Vimpat anyone

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Mr. Pibb

Mr. Pibb

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Well it's been along time since my last visit. Life has been so so med's are doing okay for the most part, but I have a question or two. Anyone out there taking Vimpat and how is it working for you? Reason for the question I have been on Dilantin since age six i'm now fifty-two and taking 450mg daily but I think I'm reaching saturation on the med not good. So my new Dr. whom has done more in the first visit than the old one did in the last couple of years that is another story.
Looking for some feedback on your experience with Vimpat good bad ot otherwise.
Hope to hear from someone out there.
Jerry
 
I had Vimpat added to Keppra and Carbatrol. I was on it for about 6 months and did not notice any change at all. I also did not have any side effects. After my last visit, my dr. has removed the vimpat and upped my other meds. Best of luck :)
 
I'd be interested to know as well, as I started Vimpat today, want to know what I'm letting myself in for!, my neuro also wants an intracranial EEG :o absolutely terrified! But if Vimpat works hopefully that wont be necissary :)
 
I was added Vimpat in late Sept, as an add-on to Dilantin (been on it since July), to replace Keppra. I started at 50mg twice/day, and built up slowly until I reached 200mg twice/day, but my body couldn't tolerate that, with some pretty severe side effects. I'm now at 100mg in the morning, 150mg in the evening, and while the side effects are more tolerable, I'm still having a few seizures per week.

I'm pretty sensitive to all of these medications, so I'd love to hear to they work for you both! I know some have had great success with it, good luck! :)
 
I have been on vimpat for 3 months now. I went to 200mg twice daily but I am now on 150mg twice daily. I started to self harm a little bit post-ictally and they wonder if it was due to the vimpat, but who knows. Post-ictalness is strange enough by itself.
I am on vimpat by itself even though I know it usually is used in conjuction with other rx.
I have had success with it for my simple partials. They are reduced now and any progress is good progress.
 
I talked it over with the wife, Pam and we are going to give it a try. I always hate these transition stages the weaning of the old and increase of the new. Then you really have no idea if it is going to work once you are only on one drug, along with the other meds. Last time I did a med. change I did it in about have the time they said on the chart and well I'm still here. Two months just seems like a long time for transition of new med.
Jerry
 
I took my first dose last night, and within an hour or so I felt like I was in a permanent state of auras, and havent been able to get hold of my neuro all day, but I sure don't want to take the next dose, it was horrible :(
 
mixed results

So from what I am reading thier are mixed results. the question that I'll pose is this are thier alot of you that are reading this post that have had or have no or little effects. From other readings and finding they the drug company's are saying that one in 500 are having side effects that would want you to stop taking the med. your thoughts
Jerry
 
Actually Jerry I'm going to give it one more day and if I'm not feeling better I'm going to call my doc and let her know I'm done. If this is depression and having no desire for life then I want nothing to do with it :(
 
Definitely having side effects, so sorry to read all of you are as well. I've been on it about a month and a half now, and have had my dose lowered twice because of the side effects. I've just gotten off the phone with the my Neurologist's nurse, and they've suggested an OTC supplement to see if it'll help any. Ugh, at this point I'll try anything, since he seems pretty adamant on keeping me on this stuff. Hope things get better for all of you!
 
I tried Vimpat last year and it made me feel horriable. I was crying, not wanting to be around my family, just wanting to stay in bed all day. It got to the point, where we had to contact my neuro's office to let them know. The dr had me cut my dose in half, and see how it was then. But still no change. So I got off of it and within days I felt like a new person.
 
I've only been on it 9 days tho, and at 50mg/day. Seems a bit low, but I do feel very similar to what you're describing mom. Were you on a low or high dose?
 
qtowngirl said:
what are your side effects?
Click to expand...

Since starting, I've had double vision, drowsiness, dizziness and a little tingling my my lips. All of these increased as I increased in dose (started at 50mg twice/day, slowly increased to 200mg twice/day), then exactly a week after being at 200mg, I was numb from my nose to chest, suddenly couldn't breathe or swallow. My dad brought me to ER, good thing I brought the pill bottle with me, because the ER doc hadn't even heard of it (but happened to know my Neurologist!). He gave me Benadryl, and told me not to take it again until I spoke to my Neuro.

Dose lowered to 150mg each, still drowsy, especially during the day, complained once again, and was lowered to 100mg during the day (I'm blessed to work at home), 150mg in the evening. Marginally more tolerable during the day, but since lowering, I have the above, but am also itchy (no rash). Neuro still doesn't feel I'm allergic. Sigh.

Noticed the numbness a bit this morning, I fear it'll build up like it did last time, so I told the nurse that I've got her number on speed dial and I'm not afraid to use it. What are your side effects, qtowngirl??
 
Nothing physical (that may only be b/c of the low dose though), however mental... well i feel like i'm going mad. Everything makes me sad and feels like it's tainted, like momof3 said it's like not wanting to get out of bed (yeah right gotta work). I feel like I want nothing to do with anyone/thing and I don't recognize myself emotionally. At first I thought it was just b/c of that long stretch in the seizure unit and all the grand mals and pain I'm in, but I can't see it lasting this long. IDK, maybe it's a mixture of everything, new meds included.
All I know is that this isn't me, and I DO NOT want to get to the point of feeling suicidal like the side effects for Vimpat says. I've had enough FUCKING EPILEPSY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yikes, definitely scary. While my side effects are mostly physical, I have generally been feeling sad, and don't want to get out of bed... but my husband if ~1100 miles away, haven't seen him other than Skype for over two months, and likely won't until Christmas. Between that, the meds, the epilepsy, I'm not me either.

Hugs, qtowngirl.
 
Oh god i couldn't do that, living apart from my man. KUDOS to you for being so strong!!
lol we're hijacking Mr. Pibb's thread... I'll pm ya in a bit.
 
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