Some meds do not work!

[Janus]

I ran out of my keppra 2 days before I could get a refill. Luckily I had saved a half bottle of the stuff I had been given when in the hospital. The hospital stuff is only 250 mg per pill so i took three morning and 3 at night. I started having strong temporal lobe seizing on occasion in the day. The pharmacist said that is because the 750 that he gives me is time-release and the hospital stuff is not so I must have had a extremely high dose each day that was temporary.
I am at least back on the regular stuff but still feeling partly 'wonky' on occasion. The 'wonky' feeling is part of the seizure for me, i will have a deep, horrible feeling during a seize. Its like a hopeless feeling that is sooo deep.

 

[valeriedl]

That's something that you need to pay attention to, if your meds are time released or not. It makes a big difference in how you take them and how you will react to them.

I believe if the med has an 'XR' after it that means it's time released.

Hope you get felling better soon.

 

[Cint]

That's something that you need to pay attention to, if your meds are time released or not. It makes a big difference in how you take them and how you will react to them.

I believe if the med has an 'XR' after it that means it's time released.

That IS what "XR" means. It does make a HUGE difference in how you take your meds! And you need to make sure you call in your refill a couple of days before your prescription runs out.

 

[Janus]

Thank you, and yes. Now I know. One really can't guess around with the meds. Live and learn I guess.

 

[Endless]

Hi, Janus,

"XR" and "ER" both mean extended release. This won't hold true for everybody, but for ME, when I'm on an ER drug I can be late with a dose and be somewhat okay. I still can't skip one. Though I'd much rather miss an ER dose than a regular dose. If I'm late with a regular type release tab or I miss one it has much more of an effect.

I call in a refill 4 days before I run out. That gives them time to call my doctor, if they have to for a prescription renewal or whatever.

Keeping an emergency supply is a good idea for a lot of reasons. I keep a month's worth in my emergency kit, and two day's worth in my purse. (Or if you are a man, your camera bag or messenger bag) That also means that if for some reason I'm late refilling my prescription then I'm covered. Every 6 months or so I swap those backup pills with new pills so they stay fresh.

 

[Janus]

Thank you Endless. I will bring this up to my pharmacist tomorrow (Monday) because my medicare would not let him give me more than 2 weeks worth of meds at a time. So this makes me nervous as I am so forgetful and distractible (I think its called AC/DC ?) And they close at 5 each day and are not open on weekends at all.

 

[Endless]

I had to pay myself for that extra backup month. Expensive, but it was worth it in my particular case. I know it may be unaffordable for you. In that case find out how early your insurance will fill your prescriptions and then get them as early as you can. The extra tabs go in the emergency bottle.

I'm off AEDs now, now the backup is the Diamox that I take for intracranial hypertension, which is what is most probably causing my seizures. (long story)

I've been unexpectedly delayed for a couple of days before, and the extra 2 days worth in my purse really came in handy. Not to mention on the days I forget to take my morning dose and then remember at about 10am when I'm no longer home.