What medication to choose? Effectivity vs side effects, please help

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I only have 10 minutes every 5 months to talk with a neurologist that seems to be operating a machine, so I decided to come here, you may help me and beforehand I say THANKS. To contextualize: I am 26 years old, diagnosed from focal seizures, absences epilepsy, since 12 years old when I got a grand mal seizure. I get 2-5 absences a day, some days (5%) no absences. Grand mal seizures have occurred in me 20 times approximately.. initially with an average of 1 year, now every 3 months more or less. These months I have been on 200 vimpat and 200 lamictal daily. However, side effects such as memory loss and dizziness made me want to change things. I put Tegretol but it has not worked, on June 20 I got a grand mal seizure and side effects have not gone. I don't know if returning to valproic acid, I don't know anything, the only thing I want is to say bye to absences and secondary effects of meds that give me real problems daily (can't get a job, forget things, etc, etc). I live in a constant apathy. I don't drink, don't smoke, sport on sundays and I have too much sex with my girlfriend and with myself lol.

Comments

Hi azul527, Thanks for

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2019-06-26 - 09:11

Hi azul527, Thanks for posting. It’s important that you continue follow-up with your healthcare team to express your concerns and discuss any changes in side effects, seizure types, behaviors and symptoms.To learn more about seizure medications and side effects visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/side-effecthttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lamotriginehttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/valproic-acidhttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lacosamideFor information regarding second opinions, or assistance finding a specialist please visit : https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/you-and-your-healthcare-team/second-opinions https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliatesYou may also contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org, where a trained information specialist can connect you to resources, provide referrals and additional support. epilepsy.com/helplineOne of the most important things to help you live with epilepsy is to find a support network. Learn more about your community support, here: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/social-concerns The Wellness Institute: epilepsy.com/wellness ,has many helpful and easy-to-use tips & resources for maintaining a healthy lifestyle andmaximizing the quality of life for you & your family. For practical & effective strategies to enhance your well-being, learn more here: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/toolbox/wellness-support-tools Additionally, it may be helpful having a device that can help track seizures, by visiting: https://www.dannydid.org/ , and by keeping a seizure diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary .These tools may be helpful in identifying & tracking seizures, other symptoms, managing medication & other therapies, recognizing triggers and health events that may affect seizures and wellness, which you can share with your healthcare team.Learn more here about the challenges with epilepsy related to thinking & memory: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/thinking-and-memory/thinking-memory-and-epilepsy

Hi azul527, Thanks for posting. It’s important that you continue follow-up with your healthcare team to express your concerns and discuss any changes in side effects, seizure types, behaviors and symptoms.To learn more about seizure medications and side effects visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/side-effecthttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lamotriginehttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/valproic-acidhttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lacosamideFor information regarding second opinions, or assistance finding a specialist please visit : https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/you-and-your-healthcare-team/second-opinions https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliatesYou may also contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org, where a trained information specialist can connect you to resources,  provide referrals and additional support. epilepsy.com/helplineOne of the most important things to help you live with epilepsy is to find a support network. Learn more about your community support, here: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/social-concerns The Wellness Institute:  epilepsy.com/wellness  ,has many helpful and easy-to-use tips & resources for maintaining a healthy lifestyle andmaximizing the quality of life for you & your family.  For practical & effective strategies to enhance your well-being, learn more here:  https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/toolbox/wellness-support-tools Additionally, it may be helpful having a device that can help track  seizures, by visiting: https://www.dannydid.org/ , and by keeping a seizure diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary .These tools may be helpful in identifying & tracking seizures, other symptoms, managing medication & other therapies, recognizing triggers and health events that may affect seizures and wellness, which you can share with your healthcare team.Learn more here about the challenges with epilepsy related to thinking & memory: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/thinking-and-memory/thinking-memory-and-epilepsy 

Hi azul527, Thanks for posting. It’s important that you continue follow-up with your healthcare team to express your concerns and discuss any changes in side effects, seizure types, behaviors and symptoms.To learn more about seizure medications and side effects visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/side-effecthttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lamotriginehttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/valproic-acidhttps://www.epilepsy.com/medications/lacosamideFor information regarding second opinions, or assistance finding a specialist please visit : https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/you-and-your-healthcare-team/second-opinions https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliatesYou may also contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org, where a trained information specialist can connect you to resources, provide referrals and additional support. epilepsy.com/helplineOne of the most important things to help you live with epilepsy is to find a support network. Learn more about your community support, here: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/social-concerns The Wellness Institute: epilepsy.com/wellness ,has many helpful and easy-to-use tips & resources for maintaining a healthy lifestyle andmaximizing the quality of life for you & your family. For practical & effective strategies to enhance your well-being, learn more here: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/toolbox/wellness-support-tools Additionally, it may be helpful having a device that can help track seizures, by visiting: https://www.dannydid.org/ , and by keeping a seizure diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary .These tools may be helpful in identifying & tracking seizures, other symptoms, managing medication & other therapies, recognizing triggers and health events that may affect seizures and wellness, which you can share with your healthcare team.Learn more here about the challenges with epilepsy related to thinking & memory: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsy/thinking-and-memory/thinking-memory-and-epilepsy

I also have questions on

Submitted by sklakoff on Tue, 2019-07-02 - 17:03

I also have questions on medications. I was on lamictal and broke out in the worst case of hives in my life. Then to keppra where I have battled sleepiness, mood swings and my hair falling out, I contacted my neurologist about another med and she prescribed vimpat which the insurance wouldn't cover. After reading about the side effects, I don't want to take that either, even if it didn't cost $965!. I called my neurologists' office and can't get in to see her for 6 weeks, Reached out to my primary care doctor for another neurologist for a second opinion. Just really discouraging.

I am using Aptiom and having

Submitted by sumanminocha on Sat, 2019-07-06 - 17:05

I am using Aptiom and having so much cough does any one has this side effect?