Do I have epilepsy or does my heart suck at doing its job?!

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sp0ckward

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This morning, I had an appointment with my neurologist to discuss a change of medication because I hated the side effects from Lamotrigine (generic): vision sensitivity to light, especially in the morning and sometimes at my office (staring at a monitor all day); and, it's impossible to wake up in the morning (to be on time for work). Most importantly, I still have breakthrough myoclonic "jerk" seizures and have had a drop attack. Granted, I was only on 25mg, which is a low dose and I had only increased to 1 pill in the morning and 1 pill at night, but I honestly was getting exasperated by the drug.

I asked to be prescribed on Vimpat, but Dr. Fishel prescribed me to Kepra. This is slightly frustrating to have a doctor not listen to you! Especially as a woman, because it's really not safe to be off birth control - I don't want children! I brought this up, but he doesn't listen to me. The Lamotrigine can't be taken with birth control because the two will cancel each other out. I heard that Vimpat can be taken with the Shot without the two interacting or cancelling each other out, or one or the other being ineffective.

On a side note, does anyone have experience with Kepra? Every anti-seizure medication seems to have the same warnings, but everyone seems to experience them differently. With Lamotrigine, I could still drink alcohol beverages without it interacting my medication. The medication actually helped with my hangover seizures by not having any - although once I forgot to take it in the morning, and literally had like at least 5+ seizures in a row (once I took my meds, I was fine). Next time, keeping my meds in my purse at all times!

Neurologist prescribed me to Keppra, but said to stay on Lamotrigine until a week when we will have a better answer if Keppra will work for me. BUT: he didn't instruct me to lower my dosage of Lamotrigine, but to continue taking it. What makes matters worse is that technically, today (Friday, Nov. 4), I would need to increase my medication for Lamotrigine to 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at night.

During the appointment, he had took my pulse and checked to hear my heart. He commented on my irregular heartbeat and asked if that is normal. I have always had an abnormal heartbeat and many boyfriends have been freaked out by the irregular pulses (beats really fast and then "rests"; and there isn't a pattern to them...super irregular). So now, he wants me to proceed with following up with a cardiologist in order to make sure that the lack of strength in my heart doesn't have to do with my seizures. On a side note: I have always had poor circulation. If I have a weak heart, this might explain why I get cold easily, even during Spring. My mom was freaked out that my hands sometimes turn purple during the winter. Research showed nothing alarming except poor circulation. She often accused me of being anorexic and thought I was eating enough. Can one have seizures due to a weak heart / poor circulation?

In short, I still don't have answer. Do I have epilepsy / neurological seizures or does my heart just can't do its job?

I will be asking for a referral to another neurologist that is closer to the big City, but more importantly, to just change from this dude -- the personality is like talking to a wall. Am considering following up with a cardiologist until then, but other doctors (general health) have never commented on it and said that I am "healthy" -- whatever the fuck that means.

So continues the search for the Soulmate in a anti-seizure drug that will balance out my seizures in order to live a normal work day without collapsing randomly.
 
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It could be either epilepsy or heart problems or both. Epilepsy can cause heart problems/arrhythmia's and heart problems/arrhythmia's can cause seizures.

I have both an arrhythmia and seizures and my seizures can make my arrhythmia worse. Sometimes after a seizure I will have constant arrhythmia's until I sleep for a while.

Having a Dr that listens and explains things to you is much better than one that just throws a prescription at you.

It is possible that the Dr did not prescribe Vimpat since it is approved for partial seizures and myoclonics are considered generalized seizures, Keppra is approved for both.

Keppra is a very good medication and helps many people, the one side effect to watch for is increased anger/aggression called Kepprage.
 
An irregular heartbeat puts one at risk of other cardiovascular conditions that can have serious consequences. Do you see your family doctor regularly for monitoring of your irregular heartbeat as well as blood pressure checks? Have you seen a cardiologist? Typically medication is prescribed to make the heartbeat more regular, and offset the possible risks of this condition.
 
Hi Sp0ckward,
Vimpat is a great med for myoclonic seizures and it has greatly reduced my complex parital and absence seizure. When I was on keppra the drug increased my seizures and I had a hot temper so my Epileptologist took me off the drug after 1 month.
You may want to have your family Dr. refer you to start seeing an Epileptologist these Drs. specialize in treating epilepsy and have a better education on how to treat the person with the least amount of seizure meds and they can tell you the cause of your seizures.
In regards to your heart it can cause more seizures. I started having rapid heartbeats every now and then after I started vimpat and I thought it was the drug but when I had an e.k.g. and an echocardiogram done the tests came back that my heart was weak and one muscle in my heart isn't working well in turn that has triggered more seizures because there's a lack of blood flow to the brain. Just like you I'm always cold even in the summer time unless it's in the 80's or 90's. My advice to you is to see a cardiologist and get some testing done. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
An irregular heartbeat puts one at risk of other cardiovascular conditions that can have serious consequences. Do you see your family doctor regularly for monitoring of your irregular heartbeat as well as blood pressure checks? Have you seen a cardiologist? Typically medication is prescribed to make the heartbeat more regular, and offset the possible risks of this condition.

I tired of doctors for personal reasons.

