Tegretol and suicidal thoughts

[missellie]

Hi, looking for some advice. My son who is 8 has been put on Tegretol 2 weeks ago but his behaviour has become very worrying.

He keeps saying he wants to kill himself, and talks about the ways he would do it. He's also had some violent outbursts, throwing kitchen chairs, kicking the rest of the family, throwing shoes and dog toys at glass doors. We are exhausted and so worried.

This is the 3rd drug he's been on since August - started on Lamotrgine but it increased his seizures, was on Keppra for 1 week but went crazy on it and now Tegretol.

Any advice? Going to speak to the epilepsy nurse tomorrow but I know she won't be keen to change medication again - fair enough, but she's not living with it!!!

 

[Porkette]

Hi missellie,

I'm sorry your son is having a hard time with the seizure meds. I was on Tegretol yrs. ago and one side effect it had on me was suicidal thoughts. Also just like your son I've been on many different seizure med and nothing worked that's when I had the DNA test done and found out I was drug resistant. You may want to ask for your son to have a DNA test done by his Dr. all they do is draw some blood and get some salvia from his mouth and that is sent to the lab where they can see the body chemistry and the enzymes in his liver and they will be able to match all of that up to the best seizure med with the least side effect. I wish you and your son the best of luck and May God Bless the Both of You!

Sue

 

[missellie]

Thanks v much Sue. I did ask the epilepsy nurse last week about that test but she fobbed me off - going to speak to her again today as we can't go on like this.

 

[finalpoet]

As for meds it really just depends on the person.
But as for his behavior, get him to therapist or psychogist immediately!!

 

[resaebiunne]

You need to find a new epilepsy nurse immediately.

I would suggest taking your son to the emergency room for a visit by a neurologist and a psychologist.

 

[missellie]

Thanks everyone. Spoke to the epilepsy nurse today who then spoke with the consultant and they've agreed that Adam should come off Tegretol and let all the medication come out of his system then they'll have a rethink in the new year about how best to proceed.
They've sent a referral to mental health but the waiting list to be seen is at least 6 months so it's not going to happen any time soon! I genuinely believe that once the Tegretol is out of his system he will be much calmer.
So glad I found this site, saving my sanity!! Thank you all so much xx

 

[patrickh]

Hi MissEllie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Son. My 15 year old son is just starting on meds.

What type of seizures is your son having ?

I'm also in the UK.

Regards
Patrick

 

[resaebiunne]

Hi Missellie,

Is there any chance you can find a mental health specialist who can see you son sooner than 6 months? It is well worth your while. That said, if withdrawing the medication resolves the issues perhaps there is nothing to worry about after all. I still suggest emergency evaluation in the short term, it will not hurt to have this in his treatment records.

 

[missellie]

Hi MissEllie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Son. My 15 year old son is just starting on meds.

What type of seizures is your son having ?

I'm also in the UK.

Regards
Patrick

Hi Patrick,

My son has focal seizures but they then normally turn into generalised. He also has quite a lot of vacant episodes throughout the day, these are normally just a few seconds.

I'm glad he's off Tegretol as the last few weeks have been awful, walking on eggshells and he knows he's not himself as he keeps saying he just wants to feel like his old self again.

What meds is your son starting on?

 

[missellie]

Hi Missellie,

Is there any chance you can find a mental health specialist who can see you son sooner than 6 months? It is well worth your while. That said, if withdrawing the medication resolves the issues perhaps there is nothing to worry about after all. I still suggest emergency evaluation in the short term, it will not hurt to have this in his treatment records.

Thanks for your message. I genuinely believe it's the meds that are making him feel this way so really hope he's back to my cheery boy soon. I was told it we need urgent mental health advice we can access help at a+e so I've got a bit of reassurance.

 

[Lonewolf]

Tegretol was terrible! It made me constipated and gave me horrible headaches.
That's one AED I was taken off of. All AED's can make a person have suicidal thought's though but it's not happened to me. Keppra is good but stay off of Tegretol.