Saw my neuro/ Epi today.

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Penny

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He and I made some decisions today. I'm really glad he ask me questions and we go over different things together and he explains stuff indepth. My daughter and her girlfriend were there too. They plan to take me to all my appointments (1 1/2 hour drive) and want me to call them daily and at least leave a message or they will be over they say. This psychosis thing scared them badly too. The dr. said it could happen again if we do not take things slowly with the meds. The other dr took me off keppra way to fast and upped other doses to way to high without even doing blood work. That's why this happened.

I am on Trileptal,klonopin, and lamictal right now. Eventually he wants me off klonopin and lamictal (I have been on this for a few years before seizures even started so its obviously not working well. It was being used as a mood stabilizer then). I am starting on Depakote 500mg tomarrow and lowering lamictal from 250mg 2xs day to 100mg 2xs a day. He said Depakote can actually make lamictal level high (not good). In 2 weeks Depakote will go up to 500mgs 2xs daily. That's as far as we will go. Then I will go off lamictal when my blood test show what is happening. They did blood test today for a baseline too.

We also talked about a VNS. Its up to me but he thinks it would be a good thing with as many seizures as I have and as strong as they have been. Also since I am not tolerating meds well. I have to have low doses mostly and they aren't helping and a couple I just cant take. I have read the brocher and tomarrow my kids and I are going to watch the DVD. I and DD are almost sure that this might be the way to go. I will wait on the decision awhile before telling them but Im pretty sure. Im hoping I might have a decent life with it. Just wanted to let you all know how it went. :hugs:
 
Wow. It sounds like a lot of changes. Don't be surprised if you get real hungry on the Depakote. I was known for eating whole cantaloupes and watermelons in short periods of time. Don't let that worry you, though. It sounds like the important thing is carrying on with your daily activities and checking in.

Best of luck, Penny.
 
My kids could not believe I said yes to Depakote as I was anorexic for years. I told the dr I didn't care if I gained weight as long as it helped the seizures. Shows how desperate I am. I don't want this to happen again because of so many seizure in so few days and they were long ones too. He said the cat scan and EEG at the hospital showed deffinate and much seizure activity.
 
Well, the good thing in my case was that I was not craving unhealthy things. Keep healthy food sitting around and that should help a ton. Just get rid of the unhealthy if you can. ;)
 
I am going to work on that and I am going to make myself walk at least 6 days a week (I like the early mornings when I just get up, so peaceful) instead of 4. Get the metabolism going first thing in the morning. My Mom walked (and still does even though she is in last stages of cancer) daily after my Dad died and within 6 months had shed enough weight that she looked really good and felt great. Even now she doesn't look as sick as she is because she continues too. She is an amazing woman!!!!!!!!!! :)
 
Depakote is a good, solid drug. It did make me hungry but the primary reason was that it irritated my stomach lining and that gives me the illusion of hunger. Eventually I developed ulcers but after I was treated, I just started doing the dosages after meals and I was much better. My doctor always tells me that a drug can't make you pick up weight. It can increase your appetite, but only food can cause weight gain. Don't underestimate that, though, because it can become really hard to stay eating-disorder-healthy when you're struggling with weight gain. My doctor has sometimes mentioned a little bit of Topomax to balance out the appetite increases with some drugs but I can't take it.

There has been a new development on top of VNS--another type of implant that is more intelligent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/health/easing-epilepsy-with-battery-power.html?_r=0


http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...stem-in-adults-with-intractable-seizures.aspx


It artificially develops an understanding of your seizure activity and balances itself out accordingly. It was just approved. It is implanted into the head, and if I remember correctly, it's a good option for TLE. Do look at it before you settle on a surgical option because this one had more consistent and predictable trial results than VNS.
 
kirsten said:
My doctor always tells me that a drug can't make you pick up weight. It can increase your appetite, but only food can cause weight gain. Don't underestimate that, though, because it can become really hard to stay eating-disorder-healthy when you're struggling with weight gain. My doctor has sometimes mentioned a little bit of Topomax to balance out the appetite increases with some drugs but I can't take it.
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I'm not so sure about that statement. I've never taken Depakote, but I've heard it can cause weight gain. However, I've taken a med for my diabetes and did not have an appetite, but I did gain weight while taking that med. And years ago, when I first started taking Topomax, it definitely took away my appetite and I lost 25 lbs. So I think your dr. needs to re-think his statement. Some meds DO cause weight gain/loss.

kirsten said:
There has been a new development on top of VNS--another type of implant that is more intelligent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/health/easing-epilepsy-with-battery-power.html?_r=0


http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...stem-in-adults-with-intractable-seizures.aspx


It artificially develops an understanding of your seizure activity and balances itself out accordingly. It was just approved. It is implanted into the head, and if I remember correctly, it's a good option for TLE. Do look at it before you settle on a surgical option because this one had more consistent and predictable trial results than VNS.
Click to expand...

