New Here

[flowing free2]

Hello, I'm new to Epilepsy Forum. I too have been on lamotrigine for years as of about a year(give or take) was on Dilantin too. The doctor took me off of Dilantin. I had not noticed I was sweating at night until the doctor raised my amount. It is horrible. I sweat @ night and during the day no reason. I hate it when I'm sweating after a shower. The medicine also has me really dazed & sleepy. When I take just 1 (100 mg)in the morning it seems like I'm seeing double when I take 2(100 mg)at night I go right to sleep and when I wake up I look like I've been drinking all night (I don't drink). Help! My doctor sucks and I just keep getting my meds raised. My boyfriend came with me to my last drs appt and told her I wasn't myself and she said it could my personality.

 

[flowing free2]

lamictal

I am on lamictal generic form and have been for years now. I used it until recently with Dilantin until my doctor took me off of it (dilantin). Since my doctor has raised the amount I take I've noticed that I sweat profusely at night along with the usual (for me) dizziness, my balance is off, vision is blurred and I'm tired. When I take it at night(2 100 mg pills) I wake feeling unbalanced . I take (1 100 mg pill in the morning). I have to really keep my mind focused on what I'm doing in order to function. I wish their was more than medicine that can be done.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi flowing free2 , welcome to CWE!

I moved your posts to the Foyer so folks could read your intro and welcome you.

I'm on lamotrigine too, and I know how yucky it feels first thing in the morning. For me, it makes my eyes and mouth very dry overnight. I keep eyedrops by my bed and use them right away when I wake up. I get the blurry vision too. But some other side effects have lessened since I gradually decreased my dose from 250mg/day to 150mg/day.

Do you currently have seizure control? If so, talk to your doc about lowering your dose slightly to see if that helps with the side effects. Another possibility is switching to an XR (extended release) version of Lamotrigine. You take the XR version just once a day, and because it evens things out, you are less likely to get the peaks and valleys that can make side effects worse.

There are also other meds to try if the Lamotrigine is unbearable. If your neurologist won't discuss these options with you, or just isn't listening to you, don't hesitate to find a new one.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[flowing free2]

Hello Nakamova, thanks for the welcome and quick response. It helps to talk with people who understand. I did have my seizures finally (I thought) under control until August of this year (2011). I had been for the first time since I was diagnosed at 16 yrs old seizure free for 1 year and 1/2. It happened during my sleep and all I recall was that I was in pain and my tongue was black&blue and I had wet my pants.

I then had one in October it too was during sleep and my boyfriend was there and kept me calm until I woke up. He said this one was for sure a grand mal or tonic clonic. I haven't been right yet. I usually get going soon after but not this time. I was on a lower dosage until the doctor raised it. I still felt groggy but I kept going.

Is there any other medicine that could work? I've been on trileptal, tegretol, dilantin. I've heard a little about Kepra.

 

[nana1]

Welcome flowing free2 to CWE. Yes their is more meds out their,

1) zonegram
2)keppra and xr also
3) phenobarbital
Each effect is different on each person. I have know gone threw 11 neuro so far. I thought i had a great one who listen to you and talks to you. Would talk about weither this medication would interact with meds i am taking, would explain all and every test result to me without me asking.

I am at this time taking keppra 500mg 4 pills a day = 2000mg a day

Lamictal 200mg 3 times a day
zonegram 100mg 3 times a day.

i have been on lots of other meds. one hurt my gums to were my teeth were ready to come out and gums still swollen and bleed when i brush them. I have had seizures all my life ( since 1955) Have no idea when they coming on, so no license.

 

[tstyes]

Hi-
My name is Taylor and I'm new here as well. I find it interesting that other people have had unpleasant problems with lamotrigine, because I've been on lamotrigine for about 6 months now, and ever since it has made me feel TERRIBLE. My mood swings all the time, I'm dizzy and spaced out a lot of the time, and people in my family think maybe this particular drug has helped along the breakthrough of seizures I've had this summer. I've been through many drugs before, but lamotrigine just seems nasty.

 

[Lewall]

Welcome to CWE Taylor and flowing free 2! I'm new to this site also. It sounds like a new neurologist would be a good idea. When a doctor dismisses any possibility that it is their treatment that is causing the discomfort (and says it is your personality!!) it is a good sign that you are in the wrong office.

There are many meds out there, but everyone seems to respond differently to them. It would only help to try something different. It might take time to find the right one, but it will be well worth the effort to be seizure free with few side effects.

Depakote is good if you have Juvenile Myoclonic epilepsy and it has been a wonder drug for me. But as good as that has worked, I am adding a new med because the myoclonic episodes are breaking through. Hang in there