not happy!!

[doihaveepilepsy]

I am having a really crap time at the minute. I strated on new medication alond with my other meds a few weeks ago (trileptal) and am getting really bad side effects which are driving me crazy. I really dont want to take the medication any longer but at the same time dont want to give up on it because if it does work and stops the seizures then well maybe side effects could be worth tolerating im not sure!! I spend the vast majority of my life asleep I have still had some seizures but not since the dose was increase which i suppose is good although at the minute i dont really feel very good to be honest because i have been asllep half the day and feel dizzy and sick. just needed to moan really haha

[RobinN]

It is a tough decision to make. I decided to make it for my daughter and two years ago she went off of all meds. Her control of her seizures has been getting better and better with time, and making changes to her nutrition. For her I was not happy with the quality of life she had while taking meds.
I hope you get adjusted to the new dose soon.

[Nakamova]

While it's the case that fatigue and dizziness are common side effects of Trileptal, you should be alert to the possibility of a more serious side effect called hyponatremia where your sodium drops to dangerous levels. A sign of this side effect is EXTREME fatigue. Contact your doctor if you suspect this at all. And I would say, if the unpleasant side effects you're experiencing don't lessen soon, call your doctor anyway to see if there are any other trearment options.

[doihaveepilepsy]

I have actually been to see my doctor and all he did was give me more tablets to counteract some of the side effects of the trileptal although not the ones which were bothering me the most which is the nausea fatigue and dizzyness and also poor xo-ordination. I am spending most of my days asleep and getting terrible headaches also sometimes i think is having seizures such a bad thing compared to this as i don.t have a life at the minute anyway

[Nakamova]

Sounds like your doctor isn't a great listener. You may have to yell at him to get his attention about this. Did he say whether he thought the side effects would lessen as your body adjusts? That would be info worth knowing. If the side effects are unbearable and DON'T diminish, then absolutely it's worth looking at whether this is the right drug/right dose. Your quality of life is key - -- if seizures are more bearable than the meds, then the meds aren't necessarily worth it. If you decide to stop the Trileptal, let your doctor know and get advice about how to taper off.