Lamactil - could it be affecting my eyesight?

[Wobblez]

Hi guys,

Long story short....grand mal seizures and complex partials as a kid. Took Sabril and Epilim quite heavily till age 17. Seizure free (to my knowledge) till 2009, recently diagnosed with complex and simple partials. Currently on 100mg Lamactil as starting dose. Definite improvement.

Problem: I already wear glasses for estigmatism in both eyes, however during the last few years and while awaiting diagnosis, I saw my optomotrist regularly as I am a uni student and I was having trouble with blurred vision, eyestrain while reading, driving, watching tv etc. Now that I am diagnosed, we have been monitoring my vision and there has been a myopic shift that has worsened as my lamactil has been increased. From what i've read here, I am on a very low dose. Could my eyesight problems that are clearly evident be from the epilepsy rather than the lamactil? I am awaiting a call back from my neurologist as I want to get this problem addressed before I go back to uni in a few weeks. If I can't read for more than a few minutes, I'm in serious trouble. Just surfing this website and writing this post is actually "hurting" my eyes.

Thanks!!

 

[Nakamova]

Lamictal is the more likely cause -- the epilepsy would be unlikely to affect your vision unless there were some sort of pressure around the optic nerve.

I'm on a relatively low dose of Lamictal (175mg per day), and my vision problems started almost right away when I went on the Lamictal. I had perfect vision (due to laser surgery) prior to going on it, and since I have to squint quite a bit, with blurriness coming and going throughout out the day. My reading vision is fine, and so far I've managed to avoid getting glasses, but if things get worse that may be the next step.

 

[Blue Cat]

My Lamictal dose started lower (300/day I think), is currently 750/day, and I've had eye problems my whole life - born with crossed eyes, 8 surgeries later great in one eye, they messed up a nerve in the other. After starting on Lamictal I have had more problems with my eyes getting tired and crossing and squinting. Opthomologist said the only thing he could recommend was changing drugs, but since I'm steady on it I don't want to mess with things. New stronger prescription on lenses, hopefully will do the job. Good luck

 

[bazpa]

I don't know about lamactil, because I only took it for a couple of days due to severe allergic reaction, however, I am taking topomax, and right from the start my vision has been blurry. I keep hoping I will adjust and it will get better, but just had my dose get increased. In order to work, I end up using those stupid reading glasses from the drug store that I have to flip up and down depending on what I am doing! I cannot see an darn thing on the computer screen or my phone without them-it is so irritating! I did go see my eye doctor, because one of the side effects of topomax is eye pressure issues, but that is fine. I also wonder if my seizures have changed my eye sight, as I have had so many vision changes in the last few years. I have had 2 pairs of glasses that only have worked half the time. Part of what tells me a seizure is coming is vision changes. One of the biggest, and longest seizures that I have had, I experienced triple vision. My doctor wants me to spend a week in the hospital to try to see where my seizure are at, but I own my business, and just had my second employee quit today. I don't see how I am going to be able to make arrangments to do this anytime soon. I swear when it rains it pours-I am so upset-I am now going to have to work 6 days a week 65 hours a week, and could barley handle 5 days a week when the first person quit. I do not know how I am going to make it. Sorry-got off the subject-moan whine complain feel sorry for myself ect!! I am beginning to think I should just shut down. The horrible struggle for the last for years has been so hard that I am just not sure I can do this much longer. I am so sad.

 

[Jfpinell]

This is VERY interesting.......There is a product that is called "Thia-go" I get from my herbalist and Natures sunshine. It's a powerful antioxidant about 5,000 times as potent as vitamin C. Now I've had glasses since I was 8. Every year, Ma would shake her head because I'd need stronger lenses. (I was on dilantin then). After I started taking this herb for only 3 months I went in for my eye exam (I was and am now on Lamictal). Well, that's the first time in my life Doc. actually DROPPED a lense strength! (She was like; "WHAT THE _____??!" ). Well, I haven't been on it for awhile now (it IS expensive). This is rather cute because I've noticed my eyes get a bit worse again. As soon as I can afford the stuff again, I'm going to test my "theory" again!
Perhaps it could be related to the medication. In any case, I'd suggest trying that stuff.

 

[Nakamova]

Thai-Go's main ingredient is mangosteen, which like other bright fruits is a decent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants can play a role in slowing vision loss from certain causes (retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, cataracts) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060720104057.htm, so it would be interesting if it could help improve vision too. As you note, mangosteen juice is expensive, and its particular benefits are unproven, so proceed with caution. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/04/business/fi-fruit4 Black cherry and blueberry juices are also good sources of antioxidants.

