i really wish it was more predictable

[gr33nr0se]

two days ago, i had an mri with contrast. my neurologist happened to mention something about protocol and my mom, who is a nurse, insisted on another mri. anyway i did the mri. the next day i was really sore and i thought it was just becasuse i was laying in the same position for so long. today, all of a sudden, i noticed a pain in my tongue. i looked in the mirror and noticed bite marks. i think it must have been numb up until today and i didnt realize it. i started topamax last week and they are increasing my dose once a week for a month. does this mean it isn't working? am i going to need to try a different medication?

 

[Meetz1064]

you have

to keep in mind that quite often meds don't work right off the bat--they have to build up to a certain level within your body first in order to work AND to maintain that ability to work as well.

give it some time....

 

[Endless]

An adequate level of the medication needs to be in your system before it stops the seizures. That should happen as your dose is increased.

It also takes a few days after the dose is increased to reach the new level in your blood.

I know it's hard to be patient. But it's important to ramp up on these drugs at the rate your doctor tells you to.

 

[Nakamova]

Being patient is tough, but it can definitely take while for the right dosage to be reached, and to get a sense of how well it's working. That said, if you start experiencing a lot of problematic side effects without having seizure control, make a note of it -- it could be a sign that you're overmedicated, or that the med just isn't the right one for you.