Side effects? Dizziness/vertigo, loss of appetite, etc.

[RunningGirl85]

Today is my second day of being really dizzy. I thought maybe it was a really lingering effect of the half clonazepam I'd had the dday before (didn't really think that's what was wrong with me, but it was all I could think of). My body had already adjusted to my medication as I have been on them for several months. This is my first time feeling this way since I started on Keppra, and I had never been on any seizure medications prior to that, so it made sense. I can't walk straight, and yeah... dizziness. Just curious if any of you have had these side effects along with medication? Maybe a vitamin deficiency of some sort? I take B12, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium and other medications that hopefully supplement some of the vitamins that seizure meds might deplete. Oh yeah, and I've also had a loss of appetite - yesterday I could hardly eat, though I made myself do it anyway (thought maybe I also had low blood sugar or something). It helped a little, but not much. Anyway, I know that none of you are doctors, but I was curious to see if any of you might have had these side effects related to your medications.

 

[RunningGirl85]

Oh yeah and I am on 2250 mg of Keppra XR and 400 mg of Lamictal XR.

 

[Wobblez]

Hey RunningGirl85, sorry to hear you're dizzy. I hate dizziness, I get it a lot. I was diagnosed with vertigo around the same time as my epilepsy resurfaced so its hard to tell what's causing what, but I'm on Lamictal too. I don't actually think its the meds, I think I'm more suseptible to dizziness due to epilepsy. My brain doesn't deal well with lots of mental stimulation, fast movements or too much reading or computer work. Have you noticed any triggers? Get well soon x

 

[Hand of Blood]

Wow I think it's the keppra, I know I always got dizzy before keppra but I know since taking it its been crazy with the dizzy I have it at the min got a dentist on wed no way I could go like this

Anyway I'm only on 500mg ur on a lot more so it could very likely be keppra

 

[RunningGirl85]

The brain is so weird... I'm not as dizzy today, but I definitely don't feel quite right still yet. I was really emotional and irritable yesterday (and my period was over at that point).

I did have lots of dizziness when I started on my medications, but no problems really until recently (except when I forgot to take my antidepressants for a few days). Maybe it's actually my antidepressants. Agh. I wish I wasn't on these pills - I'm on so many I don't even know what's causing what! Well, okay, I know some of you are on more... being normal WOULD be nice though (whatever normal is)

 

[CBernieBlack]

I tired keppra and was so dizzy I was on the verge of yakking it a up. They recommended keppra to keep my license. No thank you. Cannot drive feeling drunk.
Hang in there RG.

 

[RunningGirl85]

I don't feel drunk anymore.. I can tell you that this morning I suddenly got nauseous while I was out running, even though I wasn't running fast or anything. I really just need to get off all these medications... I don't even know what is causing what anymore. Blech.

 

[CBernieBlack]

:nod: Yeah the cocktail of meds you mentioned seems like it would cause issues. I've been told by other doctors that anti-depressants actually lower your seizure threshold. Which correlated to my seizures in 2010 while I was on Anti-Depressants. Has your doc mentioned anything like that? Because now I'm just curious. =)
Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Dignan]

My guess is its the meds. When I went from Dilantin to Neurontin, I felt what I termed "swimmy headed" every morning for about a year. It was like dizziness, but more floatly feeling.. and would usually go away by mid day.

Anyway, we went back and forth on what it could be, and finally we switched from neurontin to Keppra. The swimmy headedness went away when I discontinued neurontin, but keppra has its own set of problems and I feel spacey and dizzy from time to time on it as well.

Does anyone else's dizzy feelings or spacey feelings come randomly throughout the day, and then sometimes leave later in the day, or do you feel that way from when you wake up till you go to bed?

 

[petero]

>>B12, , zinc, magnesium<<

are you taking these with meals? magnesium (maleate) recommends it being taken with meals
not that it's the issue, but an issue perhaps

 

[CBernieBlack]

I can say Vimpat has the same spacey, floaty, stoned feelings throughout the day. Just doing 100mg for now. Not looking forward to 200.
The spaced feelings I can handle and are better to deal with if I get some movement built into the day. It is the nightmares that mess with me. They are pretty vivid and are happening at least every other night.

 

[Nakamova]

Make sure you are drinking enough water -- sometimes if your appetite is off (from the meds or any other factor), you also end up dehydrated, which can lead to dizziness. Hope you start to feel better.

 

[RunningGirl85]

Well... that's cool - I had a whole response typed out and I accidentally closed the window, so sadly, this response won't have as many details. Grrr!

Anyway, my dizziness is random on some days, but when I originally posted this, it had been going for two days straight, as well as my vocal chord issues (usually they don't really bother me). Not sure if my antidepressants have lowered my seizure threshold because I started on Lamictal around the same time as I started on antidepressants, and the Lamictal has had the best effect on seizure control, so maybe the partials would be completely gone? Not really sure.

Nakamova: Yeah, I have always had some issues with hydration, as well as low blood pressure, and I know dehydration can affect that. I fainted when I was twelve due to dehydration - though I had also had a fever for a few days prior. I have been working to stay as hydrated as possible, but every morning I wake up all dried out I haven't felt like drinking, and even when I do (not this week), it's usually just a glass or so. I've also cut way back on coffee and have made it a point to drink water. Unfortunately it's like I just pee it all out, so I dunno what the deal is there. I'm sure it's also played a role.

Bernie: when I started on Lamictal I had terrible nightmares and super vivid dreams. Thank goodness the nightmares have disappeared. I actually kinda enjoy sleeping now since some of my dreams are cool But yeah, once I adjusted to seizure meds I didn't seem to have issues with dizziness, spaciness, etc. But maybe they're affecting me randomly.

 

[Dignan]

RG85,

My doc is a pain in the rear, but he at least avoids adding more than one new drug at a time, so that if anything in the way I feel changes, we can narrow it down to one med or another.

I'd question as to why they added a new anti depressant and a new seizure drug at the same time..

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

clonazepam shouldn't make you to dizzy, if anything just dragging from sedation but im sure it could happen. I remember being on Keppra 3 different times and I always felt really off balance and dizzy. But it went away within the month. Lamictal was kind of the same deal. Then you always get the random dizzy spells, pills...sigh.

 

[seizingbeauty]

I know for myself generic Keppra was more problimatic than name brand. I lost my appitite when I started on Keppra and lost a fair amount of weight. I will often drink meal replacements make up for the food I am missing

 

[RunningGirl85]

RG85,

My doc is a pain in the rear, but he at least avoids adding more than one new drug at a time, so that if anything in the way I feel changes, we can narrow it down to one med or another.

I'd question as to why they added a new anti depressant and a new seizure drug at the same time..

Well, one was from my psychiatrist and one was from my neurologist. The Keppra was the first one I was on, and my neurologist upped that before he put me onto Lamictal. The antidepressants weren't at the exact same time, but a lot happened all at once, so yeah... I was a bit of a mess at the time.

I do think it was the meds - though I'm not sure why it went on for two days straight, but I have been feeling okay in that regards. I HAVE realize that some of what I questioned might've been seizure activity was probably just medication side effects. I was never on any of these until my last seizure, so I guess that would make sense I KNOW the deja vu episodes are simple partials, but some of the rest, I'm not so sure. Sadly, however, those have sorta picked up lately. Maybe the stress of trying to figure everything out There's the whole stay in versus get out of the military. Then everyday trying to find a ride... I get a ride into work, but back is always a "who's going to do it today?" I live too close to justify a cab, but the weather is still too bad to ride my bike... Bleh. Annoying just thinking about it. I guess only time can tell what will happen.