Ronnie had a brain hemorrhage 3.5 years ago. After 99 days in hospital and rehab, he was able to return home with impaired ability to communicate (aphasia). He was progressing nicely ,but, the Neuro , after he came home, told us to take him off Amantadine. The doc didn't say to wean him off. I noticed some irritability and began to research the amantadine. Duh!!! The literature said to carefully wean him off. Well we made it through that with no seizures, until he fell in the bathroom and hit his head. The ER gave him a dose of kepra and a prescription for the same. The kepra had such side effects right away that we did not fill the prescription. Then a new neurologist and a psychiatrist said he needed to be on seizure meds and they both prescribed generic trileptal. After 10 days and rising blood glucose levels, I asked more questions and the druggist stated that generic trileptal could cause the blood glucose levels to rise. My husband is a well controlled type1 diabetic. I talked to the druggist and the neuro nurse practitioner. Neither one said to wean him off. After all, It was just 10 days. Five days later he had a grand mal seizure and his shoulder was shattered .
He was started on Lamictal XR 200. Two weeks later he had a shoulder replacement he was given lomotigran by the surgeon instead of Lamictal, Ronnie had 2 grand mal seizures the evening after surgery. They finally consulted Ronnie's Neuro and who added Vimpat 200 to Lamictal.
It was discovered 2 days later that he had and enlarged prostate and could not empty his bladder after surgery. He was sent home to follow up with our Neuro and a urologist. Two months later he had prostate surgery.
From Nov. 2013-Sept 2014, Ronnie had a total of 13 seizures. Three were grand mal. He was definitely more impaired in his ability to communicate than he was before the first seizure. Now, I research all medicines before filling a prescription. I do not hesitate to question the doctor.
In September he will be 2 years without a seizure. With the Neuro's permission, we have been weaning him off the Vimpat. In 1year, he is down from 200 mg of Vimpat to 50 of Vimpat. His cognitive ability is returning. I am here to research the way to wean him off the Lamictal xr 200. I want to know other peoples experiences with lamictal and coming off it. We see the Neuro in September. I want to discuss the subject intelligently.
We also keep him on a diet high in fat, 70 grams carb\day, moderate protein which works for his diabetes and seizure control.
One thing I have noticed in the last year is a tremor in Ronnie's right leg and in his right arm. It is only there when he is still and concentrating and standing up. He says it is a nervous habit.
I apologize for being so long winded
Sewingmom
He was started on Lamictal XR 200. Two weeks later he had a shoulder replacement he was given lomotigran by the surgeon instead of Lamictal, Ronnie had 2 grand mal seizures the evening after surgery. They finally consulted Ronnie's Neuro and who added Vimpat 200 to Lamictal.
It was discovered 2 days later that he had and enlarged prostate and could not empty his bladder after surgery. He was sent home to follow up with our Neuro and a urologist. Two months later he had prostate surgery.
From Nov. 2013-Sept 2014, Ronnie had a total of 13 seizures. Three were grand mal. He was definitely more impaired in his ability to communicate than he was before the first seizure. Now, I research all medicines before filling a prescription. I do not hesitate to question the doctor.
In September he will be 2 years without a seizure. With the Neuro's permission, we have been weaning him off the Vimpat. In 1year, he is down from 200 mg of Vimpat to 50 of Vimpat. His cognitive ability is returning. I am here to research the way to wean him off the Lamictal xr 200. I want to know other peoples experiences with lamictal and coming off it. We see the Neuro in September. I want to discuss the subject intelligently.
We also keep him on a diet high in fat, 70 grams carb\day, moderate protein which works for his diabetes and seizure control.
One thing I have noticed in the last year is a tremor in Ronnie's right leg and in his right arm. It is only there when he is still and concentrating and standing up. He says it is a nervous habit.
I apologize for being so long winded
Sewingmom
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