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Discontinuing Tegretol and staying seizure free
Sat, 02/17/2007 - 03:19Topic: Women With Epilepsy
Hi, I had my first seizure 7 months ago and have 2 more since then. I started taking Tegretol 6 months ago and are supposed to stay on it for 2 years.
We are considering have a second child and before we do I would like to stop taking the Tegretol as I do not want to take it while I'm pregnant.
I am concerned that if I stop taking it after only 6 months my seizures might come back.
Is there anyone who has stopped taking there anti-epileptic medication while pregant and stayed seizure free?
Re: Re: Discontinuing Tegretol and staying seizure free
Submitted by rbruce1 on Wed, 2007-02-28 - 07:11
I faced the same dilemma. In my case, I chose adoption. I'm seizure free on Tegretol, and I have a wonderful daughter. I have to admit that I struggle with never having given birth, but then I look at my 6-year-old, and she makes me so happy! She's healthy, and I'm healthy. I had to "get over" the desire to get pregnant. When I get upset about it--i.e., being with a friend who is newly pregnant--I remind myself that I didn't want to risk a birth defect in my child, either from the Tegretol (being on meds) or from falling from a seizure (being off meds). Good luck to you. It's a difficult decision. Rachel in Colorado