Has a change or addition in your medication worsen your seizures?! Help

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BigHeadAche - 03 Aug 2004 02:13 GMT

Hi guys,

Thanks for listening to me. I have had seizures for 6 years, mostly
simple partials and minor myoclonics. My first diagnosis was 300-400
MG of Dilantin which controlled 95% of my tonic clonics.

Anyways I finally got medical insurance and told my doctor I
occassionally got simple partials where I lost speech or couldn't
understand what a person was saying etc. But I was fine most of the
time. He was worried that since these were actually "breakthrough
seizures" that in the long run my seizures may spread worse.

He added 50 MGs of Topamax with my normal 400 MG Dilantin (25MG and
200MG morning/night). Well nothing really different has happened until
about 2 weeks ago.

I started getting 10-15 simple partials in a row which never happened
to me. I also RARELY ever had any seizures in the day but now I am
getting these "sound" seizures almost every other day.

On top of this when I am getting these 10-15 simple-partials in a row
in the 30 minute period I am also getting juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
where my right or left arm will just jump for a few times.

This is on top of being just trying to keep my head straight. Anyways
I have an appointment with the doc but it wont be until late August
since they screwed up my appointment plans! So I was wondering is it
normal for people to get different types of seizures or more seizures
by new medication?!

its really killing me. thanks

francis

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turbinado - 03 Aug 2004 05:56 GMT

New medications can cause all sorts of strange effects, which may or may not
go away as you get used to it. When I was on Topamax I started getting
complex partials, which up until then I had never had. Talk to your doctor
about it as soon as possible. He may want to adjust the medication or try a
different one, or perhaps take a "wait and see" approach. How long have you
been taking Topamax?

> Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> francis

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BigHeadAche - 03 Aug 2004 18:44 GMT

I started taking Topamax at 25 MG for two weeks and then eventually
went up to 50 MG by the end of the first first month. I've been on it
for about 2 1/2 months and didn't feel anything didn't good or bad up
until 2 weeks ago as I stated below.

I am trying to get a hold of my doctor but its becoming a major pain.
I go to UCLA Neuro - One of the best neuro hospitals in the world but
definately a place where a patient just feels like a cog in the system
and not a person.

Thanks for your help people!

> New medications can cause all sorts of strange effects, which may or may not
> go away as you get used to it. When I was on Topamax I started getting
> complex partials, which up until then I had never had. Talk to your doctor
> about it as soon as possible. He may want to adjust the medication or try a
> different one, or perhaps take a "wait and see" approach. How long have you
> been taking Topamax?

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David Ruether - 03 Aug 2004 15:02 GMT

> Thanks for listening to me. I have had seizures for 6 years, mostly
> simple partials and minor myoclonics. My first diagnosis was 300-400
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> francis

Most people appear to get along well on Topamax, but for me
and a few others here, it was disasterous (for me, slight depression,
and WILD speech problems at only 50mg/day - and three weeks
of intense "jitters" and "climbing the walls" after going down to
25mg/day for a week, then off it). It was HORRIBLE!
Call the doctor and ask to talk to him immediately - this is
something that should not wait! You should not experience
more/worse seizures with proper medication, and proper
medication varies from person to person.
--DR

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CyberCafe - 04 Aug 2004 11:19 GMT

> Hi guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> francis

First thing to do is get a fresh refill of your meds and see if that
helps. I had a bottle of apparently ineffective Dilantin at one time.
Got a new refill and everything was fine. I asked the pharmacist to take
from a new big bottle after I told him (so they can keep track in case
somebody else reports the same thing).

I don't know the answers to your other questions.

Barb

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Satch - 04 Aug 2004 17:55 GMT

>> Hi guys,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
>
> Barb

How did you find out it was a bad production of Dilantin -most people over
here think it is the side effects of the drug itself. That is what I would
think as well -so if you have some magic trics how to determine that they
had given you a bad refill which originally came from a bad production,
then that is very keen of you!

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Take care.

Marco

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