Meds and side effects

[modest4u]

Hi
I have had E. for 36yrs. now since I was 3yrs old. I have had many diff. side effects throughout the yrs. I am recently taking lamictal 150mg twice a day, vimpat100mg twice a day, and serquel 350 at night time only, and risperidone 0.5mg at night time only. My docs. always prefered me to take name brand name meds only, but about a yr. ago one of my insurance started giving me problems about paying for the name brand on my lamictal. So I had to start taking the generic brand. Ever since the change my sex drive has really decreased. As well as my focus, concentration, and lack of interest in even the smallest things in my life. I spoke to my nuero. doc. about this, because I felt like the change in meds had caused this side effect. My docs. kept denying it. So I took it upon myself to look it up on the net, to see if there could possible be a diff. in the two. It turned out that there's a 30 to 80% diff. between the namebrand and generic brand. My nuero. finally admitted that that is a possibility so he finally appelled to my insurance so that they would start giving me the namebrand again. It has been almost 4 months ago since I have been taking the namebrand, but my focus, concentration, interests, and sex drive still has not gotting any better. I am going to see my nuero. march the 8th I'm hoping that he can give me somthing that will help in this situation. I'm to the point where my frustration, stress, and depression has increased. Is anyone going through the same situation do to meds? I hope that I can get some advice coming from another person's outlook on this issue. Thank you!

 

[Nakamova]

Hi modest4u, welcome to CWE!

Unfortunately, the more meds you are on, the harder it can be to sort out which ones are causing particular side effects. When I changed from Lamictal to its generic form, I didn't have any problems. And neither form of the med has affected my concentration or my libido. This is not to say that Lamictal isn't the culprit in your case, but it may be worth looking at other possibilities too. You might want to see an endocrinologist to have your thyroid and other hormones checked out -- they could be contributing the issues you mention.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[Wobblez]

Hi Modest4U.

Welcome to the forums. I think you'll find HEAPS of helpful information, tips and support here. I know I have!

I don't have any experience dealing with generic v's name brand meds, I was under the impression they were exactly the same but apparently that's not the case. Do you keep a journal of your seizures, auras, what you eat and your medication? Sometimes you just need to look for a pattern or a new trigger. Have you had any recent changes in your life, hormonal, stress, living situations etc?

I hope your Neuro can help you out. As Nakamova said it may take time because you have more medications to experiment with but at least it could just be an adjustment in your meds!

Keep us posted on how you go.

 

[valeriedl]

I'm on several different meds, all generic because that's what the insurance company want's to pay for.

I really don't have too many side effects in general. I have alot of hobbies and I'll get bored with them after a while but I think that's because I'll do one of them every day for a few months and I'm just tired of doing it so I'll switch to another. I'm tired alot and sleep a good bit. I also take Keppra (the generic) and I have keprage, any little thing will set me off and I get ticked off like crazy. I started taking B6 this week, that's what alot of people have recomended so I'm going to see if it helps.

One of the meds that I was on, don't remember witch though and don't remember the dosage, all I wanted to do was sleep. I hardly even ate anything because I didn't want to get out of bed. Another combo all I did was eat, I think I gained about 30 lbs on it.

It's taken awhile to figure out what's working for me, execpt for being tired and the kepprage. I still have seizures but not as many and they aren't as bad.

My husband and I are both supprised that they haven't effected my libido. He had cancer a few years ago and the meds that he was on effected his.

I hope you can get things going good. It's not going to happen over night and there may be a good bit of trial and error (it was for me). So make sure you tell your neuro every thing that's going on, it might be easier for him to figure out what will work for you.

 

[RobinN]

Wouldn't it be nice if the insurance company would cover what a generic costs, and if you want to foot the bill for the rest of a name brand you could do so. It is always one way or no way. Irks me.

Age, Depression, Stress, Alcohol, ? all contribute to this particular side effect.
I would add a few more, but I will stop there.