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Lamictal side effects.
Mon, 02/27/2006 - 20:49Topic: Medication Issues
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: Re: Re: Re: Lamictal side effects.
Submitted by natalya on Thu, 2006-03-16 - 10:34
Jar,
Thank you for your care and wishing me well! I will do the research and will call to Lamictal registry. The report I have on 707 women being exposed to Lamictal monotherapy in first trimester, the 20 of these women had babies with congenital malformations. I want to know what dosage these 20 women had been taking. My neuro wants me to take 400 a day. I am very scared! I want to do as much as possible to bring a healthy child into this world. You right, we usually care about our children more then about ourselves. I am no exception. But I have to be seizure free during pregnancy because I have to take care of David, he is only 2 years old. I am really battling with myself regarding what to do. Maybe I will be able to bring my dranddad to live with me during the first trimester and if something happens(I really hope it won't)he will call my husband and watch for David. I feel trapped by my condition.
Take care,
Natalya.
Re: Lamictal side effects.
Submitted by Colina on Sun, 2006-03-05 - 11:03
I always take my meds with milk. That seems to work very well for me. Give it a try it may help. Good luck. Smiles
Re: Re: Re: Lamictal side effects.
Submitted by Jar on Mon, 2006-03-06 - 14:21
I hope the blood work and everything goes well! My husband didn't want me to take anything while I was pregnant, but it's not that simple. Otherwise, I would just stay pregnant :). Just make sure that being "medication free" is the right thing to do (I know you will), because if you have a seizure during pregnancy, you're at MUCH greater risk to fall, hit your head, hit your stomach (without meds vs. with them). YOU have to be okay for the BABY to be okay, and, we all want the BABY to be okay...I know it's a mouth-full, because we care about the BABY more than we do ourselves (it's that mommy thing). Research it (I know you will). My doc told me "No." But, just make sure...okay? Also, I think it's great that you're not letting "E" interfere with your life plans!!!