02-28 - 08:27
Natalya, So sorry that you're having problems with your meds. My son (15) is currently on 250mg Lamictal AM/PM and doesn't seem to have had any side effects so far. I know it affects everyone differently so I'm not saying that in your case it isn't the Lamictal. I know that he says (regardless of the packet saying it tastes like blackcurrent)that it tastes disgusting and it takes a little while for the taste to disappear after each dose, but it hasn't put him off his food so far. Here's hoping that you get it sorted soon, All the best Jo Sedz

Re: Re: Lamictal side effects.

Submitted by natalya on Tue, 2006-02-28 - 12:43
Jo, Thank you for your response! I agree with your son, it tastes awfull, when you just take it! But on the top of it I noticed that it changed the taste of the food I really liked before. I just called my neurologyst and left a message with his secretary. Hopefully, he will tell me something positive, because I need to stay on this medicine for my next pregnancy. Thanks again! Natalya.

Re: Re: Lamictal side effects.

Submitted by Live Love Burn Die on Thu, 2006-03-09 - 06:31
Hello, I'm Liz, I am currently 15 and I am on 200mg lamictal twice a day. I have had no side affects and i have always wondered why, I not sure if it has to do with the fact that i am skinny, or that i'm athletic.

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