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Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??

Fri, 06/19/2009 - 19:18

Hi everyone. I have several questions and Im very confused right now, maybe someone can shed a light on this situation. Im 24, I had my first grand mal seizure 4 years ago. I was hospitalized because I hit my head and was knocked out for a day straight.. About half a year after, I had another seizure, in my sleep and was taken to the hospital as well. This time a resident neurologist prescribed Lamictal to me. He told me to build up, 25mg, then 50.. etc till I finally reached 100mg tablets, twice a day. Everything was perfect, 2 years I havent had a single seizure..

The Doctor and I have descided to try to lower the medication, or get rid of it completely, since my EEG and MRI's showed no problem, and no-one in my family has ever had seizures.. We began lowering the dose, and as soon as it got to 25mg, twice daily, I had another seizure.. Then we decided to go back to the dose I was taking, and I slowly began building up back to 100mg twice a day.. On my way up I had another seizure.. afterwards I stayed on 100mg twice a day, and everything was fine for about another 6-7 month.

Then I was moved to generic, lamotrigine, and I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but I had another grand mal seizure.. My doctor moved me to Brand name Lamictal again, and got the autorization from my insurance so I get Lamictal, not generic.. He also bumped up my dosage to 100mg morning, and 150mg at night. 

Everything was fine for another 5 months, then last week I had another seizure, right before I was about to go to bed.. I thought it was because I took my Lamictal a few hours later then I usually did. Then 3 days ago, I had another grand mal seizure, this time right after I woke up.. Now Im worried.. I have never had seizure so frequently. This time I was taken to a hospital.  They put the EEG on my as soon as I arrived, and did not give me any Lamictal at all. I was on the EEG for 3 days,I was sleep deprived since the hospital kept me awake most of the night + I didnt take any lamictal while I was there, and still didnt have a single seizure.. After 3 days of testing, they said everything is fine and discharged me.

Now I do not understand, does this mean the Lamictal is not working for me anymore, or was this a break through seizure??? (To be honest I was kinda stressed and tired, and lacked some sleep this past week) But since I was on lamictal I though that wouldnt matter.. My neurologist is not telling me anything usefull, just bumped up my dose of Lamictal another 50 mg. Now its 150mg morning, 150mg at night.. I was pushing for 200mg twice a day, but he said they only increase little by litte, since too much of it might also increase seizures. But somehow I find it hard to believe that the extra 50mg will keep me safe.

Also what seemed weird is that, my aura before a seizure, is the same as a side effect of Lamictal.. I get really dizzy moments before a seizure happens..

Did anyone experience anything like this?? Does this mean my body is adapting to Lamictal and reducing it effect.. Im not really comfortable having a seizure every 3-4 months, and then having my dosage bumped up another 50mg.. If everything was fine before, even on 100mg twice a day.. Can someone shine some light on this situation??? I would appreciate it..

Comments

Re: Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??

Submitted by Hotwired05 on Mon, 2009-06-22 - 00:41

I hope thats not true, about Lamictal loosing effectiveness. I was doing so good on 100mg twice a day. I was seizure free for more then 2 years, even started driving again.  Within those two years I had plenty of stress, and lack of sleep. There has been weeks where I went to sleep past 3am and woke up early.. Never a single seizure.. Now all of a sudden seems like Lamictal is not working. Maybe this is a relapse after my doctor tried to take me off Lamictal completely, I dunno.

And yes there's definitely a pattern in my seizures, they happen when Im extreemely tired/exhausted, or have been lacking sleep for a while. And they happen late at night, or in the morning shortly after waking up. During those times I try to be cautious and stay home.. But still I thought Lamictal would take care of it. Hopefully this increase of 50mg will help to keep me seizure free.

I hope thats not true, about Lamictal loosing effectiveness. I was doing so good on 100mg twice a day. I was seizure free for more then 2 years, even started driving again.  Within those two years I had plenty of stress, and lack of sleep. There has been weeks where I went to sleep past 3am and woke up early.. Never a single seizure.. Now all of a sudden seems like Lamictal is not working. Maybe this is a relapse after my doctor tried to take me off Lamictal completely, I dunno.

And yes there's definitely a pattern in my seizures, they happen when Im extreemely tired/exhausted, or have been lacking sleep for a while. And they happen late at night, or in the morning shortly after waking up. During those times I try to be cautious and stay home.. But still I thought Lamictal would take care of it. Hopefully this increase of 50mg will help to keep me seizure free.

Re: Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??

Submitted by jojocarter on Fri, 2009-11-13 - 22:34

I just posted today about my 18 year old son having more seizures on Lamictal after being controlled for so long.

He started out having 3 grand mals until he went on Lamictal 200 mg day.  He was fine for 1 1/2 years and then had a breakthrough.  They increased him to 400 mg day and he was fine for another 1  1/2 years--he even go his license.  Now, he is having complex partial seizures.  They increased him to 500 mg then 600 mg and he was having more.  Switched neuro and now they have dropped him back down to 500 mg of the extended release tablets.  He had a complex partial two weeks ago.  He is scheduled for a EEG monday at U.C.L.A., so hopefully we will get some answers.

The hardest part is dealing with depression.  He was doing so well.  Driving, going to college and playing high level soccer.  Now, he can't drive.  He has trouble with his memory so school is hard and the complex partials keep happening during a soccer game.

We are going to the Mayo clinic in January for a week stay.  Maybe more answers there. 

I wish I could give you some good advice, but I can't find anything on Lamictal causing breakthroughs.  It is so frustrating.  I want so badly to help him.

I wish you all the best.  If I find anything else out, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

I just posted today about my 18 year old son having more seizures on Lamictal after being controlled for so long.

He started out having 3 grand mals until he went on Lamictal 200 mg day.  He was fine for 1 1/2 years and then had a breakthrough.  They increased him to 400 mg day and he was fine for another 1  1/2 years--he even go his license.  Now, he is having complex partial seizures.  They increased him to 500 mg then 600 mg and he was having more.  Switched neuro and now they have dropped him back down to 500 mg of the extended release tablets.  He had a complex partial two weeks ago.  He is scheduled for a EEG monday at U.C.L.A., so hopefully we will get some answers.

The hardest part is dealing with depression.  He was doing so well.  Driving, going to college and playing high level soccer.  Now, he can't drive.  He has trouble with his memory so school is hard and the complex partials keep happening during a soccer game.

We are going to the Mayo clinic in January for a week stay.  Maybe more answers there. 

I wish I could give you some good advice, but I can't find anything on Lamictal causing breakthroughs.  It is so frustrating.  I want so badly to help him.

I wish you all the best.  If I find anything else out, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

Re: Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??

Submitted by Seruzies on Sat, 2009-11-14 - 03:13
I have break through Seizures on Lamictal all the time. Lamictal has never worked well for me and everytime I bring up wanting to change meds to my Dr, my Father who drives me to my Dr's appts. because I can't drive has a fit, last time I checked, I'm the one with Epilepsy. My seizures are not well controlled and as a known side effect of Lamictal, I am losing my hair. I want to change meds period.

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