Lack of change with lamotrigine

[rhiz]

&i think it's also called lamictal!

hey i'm new here so i apologise if this is in the wrong section

I've been on lamotrigine for 2 years now and I've had no change in my myoclonic seizures at all if anything, i'm afraid they've gotten worse
i started off getting 1 or two a week i'm now up to 3 or 4 a DAY
when i'm cold i get them so much more frequently and i was diagnosed as photosensitive too
i had an EEG which confirmed it but the MRI showed nothing at all so i'm guessing i'm not too bad

they're referring me to Epilim but i've heard such bad things
does anyone have personal experiences?

 

[Kansas Educator]

Epilim is Depakote. It has worked for me but mine are very infrequent to start with. Different meds work for different people. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Nakamova]

Unfortunately what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, and two people can have completely different experiences in terms of side effects and doses. All of the AEDs have side effects of one sort or another; you should definitely ask your doctor about the potential side effects of Epilim/Depakote, and for information about other AEDs that you can consider.

 

[Loudmouth]

ICK! Epilim was not good for me, yet I have a friend who is doing quite well on it. As everybody's chemical balance in their body is different, what works for one person will give another person awful side effects. It really is just trial and error when it comes to epilepsy medications, everybody will react differently. And also, can I assume by the fact that you are calling it Epilim rather than Depakote, that you are resident in the UK? If so, I wouldn't advise Epilim unless you are in one of the very few PCT's that has access to an Epilepsy Nurse (mine doesn't) as you regularly need the levels of Epilim checked in your blood to make sure you don't become toxic. As I don't have this service in my area there was no-one checking my blood levels and I quickly went into early liver failure. Thankfully I was ok after about a month of being off epilim, but it's all dependent on the services available in your area, the NHS permanently underfunds Epilepsy services in most of the UK. Apparently the best PCT is in the BRISTOL area. Good Luck.

 

[Bernard]

Since you are in the UK (where it's readily available), you should ask your doctor about Piracetam.

 

[rhiz]

Epilim is Depakote. It has worked for me but mine are very infrequent to start with. Different meds work for different people. Let us know how it goes.

It's interesting to know how it works for different people! Will do!

Unfortunately what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, and two people can have completely different experiences in terms of side effects and doses. All of the AEDs have side effects of one sort or another; you should definitely ask your doctor about the potential side effects of Epilim/Depakote, and for information about other AEDs that you can consider.

My doctor said originally when I had the initial choice of lamictal or epilim that there are quite alot of side-effects of epilim which put me off straight away

ICK! Epilim was not good for me, yet I have a friend who is doing quite well on it. As everybody's chemical balance in their body is different, what works for one person will give another person awful side effects. It really is just trial and error when it comes to epilepsy medications, everybody will react differently. And also, can I assume by the fact that you are calling it Epilim rather than Depakote, that you are resident in the UK? If so, I wouldn't advise Epilim unless you are in one of the very few PCT's that has access to an Epilepsy Nurse (mine doesn't) as you regularly need the levels of Epilim checked in your blood to make sure you don't become toxic. As I don't have this service in my area there was no-one checking my blood levels and I quickly went into early liver failure. Thankfully I was ok after about a month of being off epilim, but it's all dependent on the services available in your area, the NHS permanently underfunds Epilepsy services in most of the UK. Apparently the best PCT is in the BRISTOL area. Good Luck.

I know some people who took it for other things and they said they gained weight and all sorts Apparently there's a higher chance of this happening to me as when i was on Dianette (a mild form of 'the pill' to control seizures around the time of my menstruation and acne) I put on a severe amount of weight, but i'm not sure!
I am from the UK yes But I doubt I am in one of those areas as the nearest full hospital from me is an hour away (I live in Wales) and it is quite a poorly funded area
Thank you for your advice it's greatly appreciated

Since you are in the UK (where it's readily available), you should ask your doctor about gah had to remove link again due to account privileges.

I've looked that up now you have suggested it and it does seem like a better alternate to Epilim
Thank you! I'll suggest it to my doctor when I'm in in November, unfortunately that was the earliest they could do

 

[PhylisFeinerJohnson]

I'm on Lamictal and Klonapin and happy as a clam!

 

[RobinN]

Ask you doctor about the Modified Atkins Diet.

http://atkinsforseizures.com/

 

[Loudmouth]

Asking a doc about diets in the UK is tantamount to asking if you can remove your own brain, fry it with onions and stuff it back into your own cranium!!! As far as most are concerned diet has no effect on seizures (except the KETO for kids). When I explain the improvements with my epilepsy due to diet, they just tell you it's a coincidence. Piracetam usually has less chance of SE's when compared to Epilim, from what I've heard from friends. Especially if you live in a more rural PCT and can't get regular testing. Good luck!