Hi, just wondering if anyone experiences stronger side effects from their medication when they are quite ill (ie. beyond just a sniffly cold). I increased from 6-8 mg of Fycompa about 6-7 nights ago and was still in the midst of adjusting to feeling imbalanced and generally unstable. Two days ago I came down with a severe chest cold and the side effects seem worse and not better as I would otherwise have expected. What have you folks experienced in this respect?
Worse side effects when ill?
- Thread starter masterjen
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Loopy Lou
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Are you taking anything for your illness? It's surprising how many over the counter remedies and other drugs can affect the metabolism of ones you're already taking. Perhaps it's taking longer to exit your system.
It's worth noticing too, that it could take a few weeks for the new dosage to settle, and with being ill, maybe you are just feeling it more.
I hope you're feeling better soon :hugs:
It's worth noticing too, that it could take a few weeks for the new dosage to settle, and with being ill, maybe you are just feeling it more.
I hope you're feeling better soon :hugs:
Hi masterjen,
Each time I get a head cold I end up having seizures. I used to take the Alka Seltzer cold plus and that really triggered seizures for me but since I started taking Aleve cold and sinus med I don't have so many seizures when I'm sick with a cold.
My pharmacist told me it's that some of the chemicals in the cold meds can mess up the seizure meds and in turn that can trigger the seizures. I find taking zinc twice a day helps keep the colds away. Here's wishing you the best and May God Bless You!
Sue
Each time I get a head cold I end up having seizures. I used to take the Alka Seltzer cold plus and that really triggered seizures for me but since I started taking Aleve cold and sinus med I don't have so many seizures when I'm sick with a cold.
My pharmacist told me it's that some of the chemicals in the cold meds can mess up the seizure meds and in turn that can trigger the seizures. I find taking zinc twice a day helps keep the colds away. Here's wishing you the best and May God Bless You!
Sue
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Maybe your cold may have affected your metabolism in ways that slowed Fycompa's clearance? Fycompa is primarily metabolized in the liver. So if your liver function is impaired (as can happen during an infection), it could result in elevated serum drug levels of the med (which also has a relatively long half-life compared to other AEDs). Since, like most AEDS, Fycompa's side effects are dose-dependent, then elevated serum levels might magnify them.
Some side effects from illness (fatigue, dehydration, dizziness) can also be side effects of meds, so those things may be magnified when you are sick.
Some side effects from illness (fatigue, dehydration, dizziness) can also be side effects of meds, so those things may be magnified when you are sick.
Thanks for the replies. I hadn't considered the possibility of impaired liver metabolism. I'm going to hope that is the explanation, since in terms of the night seizures the 8 mg seems to be doing the trick (in spite of being sick, a time when seizures are typically worse for me).
The only things I'm taking for the cold are ibuprofen when my throat is particularly sore and an expectorant (nothing else in the medication) to help clear my chest - the only things the pharmacist considered safe to take with the medications I'm on. And of course breathing in steam from a boiling kettle!
The only things I'm taking for the cold are ibuprofen when my throat is particularly sore and an expectorant (nothing else in the medication) to help clear my chest - the only things the pharmacist considered safe to take with the medications I'm on. And of course breathing in steam from a boiling kettle!