I have the VNS and have had better control of seizures than I did after brain surgery. There is another member on CWE who has had the RNS done, also.

Here are two more websites for both:

http://www.neuropace.com/product/overview.html

http://us.cyberonics.com/
 
They don't do any of that around here. They might in Chicago, I don't know. It kinda scares me reading about it though. I like the fact that with the VNS it has nothing to do with the brain, just the nerve. I'm chicken!!! Thanks for the info though. It was interesting to read about. Maybe one day when its been around longer if I have problems with the VNS I would try it.
 
kirsten said:
Depakote is a good, solid drug. It did make me hungry but the primary reason was that it irritated my stomach lining and that gives me the illusion of hunger. Eventually I developed ulcers but after I was treated, I just started doing the dosages after meals and I was much better. My doctor always tells me that a drug can't make you pick up weight. It can increase your appetite, but only food can cause weight gain. Don't underestimate that, though, because it can become really hard to stay eating-disorder-healthy when you're struggling with weight gain. My doctor has sometimes mentioned a little bit of Topomax to balance out the appetite increases with some drugs but I can't take it.

There has been a new development on top of VNS--another type of implant that is more intelligent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/health/easing-epilepsy-with-battery-power.html?_r=0


http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...stem-in-adults-with-intractable-seizures.aspx


It artificially develops an understanding of your seizure activity and balances itself out accordingly. It was just approved. It is implanted into the head, and if I remember correctly, it's a good option for TLE. Do look at it before you settle on a surgical option because this one had more consistent and predictable trial results than VNS.
Click to expand...

It is a very interesting article but I think I would be to chicken. VNS just recently came here. I like the idea it has to do with the nerve and not the brain. Maybe someday if this didn't work. My dr seems pretty confident in giving it a go though and what do I have to lose at this point?!
 
Cint said:
I'm not so sure about that statement. I've never taken Depakote, but I've heard it can cause weight gain. So I think your dr. needs to re-think his statement. Some meds DO cause weight gain/loss.
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It's physiologically impossible for the body to turn, for example, sodium valproate, which contains no fat or calories, into fat. The first principle of thermodynamics applies: energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed. Unused energy is transformed into fat. Anything else is scientifically impossible. In order to gain weight, you must have a higher energy intake than your energy use, and sodium valproate does not contain any energy (calories.) It often increases the appetite, and that can lead to more eating, and that leads to weight gain. However, if someone took sodium valproate, experienced the increased appetite, and ate less than or the same as they had before, they would not gain any weight.

The only other physiologically viable way to gain weight is through extreme water retention, which can be indirectly caused by some drugs. But barring that, you have to eat more to weigh more.
 
kirsten said:
It's physiologically impossible for the body to turn, for example, sodium valproate, which contains no fat or calories, into fat. The first principle of thermodynamics applies: energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed. Unused energy is transformed into fat. Anything else is scientifically impossible. In order to gain weight, you must have a higher energy intake than your energy use, and sodium valproate does not contain any energy (calories.) It often increases the appetite, and that can lead to more eating, and that leads to weight gain. However, if someone took sodium valproate, experienced the increased appetite, and ate less than or the same as they had before, they would not gain any weight.

The only other physiologically viable way to gain weight is through extreme water retention, which can be indirectly caused by some drugs. But barring that, you have to eat more to weigh more.
Click to expand...

Kirsten, thanks for that post. For years I have talked with people who maintain that this or that causes weight gain (or weight loss, for that matter), and I try to tell them that if you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight, and if you eat fewer than you burn you will lose weight. Period. End of story. It's like if you spend more money than you make you will get poorer and if you make more than you spend you will get richer.

Cheers!
 
kirsten said:
It's physiologically impossible for the body to turn, for example, sodium valproate, which contains no fat or calories, into fat. The first principle of thermodynamics applies: energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed. Unused energy is transformed into fat. Anything else is scientifically impossible. In order to gain weight, you must have a higher energy intake than your energy use, and sodium valproate does not contain any energy (calories.) It often increases the appetite, and that can lead to more eating, and that leads to weight gain. However, if someone took sodium valproate, experienced the increased appetite, and ate less than or the same as they had before, they would not gain any weight.

