Hello,
I'm Ben, I have been diagnosed with epilepsy in December last year and have been having seizures every 3 months or so, have had 4 (including the first one) so far, the last one being a week ago.
I'm taking Lamictal at 300mg now (gradually increasing from 250mg) as the doctor instructed me to increase the dose up to 400mg if the seizures continue.
I had my last seizure at the beach (two minutes after getting out of the water, I guess I got lucky although my book got wet!) on some jagged rocks so I got banged up pretty good, broken nose and the doctor at the ER was sure I just had a motorcycle accident.
All the seizures came at very stressful times, the first one a few months after losing my dad, the second after moving to a new country on my own etc. so I'm guessing that stress is a factor.
Last time I ended up at the ER the doctor wanted to start me on Tegretol but I told him I'd rather speak to the doctor who has been taking care of me until today. I'm a bit afraid to receive treatment here since I don't really know what their approach is and somehow it seems irresponsible to change my meds like this at the ER without knowing my history. My neurologist at home told me that his objective is to get me to live a completely normal life, to the point where my mother asked him if it's OK that I drink so he told her I should be doing whatever I want to be doing and she should have a glass of red wine every evening.
I barely have any side effects from the Lamictal, just some headaches and I'd rather try to stay on one med, I guess it does less damage and it's easier to manage.
Does anyone have experience mixing Lamictal with Tegretol? I heard some bad things about Tegretol. Someone told me that it reacts really badly with alcohol. I'm not an alcoholic but I like to drink, and I'm in Italy so no question about wine.
Thanks!
I'm Ben, I have been diagnosed with epilepsy in December last year and have been having seizures every 3 months or so, have had 4 (including the first one) so far, the last one being a week ago.
I'm taking Lamictal at 300mg now (gradually increasing from 250mg) as the doctor instructed me to increase the dose up to 400mg if the seizures continue.
I had my last seizure at the beach (two minutes after getting out of the water, I guess I got lucky although my book got wet!) on some jagged rocks so I got banged up pretty good, broken nose and the doctor at the ER was sure I just had a motorcycle accident.
All the seizures came at very stressful times, the first one a few months after losing my dad, the second after moving to a new country on my own etc. so I'm guessing that stress is a factor.
Last time I ended up at the ER the doctor wanted to start me on Tegretol but I told him I'd rather speak to the doctor who has been taking care of me until today. I'm a bit afraid to receive treatment here since I don't really know what their approach is and somehow it seems irresponsible to change my meds like this at the ER without knowing my history. My neurologist at home told me that his objective is to get me to live a completely normal life, to the point where my mother asked him if it's OK that I drink so he told her I should be doing whatever I want to be doing and she should have a glass of red wine every evening.
I barely have any side effects from the Lamictal, just some headaches and I'd rather try to stay on one med, I guess it does less damage and it's easier to manage.
Does anyone have experience mixing Lamictal with Tegretol? I heard some bad things about Tegretol. Someone told me that it reacts really badly with alcohol. I'm not an alcoholic but I like to drink, and I'm in Italy so no question about wine.
Thanks!