Tetanus Shot?

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

Matthew74

Stalwart
Messages
597
Reaction score
26
Points
93
Has anyone spoken to their doctor about getting a tetanus shot with epilepsy, or had one recently?

I'm registering for college, and they want a Tetanus/diptheria (Td or Tdap) shot within the last ten years. The last one I had was in 1980. I googled it and there is some concern about complications with epilepsy.

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/tetanus-diphtheria-toxoids-adult.html

http://www.vaccines.gov/basics/safety/should/#td

Even if it were safe neurologically, the last thing I need is a fever, even if it's only for a day.
 
I have had all the vaccines with no problem or interactions to the numerous AEDs I was on (I was on Mysoline, Dilantin, Tegretol).

If you are concerned I would agree with the websites & say that you talk with your GP first. They will be best qualified to determine how much (or if) risk is involved.
 
That's never been an issue for me, and I've never heard of it being a problem. I've been on AEDs for over 30 years and have had several tetanus shots in that time, with no ill effects.
 
I also had to have a tetanus shot like a yr ago, i had to ask my neuro if it's ok or not. He told me it should not be a problem.

I got the following shot on 8/22/11 Tdap (ADACEL) (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) I'm on gabapentin.
 
I got a tetanus last year and had no problems. I would rather have one than suffer the consequinces that could happen if I didn't. Never have had a problem with them. :)
 
I did get the Tetanus Shot. I don't know whether it was a "DT" or "Td", but I requested not to have the Pertussis immunization "Tdap". The Tetanus immunization was not available without the Diphtheria. It seems to be ok for most people, but for me it turned out to be a mistake. I should mention that I haven't had one since the 1980s.

I had the shot around 4 in the afternoon. I felt terrible the next morning, and after a few hours I realized it must be because of the shot. By noon I had a fever, which later got up to 101º. I had some things I had to do that day, and I'm not sure how I got through it. I was walking around the whole time on the verge of seizing. I took an extra 1/2 keppra late morning, and took my afternoon meds early, so I didn't seize. That afternoon I had a massive headache, and my bad neck was terrible. I was sore all over. I was in bed from about 4pm to 11am. I was sweating so that my bed and cloths got soaked. I had to change more than once. I was kind of nauseous and hardly ate anything, which is very unusual for me. Couldn't force myself to eat dinner, but I got a few bites down. Haven't felt that bad in many years.

In the end I didn't have a bad seizure, but it did make my simple partials worse. My temperature returned to normal sometime late morning. I'm worn out, but should be back to normal tomorrow.
 
I don't remember when my last testanus shot was?

It's probably time I had another one though. I've never had any complications when I've gotten one when I've busted my head open.
 
My GP and the nursing staff keep an eye on me.
The nursing staff can give me vaccines, including DPT, flu, and pneumonia.
If there is a special consent form (I was under 60 when I had the pneumonia vaccine)
I've gotten a 'little under the weather' but no other side effects.
 
Back
Top Bottom