Need Medication Advice

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K

Kansas Educator

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As most of you know, I have been on 1000 mg. Depakote ER since I was diagnosed a year ago with complex and simple partial seizures. My seizures are very infrequent but have happened on more than one occasion so the neurologist felt it was best to treat them for the time being. I have had no seizures since then but might not have anyway as I sometimes go years between seizures.
However, I do get migraines which are very light sensitive. When I went to my 6 mos. appt. today, I talked to my neurologist about how the migraines are still continuing (he had hoped they would be helped by the Depakote too.) I asked him if he thought there was a possibility that the infrequent seizures I have had are just my body's reaction to the stress of knowing that another migraine is on the way since I have had one each time. He agreed that was possible. He was glad to hear that I am doing meditation, relaxation, and looking for triggers to help with that.
However, he (and I) are not at the point of being comfortable with discontinuing medication entirely because I drive a lot for my job. He suggested changing my medication from Depakote ER to Topomax which is also supposed to help with both seizure and migraine control. I wanted some opinions of people who have been on both and can offer a comparison as to side effects, etc. I kind of hate to mess with success but am tired of headaches too. I have tried magnesium and everything else I can think of for the migraines, all to no avail. Help!
 
I'm sorry... I can't remember if you have tried magnesium for your migraines. It not only is an anticonvulsant, it has been widely confirmed that we are quite deficient of the mineral. I can't recommend it enough, as it stopped my migraines of 30+ yrs.

Sorry if this is a repeat.
 
Robin, I have tried the magnesium from Jigsaw Health -- it is the only kind that doesn't upset my stomach. Maybe I need to get my dosage higher but I haven't seen any improvement yet.

Roxie
 
That's right... you did mention it (cant' keep track of my own medical madness, let alone everyone elses)
How much are you taking? When I am on a roll, and following my own advice, I take one in the morning and one at night.
 
Mine is 500 mg... so I have not been giving enough.
I now see the serving size = 4 per day. Geesh... I just can't seem to keep on top of this.
I think the ionic was easier, as I just did a squirt under my tongue.
So if 4 tablets = 500 mg then I should be up to 6-8 tablets. Maybe that is why I have felt a little off this summer.

Thanks for helping me to see my slip up. Getting the old bottle out and reading the label does help occasionally.

BTW - I have the magnesium w/ SRT
 
I am

on Topamax and WAS on Depakote. I have found that I have less success with headache control with Topamax than what I did with the Depakote.

On the other hand, though, I gained SOOOOO much weight with the Depakote, it was obscene. Seizure control wise, mmmmmmmm, that's a toss-up. Depakote did a great job, but Topamax is combined with three other meds, so it's really hard to know if it's the one doing the job, or not.

Sorry to confuse you more.........

Meetz
:rock:
 
Hmm, I haven't gained much weight on Depakote so that's not an issue but it has caused my liver enzymes to stay slightly elevated the entire time which bothers me. I hate to mess with the seizure success but want the headaches gone too.

Robin, I use the magnesium with SRT too but it's going to get pricey taking 6-8 tablets daily. What a dillemma!

Kansas
 
I agree - but it was not fun having a migraine every month, and losing four days. One of my priorities just like clean food is for Rebecca.

The value meal is actually too costly.
 
Well, you have a good point. My migraines are almost daily because fluorescent lighting and computers are a big trigger for my migraines and I deal with both daily at work. I wear blue-tinted sunglasses when I am in my office alone working but meet with a lot of people during the day and hate to look like a total dork during those times. So, I am between a rock and a hard place.
 
I hope you find something that works Kansas. My wife had terrible migraines every month too. They would get so bad that she would sometimes ask me to take her to the ER, and she HATES the ER. Nausea, light sensitivity, and all that jazz. I certainly know how they can impact ones life and it's not easy.

My wife is on Depakote and thankfully it's controlling the seizures AND giving her headache relief. It certainly works out well for her. Her neuro did want to put her on Topomax, but she has had kidney stones so he was hesitant to do so. Just something to think about if you have any history of kidney problems.

Again, I hope you find something that works. Keep trying because that's all you can do until you find something.
 
My neuro asked me about the kidney stone issue but I have no history of any problems so, hopefully, that won't be a player. Did your wife's neurologist feel that Topomax would have been better if your wife would have been able to take it?

Thanks all -- I need as much input as I can get.
 
It was his first choice of mono-therapy. One of my wife's concerns was weight gain, and as many of us know, Depakote is notorious for that one. Also he wanted to use something that was good for migraines, which Topomax is. Since she had kidney stones before, he turned to the second option, which was Depakote. Thankfully it's the first, and only med she has needed. I haven't seen any seizure activity in months now.
 
I used to have migraines. To lessen them I would take Excedrine(can't spell) Migraine. It would make me a little loopy at times but way better than the migraine made me feel.It contains asprin, acetomenaphine and caffeine. I rarely get them now and my meds are Keppra and Vimpat for seizure control.
 
I take Excedrin Migraine sometimes too but my Dr. warned me against taking them too often because then I would start having rebound headaches. Since mine are so frequent, I really need to find a way to prevent them and are open to any and all ideas. I keep looking for triggers and have eliminated some but don't know what to do about the lighting situation -- 4 years to retirement and I really want to hang in here.
 
I'm on 1200mg/day gabapentin (morontin to most here). I saw a new doctor a few days ago for a general mot and my blood pressure was VERY low. Can't find it listed as a side effect, is it something I should worry about? She said I must just do a lot of excercise...NOT likely unless you count having a seizure, sleeping off a seizure and being generally welded to the sofa due to lethargy and not having any brain cells left that haven't turned to dust by the quantity of morontin I'm on as excercise?what problems can low blood pressure cause? thought it was high blood pressure that's the problem? She did say to mention it to the neuro when I see him in october (for the first time in a year)
 
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