Anyone noticed their personality change after switching meds or ending a med?

[Dignan]

I'm not referring to things like Kepprage or depression from E meds but rather a noticeable personality change in how you do things. Things like your sense of humor changing or leaving you?

This may sound odd, but I've always felt that my personality changed years ago after ending a med. I was much wittier and a more outgoing person (I know that sounds self serving in a way, but its true) before the change.

I was also a writer, though not professionally, but I would write short stories and was always making notes about ideas I had or humorous anecdotes. Once I ended a med and later changed to another that all ended. I still have old notebooks that have gone untouched for 5+ years now. It was as if that area in my brain that was creative and fun just shut down.

Its a strange feeling getting used to yourself all over again, and I preferred the old me better. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Just curious..

 

[Porkette]

Hi Dignan,

I have surely seen changes in my personality when I've changed meds. Sometimes I would be more irritable especially when I took Tegretol and as you mentioned keppra. I also would write poems and short stories like crazy but now I hardly write at all, I'm just not in the mood to write like I used to be. According to my neuro a lot of it has to do with the seizure meds I'm taking but some of it has to do with stress from work and family.

What really changed me was when I had brain surgery to reduce my seizures my personality changed a lot and I have more of a sense of humor compared to before the surgery.

I agree with you the meds can make a change in a persons personality. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[masterjen]

Hey Dignan;
I voiced these exact concerns to a wise friend very recently who said (words slightly adjusted because I can't remember my friend's word for word): no matter what, how you currently are is you. You can't look to the past and say that was the "real me". Even though some of what you describe as changes due to medication may indeed be the case but it is important to realize that as we advance through life (eg. go from 20 to 25 to 30 . . . ) that our bodies and even our minds go through natural changes anyway, whether or not we are on seizure medications.

Good luck in dealing with this, my friend. Maybe take comfort in knowing that you have a CWE friend going through the same thing.

 

[SniffleCat]

Absolutely 100%.

 

[seagull]

Yep 100%agree..Sad fact many of us wake up one day and we got older.People say to me they still think as an 18yr old,I hope to god I don't.
maybe change tack you like writing well maybe this time do art only using that as example.Maybe it's re-valuate time.