How many drugs did you try before finding the magic bullet?

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KarenB

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For those of you who are now enjoying seizure control....

I've heard several neurologists say that if you fail 2 meds, the chances of a 3rd (or 4th, 5th) working are only something like 2%. Has anyone beat those odds?

In our case, Jon's second drug (Topomax) worked, for 3 1/2 years, then failed. He's now been on 9 different medications, but none except the Topomax seemed to have much effect.
 
tegratol epilim epenuton i spelt them all wrong...now laminacal cloberzam but it not magic pill just better than the others..i never hear of those odds before....i stop first three for unrelated reasons tegratol made me feel awful epilim made me edgy lost libio(never found it again)and epenuton made hair grow on face and caused mouth problems
 
I'm lucky enough to be "medication-responsive". The first medication I was put on (Dilantin) controlled my seizures, as does the current one (Lamotrigine, med #3). Even Zonegran (med #2) which controlled them for a few months, would probably have controlled my seizures for longer if it hadn't messed with my appetite at the same time.
 
For those of you who are now enjoying seizure control....

I've heard several neurologists say that if you fail 2 meds, the chances of a 3rd (or 4th, 5th) working are only something like 2%. Has anyone beat those odds?

Sort of. The first med I took is the one I'm on now. In between, I've tried two different ones but neither worked well.

So after two failed attempts at finding a better drug, I'm sticking with my current one.

I'm the 49 percent.
 
Dilantin, tegretol, vimpat - all very bad for me. Since starting keppra I've only had one daytime t/c - i think. Prior to the keppra I think I was in the ER more often than not.

The nocturnal t/c's come and go and my drs and I have given up on trying any other meds for them. The partials - not controlled.
 
no.guru -- what med are you on that is controlling the seizures? I'm expecting that it must have some negative side effects if you tried a couple others in between.

Eli -- are you still avoiding wheat products? How's that going?
 
I've tried 5 medications Tegretol, Lamictal, Topamax, Keppra & Neurontin but none of them controlled my partials. It was after my Neuro decided to try me on the 5th med Neurontin that he suggested the surgery to help with the seizures.
I have been seizure free since the surgery, I am still taking Tegretol & Keppra but eventually the specialists are hoping to get me on just 1 med (most likely Keppra).
 
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Our third was the one that worked. Tegratal and tripletal did not, depakote did (No Jinx). Do not read too much into stats it will drive you crazy. Everyone is different.
 
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