anyone else ever increased there meds by themself?

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Belinda5000

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I was wondering if anyone else has ever got so fed up with there seizures that they increased there meds on there own?
The neuro had nothing to do with it u just decide do it because of sz increase?

I'm afraid my seizures will be increasing again since I started again at decreased dose of meds. my neuro thinks all my sz's ha d do with MIL dying in November.I had 6,sept 7,Oct16,in November and 5, December and 2 so far in January.

Belinda:pop::e::soap::agree::rock:
 
Nope Belinda...I never have. And I'd strongly advise against upping your meds on your own. You might end up messing up your serum levels, and sending yourself into toxic levels.
 
Increasing meds....never
Decreasing medication....occasionally when there were toxic symptoms. However, I believe in a safer (low dose) increase / decrease policy than any doctor has suggested.
 
Ummm.....I have :paperbag:

It's when I'm having a real bad 'bout' of sz's - I take one more Carbamazepine (Tegretol) tablet at lunchtime to get me over that period off the day. As soon as the sz's have simmerred down again, which is usually a couple of days, I'll reduce the dosage back to my normal rate, which reading the inserts in the boxes is at the lowest dosage possible.

I would say though, if you're on the MAX level off your dosage for that medication, don't even attempt it.

Okay, all feel free to start throwing stones :paperbag:
 
Not a good idea at all....

...if the med's not working and the doctor says an increase is not going to be a choice....then the reason is most likely that its maximum therapeutic level has been reached. From that point on the only thing gained by increasing the dose (again, most likely) will be an increase in side-effects which could have very nasty repercussions...such as organ damage!

Sounds like it's time for a new treatment/approach.
:twocents:

Good Luck,
Speber

PS. In emergency situations (for me that's when my threshhold is extremely low from sickness or extreme lack of sleep or BOTH)...I have been known to take an extra amount of medication...but it has ONLY been then and is a VERY rare occurrence that I hope never happens again. I do not advocate the practice at all! I also follow up with my epileptologist concerning the situation.
 
Belinda,

I've never increased my meds, although I've decreased them several times.
Since you have the VNS, can the dr. re-adjust the settings of the VNS anymore in addition to changing the medication(s)?

Cindy
 
I never have....you can run into problems when you need to refill your prescription early and the insurance company will make you wait to refill...then you are stuck without any meds
 
anyone else ever increased there meds by themself?
Click to expand...

"Increased", no. But I have changed dosage amounts taken at specified times. What I did was to ease the flow of my AED strength.

Ex. My AED is Rx for 900MG 6AM & 1200MG 6PM. So take one pill from the night dosage
earlier. It seems to help me better. As long as my triggers don't get started. So now my AED
is taken like this: 900MG 6AM, 300MG 12PM, 900MG 6PM.

I haven't experienced any drawback from this. So I am still taking my AED like this.


Please don't increase your meds without talking to you Neurologist first.
 
skillefer said:
Nope Belinda...I never have. And I'd strongly advise against upping your meds on your own. You might end up messing up your serum levels, and sending yourself into toxic levels.
Click to expand...
my neuro said I was toxic when I saw him Monday.

Belinda
 
Cindy,
My VNS doc says talk to my neuro since he handles my meds.
an dramping up my VNS has turned out just hurting my throat like crazy.
I.m at 2.0 MA

Belinda
 
Keep in mind that AEDs are not like aspirins and it really is best to maintain a steady level of the drug instead of bouncing up and down. If you feel an adjustment is necessary, you really should contact your doctor and discuss it.
 
Hi Belinda

I wouldn't recommend playing around with the AEDs by increasing them yourself without checking, we just don't know what we're doing to ourselves with these drugs. I've just this morning dropped my Keppra by 500mg am and possibly I will drop it by another 500mg pm later on tonight, but that's only because I've had no seizures whatsoever since last November, and I've been reading up on what these drugs can do to some of use after long term use, also, I have an appointment to see my surgeon in London next month, I have a long list of questions for him.

I'm lucky enough to be able to e.mail the professor that has looked after me or the last 23 years if I have a problem, or want to drop or increase a drug, is there anyway you can talk to yours by e.mail?

Keep your chin up hun!!

Lotsalove

Elaine xx
 
never had i think i go to my Gp but half the time with me they dont want to listen like last year i had a lot of tingling with hands feet and then a lot of headaches/mirgains and then my sz where very bad i think my head doing over time. i just dont now what to do and even how to get a doctor to listen to me.
 
No, I never have. Only lowered 1 stairstep when I felt like the side effects were killing me. I would never increase without supervision....and personally, would never lower more than one step.
 
I have on certain occasions...There were a few times where I had a drink, and for extra assurance taken an extra pill...However I am not on the max dosage for that medication, so I dont see the harm in it...I have also been taken off a few meds that I still have in the house (Clonazepam is the one i use the most) if I am having more seizures than usual for whatever reason. It is not something I would do all of the time though, because you will run out of meds quicker than you would if taking it at the dose you are perscribed to take...I have also done the opposite when afraid of not having medication sent to me in the mail in time (reduced meds is better than not having any rif you run out IMO) Don't make increasing or decreasing meds a common thing though.
 
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