 

[Eibhlin]

I got glasses a few years ago - I think it was from sitting in front of the computer so much (I was working very long hours). My eyesight has improved with my recent reduction in Lamictal, BUT that could be because i'm on the computer less (apart from visiting this forum) and I haven't been studying for the last couple of months. I'll know next month if it's the Lamictal or the rest!

I hope your eyesight improves

 

[epileric]

Depends on what you mean by unproven. If you mean double blind studies, good luck ever seeing THAT happening with the mighty power of the (billions of) dollars and lobbying efforts the drug companies have -squashing everything that doesn't come from a laboratory (and therefore can't be patented so there's no huge profits that can be made).

Actually, the drug companies need a good non-anecdotal reason to research something first. If all they are interested in is money wouldn't there be money in researching things that they think work?

A number of laboratory and animal studies suggest that mangosteen has significant anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, at this time, there have been no human studies to determine if these anti-inflammatory effects will be helpful to people with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mangosteen/AN01197

 

[Rae1889]

I agree eric. If reserching somethin will brign in new revenues for later, a companie will wannt to sunk some monie in so that they come out on top.

**edit: wisj there was a spel cheque on here so i can just click to fiz

 

[Nakamova]

No worries Rae, I just figure you're writing in Canadian.

 

[Rae1889]

canadand and ameicand are diferent. you guys like to hate on the letter "u" and leave it out or replacee it.

 

[elizzza811]

I'm on Lamictal right now...my third week...50mg in the morning and 25mg in the evening. I haven't noticed any change in my eyesight since starting it, though I realize it is still early and I'm still at a low dose.

I am severely nearsighted though (this started long before Lamictal...grade school). And though I used to be able to wear my gas permeable contact lenses, in recent years, since these seizures started, I haven't been able to due to discomfort and I'm guessing dry eyes? I also noticed that since these seizures began, I actually need reading glasses. I also have had blurry vision in one or both eyes since these seizures started. So I'm the oddball here...I'm more likely to blame the seizures over the meds.

 

[epileric]

Woops this thread got hijacked again. Let's get back to Lamictal & if it could be effecting eyesight.:hj:

 

[Endless]

I've had blurry vision on all the AEDs I've been on (which would be 5). It's especially blurry around the edges, and I also get floaters, grayed out areas. It got much worse on Trileptal and continues on Lamictal. Mine I think is probably mostly due to another neurological condition that I have. but I'm willing to bet that at least part is due to the Lamictal. I've also had achy eyes that feel like they are popping out of my head. Don't know if this is related or not.

I've had blurry eyes that looked like I was looking at the world underwater. That's not wavy - open your eyes in the pool and you'll see what I mean. It corresponded with me feeling like I was thinking underwater, moving underwater.... you get the idea. I have no idea what was causing it.

Here's a link to the package insert for Lamictal. Look at the Adverse reactions. Sixteen percent of the people on lamictal had blurry vision vs. five percent of the people in the control group (on a sugar pill).

http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?id=32038#nlm34084-4

 

[RobinN]

My daughter had terrible vision issues on her first med Tegritol. She didn't complain about it on Lamictal, but she had horrible muscle aches on that.

She is thankfully no longer on any meds, and her seizures are controlled after making major changes to her nutritional choices.

 

[Lola Lolushka]

Heya,

I've been on Lamictal and Epilim for a long time, and I've been informed by optometrists twice that anticonvulsants have big side effects regarding eyesight. The first one told me that it is Lamictal which does it, and the second told me (about 3 weeks ago) that Epilim is the one that makes it hard to focus!

 

[Nakamova]

I think there are different kinds of vision side effects you can have with the meds. When I was on Dilantin, I had issues with "nystagmus", where you feel your eyes racing back and forth from side to side. I also had a bit of double vision. Both were happening when I was on too high a dose. On Lamictal, I haven't had either nystagmus or double vision, just the blurry vision that comes and goes.

 

[mspang]

Hi there, i've been on Lamictal for quite awhile. I started taking it in 2000 while wearing glasses myself. Ever since no probs with blurry vision or anything else, but unfortunately we're all different. Hope all turns out good for you!

 

[Endless]

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**edit: wisj there was a spel cheque on here so i can just click to fiz

Hi, Rae. There IS a magic spellcheck. It's called Inspell, but you need to download it. Then use it by clicking the "abc" check button at the top of the screen where you type in the message.

Me, I usually type them into MS Word first, which auto-corrects. That's why there's a strange word in mine every so often.

 

[BigWill]

I used to be on Topamax. It would give me vision problems from time to time. I would feel slightly cross eyed sometimes and other times my vision would get slightly blurry, but neither were ever constant.

I have since switched to Lamictal due to getting rashes from the Topamax. Im currently at 25 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. I havent noticed a single problem yet. Still on a low dose. Working my way up to 300mg a day. Hopefully I will stay problem free. And as previously posted, we are all different and these medicines affect us all differently!