Thinking of stopping my meds

[AdamZ]

I have been living with epilepsy for 20 years, my seizures were initially a minor inconvenience. I would have a seizure every 4 or 5 months, suffer through the side effects (inability to eat, headaches etc) I then had a grand mal seizure and have been on medication ever since in an effort to control.

I have tried every medication out there, some worked for a couple months, some longer. The side effects have been terrible, but I have continued to take my medication trying to find that "magic pill" I am currently on vimpat. It has been by far the best medication as far as side effects are concerned.

I now seem to be having more seizures and they are getting worse. My last 2 seizures ended with me falling to the floor at night and then returning to bed as nothing happened. I awake the next day and if my wife did not tell me I had a siezure I wouldnt know (at least for a couple hours) when the post seizure joy returns (inability to eat, severe headaches etc)

I feel like I was better off before I started taking meds!~

 

[acpollard2010]

dude i hate taking my meds they make me feel like crap i take 6 aeds including vimpat no recipe yet and still having seizures but without meds man think it would get worse i fall and hurt myself all the time.i know meds have terrible side effects and so do seizures but my only words of wisdom is try your hardest to gut it out for awhile and hope things slow down.thats my wish and always think positive.but i will admit half the time im forced by my spouse to take them!

 

[epileric]

Welcome AdamZ

It does seem that a lot of people with seizures contemplate stopping their meds at some point. I know when I did I was 18. I lasted 3 days before having my first convulsion. Now I see that it was just something I needed to do to see that I really don't have a choice.

My personal advice would be to stay on your meds but if you really feel the need to stop then reduce your dosage very very slowly. Stopping suddenly will almost definitely bring on a stronger-than-normal seizure and those are never fun.

What medication are you on now? Is it possible that what you need is a change in dosage?

 

[AdamZ]

Thanks, your probably right.

I am currently on Vimpat 300mg a day. It is just depressing thinking of increasing the dose or starting all over with another med.

 

[epileric]

Thanks, your probably right.

I am currently on Vimpat 300mg a day. It is just depressing thinking of increasing the dose or starting all over with another med.

It is depressing- no argument there. Remember you can ask your neurologist about lowering the dosage (hopefully lessening or eliminating side-effects) but combining it with a low dose of another AED.

 

[Maidenminx]

I was actually just wondering this morning if my life would be better off without the meds, and the juggling has only just begun for me. I started on tegretol last October and 4 weeks ago had the dose increased. Just 2 days ago I was at the doctor complaining about the stuff (lack of energy, regular headaches and blinding brief migraines, I had another complaint a moment ago but can't remember it.. Oh that's right, I'm not convinced it's stopping any seizures, though it has helped my moods) Now I have a 6 week juggle ahead of me to introduce lamictal and reduce the tegretol, and I haven't had an MRI or EEG yet, and I'm almost certain they'll introduce more juggling. I'm tired of it all already.