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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 civatie on Sat, 2009-11-14 - 02:39
Hi Lisa, thank you for your message. I actually started having seizures when i was 7 but it seemed as i hit puberty my seizures were connected to the PMS and Stress levels for me as well. So I may be in the same boat as you were when you had your daughter. I just worry because of chances of something happening. When you were pregnant did they take away your license for that period of time?My doctor mentioned that might happen depending on my condition when that time comes, but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that point. So the folic acid purpose, is that to take for your well being or does that help balance out something so that it stops the lamictal from affecting the baby? Thanks for listening. Elizabeth

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by queente318 on Sat, 2009-11-14 - 10:05
Hi Elizabeth, my neurologist told me about the possibility about the cleft lip. I did my research and fortunately a cleft lip can be fixed as soon after the baby is born. I don't like thinking about a baby going into surgery at such a young age, but if it will help him/her then I feel it is worth it. Hopefully we won't have to think about that when we do become pregnant. Best wishes to you! May God bless you with a healthy baby!

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by Rach13 on Thu, 2009-12-10 - 18:29

I was on Lamictal when having my 1st child.  She came out just fine.  I started with 300-400mg/day and then got upwards of 1,000mg during my last month and a half of the pregnancy.

My doctor had me take 1 month early leave from work.  Everything turned out just fine.  I was put on Vitamin K for the last week before having her.  We scheduled her delivery so that there wouldn't be any surprises.  With the epilepsy thing, I had enough going on.

The whole thing was more than worth it.  There are special considerations, and you're considered high risk due to the meds, but you should be fine.  Of course, it does depend upon your biological make-up and anything else you might have going on in your life/family.  You'll be asked to go for a couple more blood tests and ultrasounds than the avg. pregnant woman, but they want to make sure that the heart is ok.  Lamictal has a very small chance of causing abnormalities with the valves of the heart, so my prediatrician made sure everything was covered.  I took folic acid the entire time.  My little one, who's 3 and a half now, is doing quite well.  Everything came out great with her, no physical abnormalities (or in any other category) and she's as smart as can be. 

Don't be afraid.  Do your research and talk to your doctor.  If you don't have an epileptologist, get one of those instead of a neurologist.  They are much more knowledgable it seems, and that's all they do.  I'm dealing with Poloycystic Ovarian Syndrom (PCOS) too, so it was very difficult getting pregnant.  Years of depakote from earlier in life caused that problem.  Here's hoping it'll be easier for you.

I was on Lamictal when having my 1st child.  She came out just fine.  I started with 300-400mg/day and then got upwards of 1,000mg during my last month and a half of the pregnancy.

My doctor had me take 1 month early leave from work.  Everything turned out just fine.  I was put on Vitamin K for the last week before having her.  We scheduled her delivery so that there wouldn't be any surprises.  With the epilepsy thing, I had enough going on.

The whole thing was more than worth it.  There are special considerations, and you're considered high risk due to the meds, but you should be fine.  Of course, it does depend upon your biological make-up and anything else you might have going on in your life/family.  You'll be asked to go for a couple more blood tests and ultrasounds than the avg. pregnant woman, but they want to make sure that the heart is ok.  Lamictal has a very small chance of causing abnormalities with the valves of the heart, so my prediatrician made sure everything was covered.  I took folic acid the entire time.  My little one, who's 3 and a half now, is doing quite well.  Everything came out great with her, no physical abnormalities (or in any other category) and she's as smart as can be. 

Don't be afraid.  Do your research and talk to your doctor.  If you don't have an epileptologist, get one of those instead of a neurologist.  They are much more knowledgable it seems, and that's all they do.  I'm dealing with Poloycystic Ovarian Syndrom (PCOS) too, so it was very difficult getting pregnant.  Years of depakote from earlier in life caused that problem.  Here's hoping it'll be easier for you.

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