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Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 16:27

So, I know everyone's different when it comes to seizures and medications; but I'm hoping to get some positive vibes. I am 28 years old and my husband and I want to start trying to have a baby in either October or November. A while ago my neurologist told me when I decide that I want to have a baby to let him know at least 6 months before we start trying. So I told him in February when we wanted to start. I'm on Keppra and Lamictal, but he wants me on just one medication. That being said, I chose to stay on Lamictal because I had really bad side affects with Keppra. So, I'm off Keppra in 2 weeks and he increased my dosage for Lamictal to 400 mg a day (I'm a little nervous with the transition but trying to stay positive). He said I should be fine being that I haven't had a seizure since Sept. 2006 and my seizures are controllable. He told me all the information that I needed to know about being pregnant while on Lamictal. Oh, and I am also taking Folic Acid. Although he told me everything I needed to know, I also want to get some feedback from women who are pregnant or were pregnant while being on Lamictal. Were your seizures controllable while on Lamictal before becoming pregnant? And were there any changes while being pregnant?

 I would love to hear some feedback, thanks!

Comments

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by queente318 on Thu, 2009-08-27 - 10:00

Actually my neurologist told me the risks of being on Lamictal while being pregnant. 3%-6% chance of my baby being born with a cleft lip which can be easily fixed through surgery shortly after the baby is born. If I chose to not be on medication while being pregnant then I would have a lot more seizures than I would being on meds while being pregnant. If I'm seven months pregnant and I have a seizure, I can fall face down, harm the baby or even worse, lose the baby. Therefore, I think it would be better to be on lamictal than no medication at all for me and my baby. I respect your opinion and I wish I didn't have to be on medication at all, but I trust my neurologist and other neurologists have said the same thing. Lamictal is a great medication, I have had no problems on it at all. I don't think that you're looking at it from both angles; you're only looking at the negatives of being on lamictal while being pregnant and not thinking about the negative effect that it can have on the baby, as well as the mother while not being on medication.

 Also, I know many women with epilepsy who are on medication that have healthy babies.

 

 

Actually my neurologist told me the risks of being on Lamictal while being pregnant. 3%-6% chance of my baby being born with a cleft lip which can be easily fixed through surgery shortly after the baby is born. If I chose to not be on medication while being pregnant then I would have a lot more seizures than I would being on meds while being pregnant. If I'm seven months pregnant and I have a seizure, I can fall face down, harm the baby or even worse, lose the baby. Therefore, I think it would be better to be on lamictal than no medication at all for me and my baby. I respect your opinion and I wish I didn't have to be on medication at all, but I trust my neurologist and other neurologists have said the same thing. Lamictal is a great medication, I have had no problems on it at all. I don't think that you're looking at it from both angles; you're only looking at the negatives of being on lamictal while being pregnant and not thinking about the negative effect that it can have on the baby, as well as the mother while not being on medication.

 Also, I know many women with epilepsy who are on medication that have healthy babies.

 

 

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by elvis101 on Thu, 2009-10-01 - 21:39
I've been taking lamictal for 7 yrs.  My Dr had said lamictal is one of the better drugs to be on while preg.  At 40 I had a baby, happy & healthy!  I advise anyone taking the lamictal to not discontinue it during your preg cause seizures can cause more damage! 

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by lb34 on Thu, 2009-08-27 - 13:02

I'm a 40 y/o pregnant E who was on 4 seizure meds at the conception of our very unexpected baby boy! I was told we had a >35% chance of severe craniofacial abnormalities and late term miscarriage. I am now 27 wks pregnant and repeated 4D USounds show a perfectly healthy baby with no visible defects-spine, heart, lips, fingers,etc. all perfect.  Next step besides continued growth ultrasounds is a 2 year developmental exam and then again at 5 yrs. I was on Lamictal, Zonegran, Keppra, and Nimotop and had just got out of the hospital when we concieved. I am now only on Zonegran and Keppra.  God is good and the creator of life. My husband and I are both nurses.  He works at a research university hospital in administration.  We have seen it all.  We know God is in control and we are so glad we obeyed Him and walked in faith listening to HIM and not to medical research regarding the life of this child.  Medicine has a lot of advantages as we all know (I'm still on my anticonvulsants) but God is ultimately in control.  It is definitely nerve wracking being a pregnant uncontrolled epileptic but it is a faith builder too.  I hope for the best for all of you out there who are or want to become pregnant.  There are many, many absolutely normal babies born to mom's who are on meds and have E... I believe the number is somewhere around 90% don' t let the 3-6% and other numbers scare you.  Pray, pray, pray.  God loves to answer our cries.  Just like we would answer a crying baby. God Bless you all.  With love from God the Father who gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ.

 

I'm a 40 y/o pregnant E who was on 4 seizure meds at the conception of our very unexpected baby boy! I was told we had a >35% chance of severe craniofacial abnormalities and late term miscarriage. I am now 27 wks pregnant and repeated 4D USounds show a perfectly healthy baby with no visible defects-spine, heart, lips, fingers,etc. all perfect.  Next step besides continued growth ultrasounds is a 2 year developmental exam and then again at 5 yrs. I was on Lamictal, Zonegran, Keppra, and Nimotop and had just got out of the hospital when we concieved. I am now only on Zonegran and Keppra.  God is good and the creator of life. My husband and I are both nurses.  He works at a research university hospital in administration.  We have seen it all.  We know God is in control and we are so glad we obeyed Him and walked in faith listening to HIM and not to medical research regarding the life of this child.  Medicine has a lot of advantages as we all know (I'm still on my anticonvulsants) but God is ultimately in control.  It is definitely nerve wracking being a pregnant uncontrolled epileptic but it is a faith builder too.  I hope for the best for all of you out there who are or want to become pregnant.  There are many, many absolutely normal babies born to mom's who are on meds and have E... I believe the number is somewhere around 90% don' t let the 3-6% and other numbers scare you.  Pray, pray, pray.  God loves to answer our cries.  Just like we would answer a crying baby. God Bless you all.  With love from God the Father who gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ.

 

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