Medication Frustration

[Phams413]

Hello,
I'm 20 and recently joined because I've been depressed for awhile. Sometimes I don't know if It's the epilepsy itself or the side effects from the medication. I have tried Lamictal, Keppra and Tegretol. I'm still taking Keppra and recently started Carbatrol, which is still Carbamazepine and a slightly different form of Tegretol. Needless to say the meds make me feel tired/out of it most of the time, but not being able to drive has had such a big impact on my life it seems almost impossible to find a job. Sometimes I feel trapped because it seems like the only time I leave the house is for a doctors appointment and if I am invited to hang out with a friend half the time I just feel so crappy and lethargic I just don't bother. I just feel so apathetic about everything and I don't feel like myself anymore.

Sorry if this sounds like a pity party, I don't mean for it to. I was just wondering if anyone else feels like this

 

[Chaz1]

Warm welcome to CWE Phams413

My Son (27) has E not me....

Your post sure does NOT sound like a pity party, at CWE we can rant and rave and vent and share and care and LEARN from each other...let it rip ?

try not to be too apathetic, one life to live and we should do so with as much gusto as possible and there is only one YOU....

Keep sharing, you have come to the right place....

 

[Fedup]

Phams413

Its not even close to a pity party, you were wondering did anybody else feel the things you feel. The simple answer is yes, I have felt like you and the part about being tired. You should think about seeing your doctor about these feelings. Life is not easy but we still have to make the best of it.

 

[eem]

Sorry you're going through this. It's no fun. I first of all want to say that there is not easy answer. I am going to give some thoughts but I don't want it to come off like there is some magic fix. You just have to keep pluggin and have faith that there are people who want to help. Look very hard into public transportation and special programs for people who cannot drive. There might be gov't help. There is in my area. I hope you are as lucky. Also, look at universities for jobs. There are lots of commuters and maybe you could carpool. If you have to - you could move. Again, I know it's not easy but maybe a change up could lift your mood. give you something to think about. Anyway, good luck. A lot of us have been there. It can get better. Don't give in.

 

[jyearta]

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this.

THIS is not a pity party, as FEDUP said you are just like the rest of us, trying to find answers to what you are dealing with.
I had gotten so much good inform. on this forum. I'm 60 it would have been so much better for me to have know all this all these years.

Look in all the forums and ask all the questions you want. If you feel down and want to rant----we are here to listen and hopefully help.

HUGS

 

[Georgie B]

Hi, I'm from northampton UK, I was taking keppra and started getting side affects after a year of taking it. I'm in exactly the same boat, i was getting depressed and major headaches everyday. I didn't think that depression was a real thing until it hit me, i didn't want to get out of bed and go to work, i was trying to shut the whole world out. When i did end up going to work i struggled but it was my dream job i loved everything about it. When the depression hit it hit my realationship too, it put alot of strain on it, I plucked up the courage to go back to my neurologist i am currently coming off of the keppra and changing over to tegretol retard. Go back and see your neurologist and point out that you are struggling in every aspect, from what i can work out this is wuite a common side effect hope this helps, Georgie B!

 

[teresal]

Omg! That sounds just like me! I am taking 200mg topamax and a starter pack of Lamictal I feel the same way. I am 50 though. and this just all hit me. I to can not drive, live in a small town and feel so alone. I do have a wonderful husband but, I really don't care if I do anything anymore. I don't know if it's the meds. or the whole seizure "poor me" and I hate feeling that way! I know there are a lot of people that have it a lot worse!! But, why can't I stop feeling this way??? So, I do understand!!

 

[momof3boys]

I was taking Keppra and carbatrol for years together... it worked very well with controlling my seizures. I was 17 when I got on the two medications, then when I was 29, I got my first VEEG and was taken off of the Carbatrol, and kept on the Keppra. One thing my dr did say was that being on the Carbatrol for a long period of time wasnt wise, since it can cause alot of problems with my bone marrow, etc. So even if I had alot of bad seizures, I was goign to be put on a different medication besides the carbatrol again. But I did get lucky, and had smaller seizures, which lead my dr to try me on one seizure medication, which has worked for almsot two years now! But I agree, starting the two medications together did make me feel drained, and tired. I recall that. But after getting use to it, things did get better.

 

[Georgie B]

I hate feeling this way! It also strains my relationship I am half way through my change of meds 1 more month to go before I'm completely changed to tegretol so fingers crossed to no more side effects if you are experiencing these side effects please go back to your neurologist! I was the best thing I ever did! Point out to them the struggles in every day life and strain on relationships etc they will understand !