The only other physiologically viable way to gain weight is through extreme water retention, which can be indirectly caused by some drugs. But barring that, you have to eat more to weigh more.
Click to expand...

:ponder: Like I said, I've lost weight and I've gained weight from meds in the past. Docs and pharmacies know well that Depakote does cause weight gain.

I have a nephew who is bi-polar and is skinny as a rail, until he he started taking Depakote. He must have gained 50+ lbs. That is why he stopped taking the drug and then he went ballistic and ended up in the hospital when he stopped taking that med.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56339

Common Offenders That Can Cause Weight Gain

While no one knows exactly how many prescription drugs can cause weight gain, experts estimate the list includes more than 50 common medications.

Steroids such as prednisone, older antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil, and second-generation antipsychotics like Zyprexa are the biggest -- and most recognized -- promoters of weight gain, Fernstrom says.

Some other common offenders, says Fernstrom, include the antidepressants Paxil and Zoloft, the antiseizure medication Depakote, diabetes drugs like Diabeta and Diabinese, and the high blood pressure drugs Cardura and Inderal. Heartburn drugs like Nexium and Prevacid may also cause drug-induced weight gain.

Fernstrom tells WebMD that the medication-associated weight gain can be modest -- or as much as 30 pounds over several months.
Click to expand...
 
arnie said:
Kirsten, thanks for that post. For years I have talked with people who maintain that this or that causes weight gain (or weight loss, for that matter), and I try to tell them that if you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight, and if you eat fewer than you burn you will lose weight. Period. End of story. It's like if you spend more money than you make you will get poorer and if you make more than you spend you will get richer.
Click to expand...

Not the end of the story Arnie and Kirsten. Obviously, you two haven't tried the long list of meds that I have over the last 30 years. This is a silly as saying the drug I was put on for depression and that made my glucose rise up to 400 therefore bringing on my diabetes was caused by me overeating. A bunch of B@#*#&*T! It was brought on by a drug. Some drugs for diabetes, depression, epilepsy and other problems DO cause weight gain.

Here is another website stating so:
http://www.drugs.com/article/weight-gain.html

How Do Prescription Drugs Cause Weight Gain?

For many drugs, it is not known exactly what causes the weight gain. Some medications can increase appetite, cause fluid retention, or slowly lead to weight gain over a period of time due to fatigue and lower activity. Drugs that trigger increases in appetite may work in the brain and affect the satiety (fullness) center. It is often difficult to distinguish between weight gain from a drug and weight gain from other reasons, like diet or lack of exercise, because it can be a slow process. Weight gain may increase the chance for high cholesterol, hypertension (high bloodpressure), and type 2 diabetes. If a rapid weight gain occurs in a short period of time, a physician should be contacted for evaluation, especially if the patient is at risk for heart disease or high blood pressure.

What Drugs Can Lead to Weight Gain?

~Antidepressants: Older antidepressants, known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are notorious for increasing appetite and causing weight gain.
~Antipsychotics/Mood Disorder: Some antipsychotics are frequently linked with weight gain. Example drugs in this class include the atypical
antipsychotics olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal).
~Diabetes Medications:
~Seizures/Mood Stabilizers: Valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene) is used to treat epilepsy (seizures), bipolar disorder and for migraine prevention. Valproic acid appears to boost appetite and may result in a 10 pound or more weight gain.
Click to expand...
 
You guys are all saying the same thing in different ways, namely that many meds can have secondary effects on metabolism that can lead to weight gain or loss. The meds themselves aren't like cookies that make you fat, but they can cause you to retain water, or mess with your appetite, or slow down or speed up your metabolism.

Let's move on... :)
 
Some medications can increase appetite, cause fluid retention, or slowly lead to weight gain over a period of time due to fatigue and lower activity. Drugs that trigger increases in appetite may work in the brain and affect the satiety (fullness) center. It is often difficult to distinguish between weight gain from a drug and weight gain from other reasons, like diet or lack of exercise, because it can be a slow process.
Click to expand...
This is what I said, Cint. The drug causes appetite increase, which leads to eating more than you use up, which causes weight gain, or the drug causes fluid retention, which causes weight gain. The weight gain is not caused by the drug itself, but by eating more.
 
Drugs can cause the body to metabolize foods differently causing weight lose or gain.
 
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