Med Dosing Schedules

[Blondie47]

Hi-

Just wondering how everyone spaces their twice a day meds.

Do you take them exactely 12 hours a part? Or...

Do you take them when you wake and at bedtime (15-16 hours) a part?

Is the time interval a key component to seizure control and side effect control?

We have been spacing the twice a day's about 15 hours apart and I am wondering if that is something we should reconsider. Our twice a day's are Topamax and Vimpat.

Thanks and Take Care:e:

 

[epileric]

I used to take them when I woke up & went to bed but in the last year I've been taking them when I wake up then about 12 hours later.

I personally haven't seen it help my seizures any. I would tell you that if you're not having trouble with your seizures then there's no need to change your habits regarding your meds.

 

[valeriedl]

I take my meds at 7am - 2pm - 7pm.

I make sure I take them on time too, usually with in no more of a half hour difference.

I was in the hospital a few months ago (of all places for this to happen too). I kept telling them it was time for my medicine. This was the day I was leaving too. They finally gave me my am meds, the ones that I take at 7am, at around 10:30. I ended up having a really bad seizure that evening.

 

[phoenix15]

Hey,
I take them whenever I wake up, be it 6am or 11am, and when I go to bed. If I plan on staying up/out very late I take my meds around 9pm to be safe. It doesn't so much matter when I take them (within reason) as long as I do take them.

 

[Nakamova]

More or less when I wake up -- around 7 or 8am, and then again at 6pm. I take 100mg in the morning and 75mg at night, based on the idea that my metabolism is slower overnight.

 

[CQ:)]

I find the easiest way for me to remember to take my medications is when I eat.
I take my morning tablets when I have breakfast which is usually 6.30am - 8.00am. I take my evening tablets when I have dinner which is usually between 5.00pm - 6.00pm.

 

[momof3boys]

I've always taken then when i wake up, and keep them 12 hours apart from my next dose, which is usually right before bed. Ive been taking my medications around 10am, and 10pm. Ive been taking my medications like this all my life, so Im use to it.

 

[rhiz]

I tend to take them between 9am and 12pm in the morning, then between 9pm and 12am at night, just whenever I remember really!

 

[jyearta]

I stay on schudle with my. take dilantin 6:00AM and 10:00Pm .

Klonopin I take 1/2 tablet every 4 hours (AROUND the clock) have my phone set to ring and remind me. Then at 10:00PM I take 1 whole klonopin.

I have tried to give more time in between, hoping to help memory and other issues. But that just doesn't work for me.

 

[PragueClaret]

I take them about half an hour after waking up,(usually between 6,30 and 7,30), and then 12 hours later.

 

[triller]

I take mine about 6:10 a.m and 6:10 p.m or as close to it as I can.

 

[jyearta]

:clap:I post early in this thread how I TOOK my med.

However after going back and reading all the post, the common thing I saw was --every 12 hours---

SOO I changed my PM dose of dilantin from 10:00PM to 6:00PM.
I could not believe how much better I felt last night.
I had become anxious in the evening in the last several years (which is not like me) and seem to hit in the evening. We could be out for dinner, just the waitress asking me my choice, I would almost cry.

I would tell my my Neur. this and he had my papers showing med. and times.
He never said I needed to take medic. on more even time frame.
I never gave it thought, since that was how I had started out in the beginning.

Again this forum point out something to me and it helped.
Thanks to all.

 

[Blondie47]

Thanks Everyone!

I am going to talk with the doc about gradually moving onto a 12 hour schedule.

Take Care:e:

 

[Nakamova]

:clap:I post early in this thread how I TOOK my med.

However after going back and reading all the post, the common thing I saw was --every 12 hours---

SOO I changed my PM dose of dilantin from 10:00PM to 6:00PM.
I could not believe how much better I felt last night.
I had become anxious in the evening in the last several years (which is not like me) and seem to hit in the evening. We could be out for dinner, just the waitress asking me my choice, I would almost cry.

I would tell my my Neur. this and he had my papers showing med. and times.
He never said I needed to take medic. on more even time frame.
I never gave it thought, since that was how I had started out in the beginning.

Again this forum point out something to me and it helped.
Thanks to all.

That's great to hear! I don't think the neurologists always understand that little adjustments in taking meds can have big results in terms of side effects. The results do vary from person to person, but even so the docs should be aware of all the ways the medication experience can potentially be improved. When I first went on Dilantin, it was on a once-a-day dose, taken in the morning. It made me extremely sleepy throughout the day. It was a friend -- not a doctor -- who had taken a similar med and suggested that I could take the dose in the evening to minimize the daytime fatigue. And she was absolutely right! (I did check with my doctor first to make sure I could switch to evenings).

 

[jyearta]

I so much appreciate any improvement that gives us a better quality of life.

I did send a Email to my Dr.



I hope y'all up the Norht East stay safe, with the Hurricane coming!!!!

 

[petero]

I'm on 500mg/day of phenytoin, 300mg at morning, 200mg 1:30 afternoon
but phenytoin doesn't rely on a spacing dosing so I hear, because of the way it metabolizes - I just need to take enough of it
I just spread it out to two doses to spread the love throughout the day - lol
actually that's the way I started taking it (to repeat a habit twice a day will accustom one to that habit more than doing it once a day... basically why) so that's the way I stuck with it

when I was on Keppra I also took that twice daily, but that didn't last long because that was bad news