lamictal, topamax, and hypoglycemic seizures

[encephie]

Hello. I'm new to this forum. Just a quick background on me -

When I was little, I had encephalitis and since then, I've been on seizure meds. I was on dilantin for years before my doctor switched me to lamictal. While I have not had any problems with it. About 4 or 5 years ago I was on cabaratrol and i had two grand mal within a 1 1/2 year period. The first grand mal I had I almost hit my head on a store's floor. Lucikly, a woman was there to save me. The second time I was up on a ladder and fell from the second step and hit my head. After that, it seems like I started having what I call a mini seizure. What happens is that I feel something coming on, I sit down or sometimes I’m already seated, and then I know it’s happening because I feel like I am hearing things but I’m not. It’s really weird. It seems to last anywhere from 15 to 20 seconds at the most if even that. When I’m having it though, I feel like I’m either staring straight ahead or my head is turning from side to side. My mother one day witnessed one of these mini’s and she said that I all of a sudden took in a deep breath and then the upper part of my body was like I was trying to clutch myself it that’s how to describe it.

In the beginning I only had one of these every few months. As time went on, I began to have them once a month, then twice a month, and now it’s weekly. The week before last I had six – one every day (I’ve never had that ever happen like that) and then nothing. I had a lot going on from stress – a family member was sick. I was first wondering if that was why. However, it is now 10 days and no seizures.

In the past, my doctor has tried me on many different medications to help these mini’s but nothing has helped. She will be trying me on Topamax soon.
Here is my question though. I have been researching seizures and hypoglycemia and I’m wondering now if that is my problem with the mini’s?
I tested myself this past week. I had candy at least once a day and nothing with seizures happened. But, when I had those mini’s before I was also eating candy. Maybe I’m just thinking too much outside of the box.

What I’m concerned with though is that if it is hypoglycemia and I’m going to be on both lamitctal and Topamax, would it make things worse, make things better, cause grand mal’s?

I don’t see my doctor for another two weeks but I’ll be starting on Topamax sometime this week (I’m on a patient drug assistance program and it takes awhile for the med’s to arrive).

I’m afraid to take both at the same time if it is hypoglycemia or I am having hypoglycemic seizures.

I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this. I can’t tell you how happy I am to now visit with others with epilepsy.

[Nakamova]

Hi encephie, welcome to CWE!

Even if hypoglycemia is a trigger for your seizures, that doesn't change the fact that they are epileptic in nature. If you had a one-time seizure that you suspected was caused by low blood sugar, then you wouldn't necessarily start treatment with meds. But you've had quite a few seizures, so at this point your brain is likely to be "in the habit" of seizing. The The Lamictal and Topomax can play a role in preventing the seizure from starting and/or stopping it from spreading after it starts. They shouldn't make your hypoglycemia worse, but it doesn't hurt to take notes on how you are feeling while you are on them, and make sure you continue to have a healthy appetite. If you suspect hypoglycemia is a problem then several small meals throughout the day should help. And your regular doctor may want to do a glucose test and make recommendations as well.

Best,
Nakamova

[Cint]

What I’m concerned with though is that if it is hypoglycemia and I’m going to be on both lamitctal and Topamax, would it make things worse, make things better, cause grand mal’s?

I would appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this. I can’t tell you how happy I am to now visit with others with epilepsy.

I have epilepsy and diabetes. I take two anti-epileptic drugs and give myself insulin shots daily. Sometimes my glucose levels have dropped down to the 40's, and I haven't had a seizures from going hypoglycemic. My symptoms of hypoglycemia are lightheadedness, shaking, tingling sensation in my mouth, therefore, either I take those awful glucose tablets or 3 small roles of "smarties" candies that my dietician at the endocrinologist's office recommended.

The Lamictal and Topamax should help with the grand mal seizures. I never had encephalitis or meningitis and my seizures started out of the blue when I was 23 years old. My diabetes started when I was 45.