Question for all
I had a grand mal when I was 18. I was on Dilantin for about one year then taken off it. I never thought about seizures, until 2004. I flew home from Japan, and on the flight home, drank 7 cups of coffee, and the next morning drank 2 liters of Diet Mt. Dew (heavily caffeinated) and then went to the gym to exersize, despite not having slept much since my return to the US. I worked out at the gym, and went to go visit my family. I was looking at a computer, and the next thing I remember my muscles felt heavy and I was on a stretcher. The ER discharged me immediately -- they seemed to treat seizures as not a big deal comparatively. My physician did EKG's etc, and did not put me on anything, saying there was no evidence of seizure activity. That was 5/04...The summer goes by, and in August of 04, I exercisized heavily every day, and did not eat very much, and was drinking Red Bull and other caffeinated drinks. (I was at my father's house for the summer.) One morning I woke, there was a little blood on the pillow, so I told my dad I think I have had a seizure. We went to see his MD, who gave me Dilantin. I got home and went to a neurologist, who put me on 450mg of Dilantin. I have now had 3 years (God Bless) with no seizures. I have given up alcohol, and virtually all caffeine, and try to reduce stress as much as possible.
Another doctor has recently prescribed Lexapro, 5 mg. a day, for general anxiety. I know Dilantin is a very old drug and has been well tested. Does anyone know of any adverse effects of one drug on the other? Rather than gain weight, I have lost weight on Lexapro -- I do almost no anxious overeating.
I have read horror stories about coming down off Lexapro, and since Dilantin already has gums and bones long-term effects, I am trying to judge whether it is worth staying on the Lexapro. Please advise.
I had a grand mal when I was 18. I was on Dilantin for about one year then taken off it. I never thought about seizures, until 2004. I flew home from Japan, and on the flight home, drank 7 cups of coffee, and the next morning drank 2 liters of Diet Mt. Dew (heavily caffeinated) and then went to the gym to exersize, despite not having slept much since my return to the US. I worked out at the gym, and went to go visit my family. I was looking at a computer, and the next thing I remember my muscles felt heavy and I was on a stretcher. The ER discharged me immediately -- they seemed to treat seizures as not a big deal comparatively. My physician did EKG's etc, and did not put me on anything, saying there was no evidence of seizure activity. That was 5/04...The summer goes by, and in August of 04, I exercisized heavily every day, and did not eat very much, and was drinking Red Bull and other caffeinated drinks. (I was at my father's house for the summer.) One morning I woke, there was a little blood on the pillow, so I told my dad I think I have had a seizure. We went to see his MD, who gave me Dilantin. I got home and went to a neurologist, who put me on 450mg of Dilantin. I have now had 3 years (God Bless) with no seizures. I have given up alcohol, and virtually all caffeine, and try to reduce stress as much as possible.
Another doctor has recently prescribed Lexapro, 5 mg. a day, for general anxiety. I know Dilantin is a very old drug and has been well tested. Does anyone know of any adverse effects of one drug on the other? Rather than gain weight, I have lost weight on Lexapro -- I do almost no anxious overeating.
I have read horror stories about coming down off Lexapro, and since Dilantin already has gums and bones long-term effects, I am trying to judge whether it is worth staying on the Lexapro. Please advise.