Things seem to be looking up! And Vimpat question

[RunningGirl85]

I haven't posted in a long time! Seems I post more when things aren't going as well. Well, first, I am able to drive again! I don't think I've posted since then... It was such an exciting day to get my DMV approval in the mail - I think I tore the decision envelope open as if it was a college acceptance letter. It had been a year and a half, and around here where pretty much everything is ten miles apart without public transportation, it has been rough.

Secondly, I've been having much less partial seizures since I've started on the Vimpat. I have also been sleeping much more regularly, and have made myself take my Trazadone to sleep at night - I still wake up in the middle of the night (last week was bad), but for the most part, I'm able to sleep well. I've also been trying to keep my stress/anxiety under check, and I've done a much better job at taking my medications at the same time everyday. I guess it also helps that I haven't really traveled anywhere in over a month - those timezone changes really throw my body off.

I think the biggest downside right now is my skin!!! Has anyone else broken out significantly more on Vimpat? My skin has always been prone to acne, but since I've started on it, my skin has been super sensitive to almost everything and has been breaking out when I use pretty much anything on my skin... :/ I've cut out almost all face makeup (which sucks because I want to cover the acne up!) But I guess if that's the only thing to really complain about right now, I have it pretty good!

 

[2ndchances]

Glad to hear that you're driving again, exciting!! :clap: and having better seizure control with the Vimpat! I was on Vimpat for only a short time... it was not a good medication for me, but it wasn't skin issues that made me come off it. Good luck!

 

[RunningGirl85]

Oh, these skin issues aren't bad enough for me to change. I've always had some skin issues anyway, this is just causing a bit more breakouts. Unfortunately, I am still having SOME partials, but they aren't as bad as they were. I really do not mind them, but my neurologist doesn't want me to have any, so we shall see.

 

[qtowngirl]

hey girl... glad to hear it's helping your seizures, always such a good feeling.
i'm with 2ndchances... not a fan of the vimpat at all. it cut down my partials somewhat but the side effects (couldn't even get near the dose prescribed of 400mg/day, got to 250 and was walking into walls, very out of it and major vertigo. BLEH) just weren't worth it. on your profile it says you're on keppra and lamictal, not sure if vimpat makes 3 drugs or you dropped one of them? i'm also on vimpat and lamictal (actually lamotrigine, the generic version) as well as carbamazepine (brand tegretol) and am very aware that vimpat may do what it does to me due to the mix of the three... for many of us drugs affect each other's levels in the blood and metabolism, not fun on the body. if your skin problems seem worth it to you, that's great, just keep it on the back burner that it may not happen strictly because of the new pill. having to mix can really suck. also a large amount of people have issues when mixing keppra with other drugs too (which is really unsettling b/c it can cause these issues alone as well).
myself i am 7 weeks post-op and with instructions am down to vimpat at 50mg once a day... and off it completely as of this wednesday. CAN'T WAIT. on the flipside there is a *tiny* risk going off it, but the side effects aren't worth it anymore.
best of luck... hope it continues to work for you!!!!!!

 

[RunningGirl85]

I guess I should change my profile, I'm actually only on Lamictal - 400 mg of Lamictal ER (also generic) and 300 mg of Vimpat. I actually don't feel out of it, and my moods are good, which is part of what I like. Once I came off of the Keppra everything just felt better. Now... the other day I couldn't even remember what reconcile meant... It was so embarrassing because I was in a week long class and the instructor called on me... She came around to me twice and I just couldn't figure it out... But I think that may have been more seizure related than meds (I had had one of my deja vu partials about twenty minutes prior). Who knows...

I am super excited for you for the post surgery! My neurologist was looking at surgery, but mine aren't too bad, and for my last three extended EEGs (two videos and one ambulatory) nothing came up :/ The first video probably would have if we had the sphenoidals since I had a bunch of partials, but the second time (WITH the sphenoidals), I didn't have anything at all :/

 

[qtowngirl]

I am super excited for you for the post surgery! My neurologist was looking at surgery, but mine aren't too bad, and for my last three extended EEGs (two videos and one ambulatory) nothing came up :/ The first video probably would have if we had the sphenoidals since I had a bunch of partials, but the second time (WITH the sphenoidals), I didn't have anything at all :/

thank you!! :hugs:

well that's interesting... a neurologist saying they're not 'too bad.' hmmm one of those fun epilepsy things where all (or most) docs have a different opinion and do things differently with everything from tests to meds.
SUCKS that you didn't have one in there (i'm assuming you mean the seizure unit?)... both times how long did you stay in? did they request anything to help it along (go off meds, try not to sleep, etc.)?

 

[N Sperlo]

Hey, runninggirl.
I've been on Vimpat (100mg and just bumped to 150mg) for about three months. I'm still on Keppra, so side effects are hard to place. I do remember my acne kicking up around when I started and no, it has not gotten any better. I just scrub with the soap I use to get automotive grease off and they disappear. Who knew?
Are they really relative to the Vimpat? Who knows. All I know is that the Vimpat made me stop using the wife as a punching bag in my sleep, so I'm happy.
If you think the Vimpat might be causing the acne, be weary of skin rashes. Got one here and I have no idea where it came from.

Good luck.

 

[Nakamova]

Running Girl, congrats on getting your license back, and on feeling better overall... It's very possible that the Vimpat is related to your acne. I never had acne in my life, it's only since being on Lamictal that I've had to deal with it. It's relatively mild, and mostly on my chin, but it's still been a bummer. Sugar was never a problem for me in the past, but I've found that cutting most of it out of my diet has helped with the acne. Hope you can find something that does the same for you.

 

[RunningGirl85]

Thanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately it would seem I am still not completely good. I have been having more partial seizures the past week and a half or so. I think it is related to all the stress from work. I have spent several nights staying until around seven (our days START at seven in the morning), plus some emotional stuff, plus trying to manage doing this full time student thing. The staying late/stress part of the army is exactly why I am trying to get out. I may be able to function but it is at a toll. When I was getting off at a normal time the school thing was fine. Sigh... I hope this medical stuff goes through. Now that I can drive my commander has decided to put a LOT on me, and I dont want to use epilepsy as an excuse .... I will, however, tell my primary care provider next time I see him, as he is the middle man in this medical board, and he is the one who eventually got my paperwork approved for the board. Unfortunately, with a bunch of problems with federal employees, things are moving extremely slow (all of this shutdown stuff has had a big impact here.)

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[N Sperlo]

An increase of simple-partial seizures are exactly why my dosage was increased after a few months. It was at its worse when I was tired. My wife took away the car keys until I took a nap. Its holding strong now at 150mg and working great even when I'm tired. I work three jobs, while that's nothing like full time school, on certain days, it can push the limits.

Good luck with everything.

 

[RunningGirl85]

That's awesome I am at 300 mg a day already so we will see. The good news is they are way less intense than they were. I told my commander today that the late nights are causing some issues l and she was pretty understanding. It was awkward telling her because I hate to say that I can't handle working like this, but she asked about the Med board process, and I did tell her that this was happening and that is why I hope the board hurries.

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