Medicine in my stool

[valeriedl]

I don't have solid stool, it is all more of a diarrhea type. I know that this is probably a side effect of one of the meds I'm one.

I know that this will happen if you take capulses but none of the meds I take are capulses and I'll have 2 pills in the toilet when I'm done going sometimes.

I take Depakote, Tegretol, Keppra and Lamictal.

This has happened for a long time (years). I've told my neuro about it but he didn't say anything about it.

Sorry if this is disgusting but I just want to know if this is a normal thing or not. I just want to make sure my body is getting all the meds before it leaves it.

 

[Endless]

Not normal. It sounds like your diarrhea is pretty severe. Definitely not good. IMHO it needs attention now.

Wow. You are on a heavy load of meds. No wonder your body is screaming. Is this a recent development or has it been going on for awhile? If short term, think it could be the flu or food poisoning? Forgive me for hopping on the grossness train but has it gotten to the point where it's pretty much just clear/water?

I get bouts of diarrhea from the meds, from migraines, etc. One of the boughts was severe enough to put me in the hospital. Pills that are tightly compacted would pass through my system intact. The key is to get the diarrhea under control. Talk to your PCP about it. There are lots of approaches, from metamucil to changes in food to probiotics to medication. Or, you may have to discontinue some medication if it is causing the problem.

If the diarrhea goes on for too long your PCP may need to watch your electrolytes and blood gasses. Low potassium and metabolic acidosis is possible. Topamax and Diamox, are the biggest culprits for this, but Tegretol, zonegran, keppra, depakote can do it, too, if they are giving you severe diarrhea. Taking them on top of severe diarrhea is a potentially not good thing. Dehydration from diarrhea is not a good thing, either.

Are you eating? Drinking lots of fluids? How's your stomach doing?

Do you feel weak? Hard to catch your breath? Feel your heart doing wonky stuff? Do your bones hurt? Legs feel wobbly? If so, call your PCP or go to urgent care, sooner rather than later. In the meantime, how are you fairing with your meds not being fully absorbed? How are your seizures?

Really, call your Primary Care Physician. He'll either treat the diarrhea or call your neurologist and facilitate getting it taken care of by the neuro. Especially if he thinks your meds need a change?

 

[valeriedl]

Actually I don't think it's diarrhea that I have. It's more soft runny stool. I uaually go about 3 times a day which as always been normal for me, even before I was diagnosed with epilepsy.

It always has color in it, sometimes lighter than other times but I think that just depends on what color the food is that I'm eating. I drink a ton so I'm sure I'm getting enough fluids. I don't have any problems eating, and it's usually a few hours after I eat that I go to the bathroom, it's not an all day sitting on the toilet thing.

My body feels fine. No stomach problems and I don't have any of the problems that you were describing.

In Feb my Keppra was increased by 350mg. It seemed like I was having more seizures and they were changing. Usually when I'd have a seizure I'd just sit and stare, maybe try to talk or pick something up and do goofy things with it. After the dosage was increased I was starting to walk around the house and do other things that I'd never done before.

I had one a few months ago where I went into my husband's bedroom 3 times when he was sleeping. I was pulling things out of the dresser drawers and going into all the other rooms in the house doing the same thing. After the third time my husband realized that I was having a seizure and I was looking for my magnet (I also have a VNS). I don't know how many seizures I had that night, he probably should have taken me to the ER but he didn't.

I have problems with getting angry being on the Keppra, which I know is normal. When he increased it things got even worse.

I stopped taking that extra dosage a little over a month ago and my husband said that my mood is back to what it was and my seizures seem to be back to normal.

I see my neuro in about 2 weeks so I'm going to talk to him about it then. Usually if I call him it will take him 2 weeks to get back to me any way and it's alot easier to describe things infront of a person than over the phone.

Thanks!

 

[nicholas:)]

Tegretol leaves residues in the stools
Nick