Full Extent of side-effects

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Itr786

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What is the true extend of the side-effects of using anti epileptic medication?

I've been on meds for 5+ years now, begun on carbamazapine for a few years, varying dosages, from the minimum, to the absolute maximum before getting taken off it because it was obviously not having any affect.

Then I moved onto lamotrigine, then keppra. I'm now on both keppra and lamotrigine.

The side effects I had from each one was quite plan to see, my DRASTIC weight loss, unbelievable amount of fatigue, ridiculous mood swings etc... The common affects that are known from the respective drugs.

The one question I have, is what are the long-term, lasting affects for which there potentially is no recovering from?...

From before I begun taking aed, I was pretty fit/healthy... As things stand now, I feel a shadow of who/what I was, my bones are very brittle, my muscles are WEAK, I feels like it's a constant uphill battle with fatigue/tiredness.

A ridiculous example of how weak I am, to sum it up nicely is what happened to me a few days ago....
I'm standing upright, leaning a tough on one side of my body. I shift my body weight by an inch, from one leg to the other and I hear/feel a twitch in my neck, and I'm in pain for days with muscle? Nerve? Pain..

Constant/regular messaging over the next few days, putting on voltarol gel and I finally get movement back on my neck/head.

Just thinking about it is ridiculous, how someone in their mid 30s can possible be as fragile as I am!. I'm due to be taken off the meds sooner or later as I've had surgery, and approaching 12 months of seizure freedom!, but what's required to get the mind and body back to a 'normal' level?...

I can't help look at things like testosterone replacement therapy, human growth hormones etc, and needing these sorts of things to make a good/full recovery... I've had the relevant blood test to check my testosterone levels, for which I'll be getting the results back later in the week... Then there's these growth hormones I'm being told about by a few people when I explain to them the position I'm in.

What's people opinions on this?
 
I emphasize completely. I worry about side effects and have them. One thing that really helps me is y yoga. T that's the first thing I thought reading this thread..
 
I take both keppra and lamotrigine plus a few others for a good many years and I'm always tired. I know this is due to the meds. I have to take a nap every day or I'll pass out at night as soon as I get in bed, which I don't usually do, and sleep most of the next day.

Is it just your neck you are having problems with? I had back problems for years, even before I had epilepsy. My back almost always hurt and if I moved the wrong way I'd be in pain for hours to days. I went to several different drs before I went to a an orthopedic dr, one who specifically deals with back problems, and found out that I had two herniated discs in my spine. I know your neck is connected to your spine so you may want to look into seeing an orthopedic dr and have him take a look at it.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with my back, it was just a good example of how i feel, how fragile I feel like I am!
 
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