Qtowngirl... I'm on it right now, as an add-on to Dilantin. I started at 50mg twice/day, and increased each dose by another 50mg every week, until I hit 200mg. Some side effects, but I've come to expect it with these meds.
A week after being on 200mg each dose, I felt numbness in my lips in the morning, but didn't much of it. Took my evening dose, and about 30 minutes later, I was numb from my nose to my chest, couldn't breathe or swallow, and my heartbeat felt like it was pumping out of my chest. My dad brought me to the hospital, was eventually given benadryl after the ER doc googled Vimpat because he had never heard of it. My Neurologist's nurse informed me the next morning when I called her that it was not an allergic reaction, but rather that my body couldn't tolerate it that high. Told to reduce it to 150mg per dose, but I talked to the nurse again today, because I'm having a hard time with the side effects while working during the day. Tomorrow I'm to start 100mg during the day, 150mg in the evening, and to call her back on Monday to follow-up.
I don't write this to scare you, but just to share what I'm feeling. I'm generally dizzy, drowsy, still a bit of numbness in my lips. I'm not a fan, but yes, they are helping in reducing my seizures some. Oh, and between the Dilantin and Vimpat, I seem to be losing some weight! YAY!!
Given the amount of time I need to wait to get into the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, I might as well try something.
Oh, and if you haven't filled the prescription yet, be warned, it's expensive. I just paid $88, would have been $450 for a month if I didn't have insurance coverage through work.
I'd be curious to hear how Vimpat works for you! I hope you have much more luck on this than I! Good luck, and let me know
