Pregnant (or have been pregnant) on lamictal?

[Dallas75219]

Hi there, I'm just looking to hear the stories of anyone who has had children, is currently pregnant, or is trying to get pregnant while on Lamictal. I have a neurologist and an OB/GYN I trust very much and have full confidence in, but it would help to hear from others as we begin to explore our options and go down this path. Thanks...

[Nakamova]

Hi Dallas75219, welcome to CWE!

I'm sure folks will chime in with info/advice. In the meantime here are links to threads from the archives:
lamictal and pregnancy
Pregnancy, Epilepsy, and Lamictal

You may find this link useful too: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/li...ions/index.cfm

Best,
Nakamova

[Nakamova]

One more thing to discuss with your OB/GYN and neurologist:

Estrogen can lower blood serum levels of Lamictal. As estrogen levels rise during a pregnancy, the clearance of Lamictal can increase by as much as 200 to 300 percent(!) As a result, some women can experience a large drop in Lamictal blood levels during pregnancy -- and there's the risk they will drop to sub-therapeutic levels.

In addition, Lamictal blood levels will tend to gradually rise after the delivery. If your Lamictal dose is not increased during pregnancy, it should rise to pre-pregnancy levels following delivery, with a very low risk of postpartum Lamictal toxicity. However, if a significant increase in Lamictal dose is made during pregnancy, then a taper should started at the time of delivery to avoid Lamictal toxicity.

[Eibhlin]

Hi Dallas75219, I was on one of those threads that Nakamova linked to.

I wish you the very best on your fertility journey!

[Dallas75219]

Thank you much for your words of encouragement and support. I know there's much ahead...

[Eibhlin]

Are you taking supplements (apart from the 5mg folic acid)? Have you had any tests done? My GP used always tell me there was no need for supplements (for 2.5 yrs!), but they're pretty vital as I discovered last yr! I'm finding the whole thing a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but I've a good feeling that this will be the year :-). I hope you're doing well!

[TamB1]

Hi Dallas75219,

I am currently pregnant. Believe me this came at quite a shock to my husband and myself. I will tell you why.....I take 400 mg of Zonegran and 600 mg of Lyrica daily to control my seizures. I had a right temporal lobectomy 6 years ago in June to get my seizures undercontrol. I was on 1800 mg of Lyrica plus other medications and Paxil to help control panic attacks. Since my right temporal lobectomy I no longer have to take Paxil. However, I am 41 almost 42 and my neurology specialist that I had at the time said I would go into perimenopause after I had my surgery and we believed him. I definitely had mood swings and we didn't use precautions for the past 6 years. The one thing I changed since my energy was getting low; I started taking extra Iron (because I have always been anemic) and a multivitamin/supplement. I also stopped drinking all caffeine, including my favorite drink diet pepsi. My husband started joking it was our "clean living" that we ended up pregnant. We have three daughters who are 22, 20(almost 21), and our youngest will be 17 tomorrow. We have had two ultrasounds and baby is healthy. I am due at the beginning of Feb. If I can be of any help/advice. Let me know. I'll answer any questions you have. Best of luck to you in your path of fertility!

[dumbspouse]

Wife is about to pop here any day now... We've had no problems so far, and we have confirmation that he doesn't have a cleft lip. While they adjust your meds they might be a slight delayed heartbeat with the baby nothing alarming. Make you're on Prenatals and 4000mcg of Folic acid.

[Carla]

Hi Everyone
Dallas, I'm pretty much in the same situation as you - juvenile myoclonic epilepsy diagnosed at 14 - prescribed Tegretol first which didn't work then switched to Epilim 1000mg per day (slow release). No seizures for the last 10 years..touch wood. I'm now 27 and planning on trying for a baby soon. I have been put on vitamin B and 5mg of folic acid per day.
Neurologist suggesed slowly coming of meds but there is no way I want to risk that. My other option is to switch to lamical/lamotrigine but I haven't heard many great reports about that.
I just think that as Epilim controls my epilepsy SO well, how can any other meds possibly be better?!
I'm SO worried about having a seizure during pregnancy but obviously I am aware of the risks of continuing with the Epilim throughout pregnancy....
Have done a lot of research and now I just seem to be going round in circles as to what to do for the best.
Any help or personal experiences of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and pregnancy / Lamotrigine and pregnancy or switching from Epilim to Lamotrigine would be greatly appreciated!! As well as any other help

[Eibhlin]

dumbspouse, hope you now have a precious bundle and that your wife is doing well.

Carla, that's great that you've been 10 yrs seizure-free. I switched from epilim to lamictal approx 10/11 yrs ago. I didn't have any problems switching. I've reduced lamictal now, down to a tiny dose - 25mg/day. The risks with lamictal are alot less than with epilim. Best of luck!

[dumbspouse]

Hi Everyone
Dallas, I'm pretty much in the same situation as you - juvenile myoclonic epilepsy diagnosed at 14 - prescribed Tegretol first which didn't work then switched to Epilim 1000mg per day (slow release). No seizures for the last 10 years..touch wood. I'm now 27 and planning on trying for a baby soon. I have been put on vitamin B and 5mg of folic acid per day.
Neurologist suggesed slowly coming of meds but there is no way I want to risk that. My other option is to switch to lamical/lamotrigine but I haven't heard many great reports about that.
I just think that as Epilim controls my epilepsy SO well, how can any other meds possibly be better?!
I'm SO worried about having a seizure during pregnancy but obviously I am aware of the risks of continuing with the Epilim throughout pregnancy....
Have done a lot of research and now I just seem to be going round in circles as to what to do for the best.
Any help or personal experiences of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and pregnancy / Lamotrigine and pregnancy or switching from Epilim to Lamotrigine would be greatly appreciated!! As well as any other help

You want to be on Folic Acid and a Prenatal Vitamin as well. Since my wife and I are GNC cardholders, she stocks up on the prenatals they have there. Do not take my wife's experience as the textbook outcome. We had about 4 years of pre planning to do and making sure she was going to be fine coming off the Tegretol.

[dumbspouse]

dumbspouse, hope you now have a precious bundle and that your wife is doing well.

He ain't here yet. He should be here next week sometime.

[petero]

hey hey! from Dallas too

[Eibhlin]

oh how exciting dumbspouse!!! Is your wife completely off Tegretol now?

I just found out Monday that I'm pregnant ... very very early days. I had been reducing lamictal but I'm currently still on 25mg/day. I know, it's tiny.

The plan was to completely come off lamictal this summer but I got so unexpectedly sick with the withdrawal (I reduced by 25mg end of May/beginning of June), we decided to leave the dose as it was, and get my health back, before reducing further . I have only been "back" (everyone elses words!) for the past 3 weeks. Course i'm a bit sorry now that I didn't manage to come completely off it, but hopefully all will be fine.

[Carla]

Thanks very much for your responses guys - ithey are all really helpful. I'm still undecided at the moment but hopefully will make some progress soon! :-) Eibhlin - fantastic news!!