I'm adopted from Russia, and the doctors tried to persuade my now parents to not adopt me because I am "retarded". And then, my general family doctor for my parents' medical plan was not helpful as when I kept bringing up that my symptoms were correlated with epilepsy, she wouldn't listen to me until she was tired of me trying to persuade her that my symptoms might be connected. If I could, I would give that bitch a piece of my mind!

And yes, I have had multiple doctor visits for birth control and simple doctor check-ups. There have been a few times were the nurses reactions were 'particular' and made me suspicious. Whenever I asked if it was "normal", they said that I was healthy.

If there is something abnormal with my heart, it wouldn't surprise me that it wasn't noticed before considering my history with doctors.

(just because you have a PhD, or MD, doesn't mean suddenly you can't learn from your patients, or you suddenly become Yoda - open your mind and cease being so self-absorbed and narcissistic about your education)

Short answer: yes, I will be following up with a cardiologist.
 
Hi Sp0ckward,
Vimpat is a great med for myoclonic seizures and it has greatly reduced my complex parital and absence seizure. When I was on keppra the drug increased my seizures and I had a hot temper so my Epileptologist took me off the drug after 1 month.
You may want to have your family Dr. refer you to start seeing an Epileptologist these Drs. specialize in treating epilepsy and have a better education on how to treat the person with the least amount of seizure meds and they can tell you the cause of your seizures.
In regards to your heart it can cause more seizures. I started having rapid heartbeats every now and then after I started vimpat and I thought it was the drug but when I had an e.k.g. and an echocardiogram done the tests came back that my heart was weak and one muscle in my heart isn't working well in turn that has triggered more seizures because there's a lack of blood flow to the brain. Just like you I'm always cold even in the summer time unless it's in the 80's or 90's. My advice to you is to see a cardiologist and get some testing done. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Sue,

Yes, I believe you were the one that brought it up to me on another post and I was researching it a little more.

That's a good idea - my current neurologist actually focuses on spinal surgery, so I don't think he has a full grasp of what surrounds epilepsy, etc. What worries me is that when I am discussing with him medications, he seems unsure of himself.

I'm still unsure how I am supposed to transition from lamotrigine to Keppra. I might try it out for this month to see how I react to it, but my Dr. told me to stay on lamotrigine while I'm taking Keppra for a week and then go off Lamotrigine, but do I then decrease the dosage of Lamotrigine while I take Keppra? I heard that you have to go off anti-seizure medications carefully and I am at a 1 pill in the morning and 1 pill at night, so I'm wondering if I should only take one pill / per day for a week and then exclusively take Keppra.

I actually haven't purchased Keppra yet because I don't exactly know how I am supposed to transition.

Last night, I didn't take my night pill and when I woke up this morning, I had a few jerks when I was playing WoW (game) on my computer, so I took my morning pill and was fine. But, I wonder if it had to do with food as well as I had no food in my fridge and had to go grocery shopping. Once I took the medication, I was fine.

I thought the anti-seizure medication would fix all of this, but it seems to only surface unanswered past questions.
 
Oh, and the doctor said something that kind of irked me about newer drugs, that they work better. My thinking is if they are newer drugs, then there is no evidence and there are many different reviews for them because they are "new" and not yet consistent.

I might just get off lamotrigine entirely and go to a specialist doctor for epilepsy.:brain:
 
Hi Sp0ckward,

Over the 44 yrs. I've had E. I have found that many Drs. try to put me on the new meds and I think that some of them do it for the money.
Tell your Dr. that you want a DNA test this will show what seizure med will work the best with the least side effects. My Epileptologist did this on me after trying over 10 different meds on me and not a single one stopped my seizures. After the test was done he found out I was drug resistant to all seizure meds out on the market right now. You don't have to take any new meds if you don't want to it's your decision. If you do decide to go on the keppra you have to go off your other med very slowly while at the same time start your new med. Each time I've had to change seizure meds I always have seizures because of the change in the meds and it takes my body awhile to get used to the new med. Whatever you decide to do I wish you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
If you do decide to go on the keppra you have to go off your other med very slowly while at the same time start your new med.

Sue

Do you know how I would do that? r, a recommendation of minimizing my dose? I am still new at taking anti-seizure medication, and am wondering if my seizures have to do with something else entirely that doesn't lead to epilepsy.

I am currently on 25mg Lamotrigine, and am taking 2 pills per day for a week. Because I am on such a low dose, I tried skipping on the 1 pill at night, and had seizures the next morning, but was fine after I took the 1 pill in the morning. Last night, I had a headache and wasn't sure if that was connected to the lack of food or the fact that I had decreased to only 1 pill per day. In any case, I decided to take 2 pills per day for a week until I figure out how to decrease from Lamotrigine 25mg.

What's your take on this?

I will be following up with a Epitologist near my city and mention that my past doctor was referring me to a cardiologist for my heart to see if that is connected with my seizures.
 
Hi Sp0ckward,

You will probably have to cut 1 of your 25 mg. pills in half for about 3 days then stop taking the other half of the pill after that wait about 1 week and do the same with the other 25 mg. of Lamotrigine. The best place to get any info if your Dr. won't tell you is to ask your pharmacists they are very good about all of this info. and what can happen when changing meds.
If you want to see an Epileptologist you will either have to go to a really big hospital or a university hospital the best thing to do is to ask your family Dr. to refer you to an Epileptologist at a Epilepsy Center. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue
 
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