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Annacrusis

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Hi, I'm new to this forum, and to any sort of epilepsy support besides by neuro. My name is Haley, and and I'm 23. Only child, and I've had epilepsy since I was 5. I joined this forum because it's answered some of my googles, so I thought why not? I also joined because my newest neuro suggested that I get off of levetiracetam in order to treat my depression that he realized had gone untreated my whole life. So yeah, any help would be great!
 
Hi, Haley and welcome to CWE! There are many great people here. Feel free to ask questions, and offer your input to questions others have as well.
Is your neurologist suggesting you stop AEDs entirely, and focus just on treating depression at this point? As you may know there some AEDs that are known to help with one's mood and sense of well-being. I believe lamictal is one of them, but I'll let those who know more about it than me chime in on that one.
Good luck to you and look forward to seeing you around the forums.
 
He says to stop the Levetriacetam because A)it was such a low dose that it wasn't doing anything anyway and B) Because I was having adverse effects to it. Though, as of right now, I'm only taking a birth control. I go back to him in a month to talk about how I feel and how we should proceed.

And yeah, he did say that. I took Depakote my whole life, and that is used to treat epilepsy and mood disorders. So I was basically treating myself for depression I didn't know I had.
 
This is a great web site.

You'll find that there are so many people who are dealing with the same issues that you are with medicine and epilepsy in general. It's wonderful to find out that you are not alone in going through the things that you are and how others deal with it.

Nice to meet you!
 
Hi Haley and Welcome

Did your doctor mention that several AEDs can also make your BC pills not as effective? Not sure about the one you're on. Might want to bring that up at the OB/GYN.
 
Yeah, my first neuro was female and she made sure to stay in contact with my ob/gyn to make sure my birthcontrol was working right with my prescription. Funny, I've had the same ob/gyn and like 4 different neuros. :(
 
Good.
I was on both BC pills and various AEDs for 8 years and neither my neuro nor my OB/GYN said word one about this interaction.
I only found out about it here, years after menopause.
 
Welcome Annacrusis to CWE. This forum was made out of love by Bernard for his wife Stacy. That love permeates throughout the whole forum.

I was on Depakote when I was pregnant with my last child. I was happy to be expecting. My neurologist wasn't happy at all. He told me that I shouldn't get pregnant being on Depakote. I did not know that it could cause problems. Has your doctor told you that?

You are also on Keppra,(Levetiracetam). There are a lot of threads about Keppra here on the forum.

I recently found out that it can cause kidney problems.

Again, welcome and keep us updated.
 
Yes, I do know about the issue with Depakote, can cause all sorts of birth defects. Thankfully I don't plan on having a kid in like....ever. The birth control is only to ease up on the symptoms of the cycles. As for the Keppra, I've had fun going through each and every symptom and experiencing them for myself. If you printed out the list of side effects and tacked them to a wheel and every month spun it to get a new symptom, I'd have it. And now that I'm withdrawing from the Keppra (as per neuro instructions) i get to enjoy all those symptoms too.

Sorry if I sound bitter. I've been unable to sleep for the past week.
 
I was taking birth control, the pill, so I wouldn't get pregnant and for a lot of the same reasons that you are. I had very heavy irregular periods and horrible cramps while I was on it. I decided to go on Depo-Provera to stop my periods. I still did have some spotting at times while I was on it but none of the other great things that go on once a month.

Both my neuro and gyno knew what meds I was on. My gyno did know a lot about how different meds would react with each other and he said that Keppra and Depo-Provera (which was the birth control I was using when I was diagnosed with epilepsy) would have no problems.

I've been on a good bit of meds through the years and I had to stop taking many of them due to the side effects. With the meds that I'm on now really the only side effects I have are being tired a lot and Kepprage from the Keppra.

I know that withdrawing from meds isn't fun, sometimes it can be worse than actually taking the med. I'm still on Keppra but hopefully someone can give you some information and advice about what it's like coming off of it.
 
Welcome Haley,
I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 4 and I'm also an only child. Good luck with getting off the Keppra. I've had some side effects but with Lamictal and Vimpat. I'm currently on Keppra, Carbatrol, and Topamax. I'm curious about what birth control you were on. I just saw the GYN today and he wants to put me on Sprintec to regulate my hormones. How was your experience with the birth control? Kinda scared to start it with all the epileptic meds I already take.
 
I was on Tri-Sprintec, but it gave me ridiculous side effects when paired with the Keppra. The Keppra was generic so that might have been an issue. Now I'm on Gildess Fe 1/20, it's basic coverage. Not for birthcontrol, but for toning down my cycles.
 
Thanks for the info, Annacrusis. I'm just starting the Sprintec. 2nd day, hope I don't have any side effects.
 
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