coughing, swelling and itching?

[daisy.girl]

I have been on zonegran now for about 2 months.....but just had a dosage increase in the last 10 days.
.......for the last 3 weeks, I have had a cough that will not go away....no cold, no fever, no sorethroat....just a cough....and for the last week, I have awaken to a swollen face and hands....as well as itchy hands throughout the day. Also, I have in the past two weeks awaken during the night 4-5 times just soaked with night sweats.

Does anyone think any of this has anything to do with my medication?

Thanks so much

[Junebug]

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/zonegran.html

Do you have any allergies to any other medications such as sulfonamides? That could possibly trigger a reaction such as these.

[Endless]

Please call your neurologist NOW. You need to be seen in person to determine if this is a drug reaction, or just a reaction to something else, like a new laundry detergent. If your face is swollen this is nothing to mess with. Is your throat/tongue swollen, too?

Don't wait until tomorrow. Call your doctor's service if you need to. He'll make the decision. If you can't get your doctor, go to urgent care or the emergency room.

[daisy.girl]

no new detergent, no my tongue/throat is not swollen.....and my face and hands are swollen in the morning and get better through out the day.
I do feel like there is a something stuck in my throat that I can't get out. I am constantly clearing my throat and coughing.

[huskymom]

Call your doctor!! Let us know how you are doing.

[Endless]

Daisygirl,

Did you call your doc? What did he/she say?

Swelling of the face, and itching, are both symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which can be quite serious. It's probably not SJS, but you need a doctor to look at you ASAP to tell the difference.

Read this:
http://www.sjsupport.org/pdf/SJS_factsheet.pdf
okay, this is a lawyer's site but still good info: http://www.sjsinfo.net/

Don't mess around with this, okay? Do call your doc.

[little fruitcake]

Daisy, have you called the doc yet? Please keep us informed.

[daisy.girl]

thanks for all your concern....I really do appreciate it.

I have not called the doctor, I keep talking myself out of it. Now it is holiday weekend.!!

My face (including eyelids) and hands are pretty swollen first thing in the morning.....but through out the day, it goes away, so I think it can't be that bad? However, the most frustrating thing is this cough that won't go away. 3 1/2 weeks now.

I read the info on SJS and other than the swelling I have no other symptom. No rash, no blistering, no fever, no flu like symptoms, etc.

[Endless]

You can have SJS and not have a rash or fever. The cough and swelling is enough to at least talk to your doc. Even though it is the weekend you can call their line. Drug allergies is nothing to mess with.

[little fruitcake]

Not to nag, but please call.

[daisy.girl]

Well I was really scared this morning when I coughed up blood!!!

It is listed as a rare side effect of Zonegran.

So yes, I called the doctor's service right away.....she called the doctor and then the service called me back and said, "the doctor wants you to stop taking the zonegran immediately and call the office first thing Tuesday morning" I said, "stop it cold turkey?" she repeated, he said, "stop taking it now."

Now I am scared about stopping it cold turkey?? Everything I have ever read or heard is NOT to stop an anti-epileptic drug cold turkey.

And this is two anti-epileptic drug that I have had an allergic reaction to now!!!

Thanks to you all for being here for me.....I really do appreciate it more than you know!!

[epileric]

You have to realize the consequences of stopping your anti-epileptic drug suddenly are much less sever than the consequences of not stopping immediately or even of stopping slowly. Even your body is telling you to stop the Zonegram immediately.

Remember that stress is also a trigger so while stopping your Zonegram is the last time you should be stressed. Think of it in terms that whatever happens it will be better than the alternative. If you can accept that you will lessen your stress & decrease the chances of any additional problems.

If you do feel waves of stress go straight to your breath & breathe deep, hold it for a few seconds then let it all out. I know that really helps me when I'm stressed.

[Endless]

I am SO GLAD you called your doc. Serious drug reactions are nothing to mess with.

Wow, Daisygirl. Your doc didn't prescribe another drug while you are going off cold turkey? Or put you in the hospital while you withdraw? Many times they put you on another anti-epileptic drug to keep the seizures away while withdrawing from the offending drug. Or, keep an eye on you while you go off. I forget. Do you live at home or with someone else? If you don't can a family member or friend come stay with you for a few days?

Hang in there. If you have too many seizures or something scary happens go to the ER. I went off Lamictal cold turkey and it wasn't fun. Looking back I wish I had high-tailed it into the ER at a certain point to get some help.

Will you let us know how you are doing?

[daisy.girl]

I have a house full of people all the time....wish I was alone sometimes.

The thing is, I don't have time for this. My daughter is getting married Oct 2, so I have just over 3 weeks now to get all the last minute stuff done. I have been very busy lately.

I am surprised like you, that he didn't prescribe something else too....but I did read that Zonegran has the longest half life of all the anti-epileptic drug (50-68 hours) so maybe that is the reason.

I am wondering what he will try next.

[daisy.girl]

Well, I went to the neurologist today......and now I am being put on Keppra XR.

Any advice on what to expect on this med?

[Nakamova]

Keppra is a med that you can taper onto quickly (unlike say, Lamictal), so you should be able to reach a working dose soon. The most notable side effect of Keppra is "Kepprage" and moodiness. t's a good idea to keep a journal, esp. when trying a new med, so you can note anything unusual. And ask friends and family to let you know if anything seems different -- sometimes mood things are hard to notice in ourselves. If you do start to feel cranky, consider taking a B Complex Vitamin with B6.

Keep in mind that not everyone experiences this side effect -- I know of at least two people who are very happy on Keppra.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Endless]

"Kepprage" is famous. Or should I say "Infamous!" Some say vitamin B helps it. It didn't help me, but being concious of why I was feeling so pissed off helped, as did deep breathing, taking a walking break around the building, etc. until the feeling calmed down a little. I was taken off of it due to other side effects.

[little fruitcake]

The Keppra was working great for me or I thought but I must have been acting up because they snatched me right off it. But is works great for others

[daisy.girl]

tonight is only the second night I have taken the keppra XR, however, both nights about 15-20 minutes after taking it.....I have gotten severe abdominal cramps. It goes away about an hour later. At this point, I am not sure if it is the keppra or just a coincidence.

Anyone had this problem with keppra?