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What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Mon, 11/08/2010 - 20:33

I don't know if I can take the extra anxiety from the lamictal for too much longer. I have to do so much and go to therapy to contain it. Otherwise my sense of awareness is so strong that I get adrenaline rushes from loud sounds or get nervous in a car ride. I have this constant neck tightness also from being nervous. I will talk to my Dr. soon to see if it's worth taking anymore because I also can't sleep without trazodone. 

 So what are my options for ant-anxiety anti-convulsants? I have JME or generalized ep.

Comments

Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Submitted by Bedge on Tue, 2010-11-09 - 07:41

Sodium Valporate can have an anti anxiety effect, but .... you wouldn't count on it .. it just so happens to be the case that some people have reported less anxiety while on it.

I have TLE and a mood disorder, I am on Sodium Valporate which has helped the mood side of thing quite a lot, although anxiety still remained. We have backed up Sodium Valporate with Lexapro for the anxiety, and seems to have done the trick.

 

------------------------------ Peace, Love, Mung Beans

Sodium Valporate can have an anti anxiety effect, but .... you wouldn't count on it .. it just so happens to be the case that some people have reported less anxiety while on it.

I have TLE and a mood disorder, I am on Sodium Valporate which has helped the mood side of thing quite a lot, although anxiety still remained. We have backed up Sodium Valporate with Lexapro for the anxiety, and seems to have done the trick.

 

------------------------------ Peace, Love, Mung Beans

Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Submitted by Revelation 21.4 on Tue, 2010-11-09 - 09:18

You mean depakote? That caused me bad problems with blood sugar. Besides that I didn't notice much for anxiety but back then (over 10 years ago) anxiety wasn't really a problem. Now it is. I see no point in going on a SSRI because then your just masking the issue. I'd rather take trazodone which works differently then a SSRI at dosages used for depression. Also I currently have no sexual side effects or libido issues. I don't wanna mess that up. Trazodone actually increases libido at times.

 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" - Rev 21:4

You mean depakote? That caused me bad problems with blood sugar. Besides that I didn't notice much for anxiety but back then (over 10 years ago) anxiety wasn't really a problem. Now it is. I see no point in going on a SSRI because then your just masking the issue. I'd rather take trazodone which works differently then a SSRI at dosages used for depression. Also I currently have no sexual side effects or libido issues. I don't wanna mess that up. Trazodone actually increases libido at times.

 

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" - Rev 21:4

Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Submitted by angelacarwile on Tue, 2010-11-09 - 15:33

Sorry to butt-in, but I have a few questions if that's ok... I was diagnosed with a Mood Disorder associated with Epilepsy (TLE) in 2007 at the age of 30. I was on active duty in the Navy at the time (13 years). Originally, I was put on Keppra alone...it made me CRAZY to say the least. I had absolutely no control over my emotions. Now that I take low-dose Carbatrol I'm doing much better and seizure-free. I recently had to do a VA physical where I had to see a Neuropsychologist; she said the Navy slapped a mood disorder diagnosis on me because they didn't know what else to call it. She then diagnosed me with "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" associated with Epilepsy of course...

My question is, did any of you prior to being diagnosed with E, experience severe mood changes, anxiety, depression or otherwise? I've always been sort of moody, but what woman isn't? I did however, struggle with anxiety at various times. I'm wondering if Epilepsy or the AED's caused my "mood disorder" or anxiety disorder? Since my siezures began I've noticed a huge change in my behavior. I used to be very much in control of "emotional outbursts"...now, not so much. My mouth tends to overload my brain! It's not as bad as it was before, but my ups and downs really suck! The Navy and VA have both suggested I see a psychologist, but I don't want them throwing even more medications at me. In additon to Keppra and Carbatrol, I take Diazepam for anxiety as needed (rarely take it). On the rare occasions I do take Diazepam, I get SEVERE headache's afterward - sometimes lasting 2 days!

I have no history of mental illness or clinical depression, only anxiety. I'm not sure what to do or if I even believe their crap-shoot diagnosis. Do any of you have advice as to what you think I should do, if anything? Have any of you experienced anything similar? Thanks so much for reading my ramblings :)

Take care and God Bless!!!

Angela

Sorry to butt-in, but I have a few questions if that's ok... I was diagnosed with a Mood Disorder associated with Epilepsy (TLE) in 2007 at the age of 30. I was on active duty in the Navy at the time (13 years). Originally, I was put on Keppra alone...it made me CRAZY to say the least. I had absolutely no control over my emotions. Now that I take low-dose Carbatrol I'm doing much better and seizure-free. I recently had to do a VA physical where I had to see a Neuropsychologist; she said the Navy slapped a mood disorder diagnosis on me because they didn't know what else to call it. She then diagnosed me with "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" associated with Epilepsy of course...

My question is, did any of you prior to being diagnosed with E, experience severe mood changes, anxiety, depression or otherwise? I've always been sort of moody, but what woman isn't? I did however, struggle with anxiety at various times. I'm wondering if Epilepsy or the AED's caused my "mood disorder" or anxiety disorder? Since my siezures began I've noticed a huge change in my behavior. I used to be very much in control of "emotional outbursts"...now, not so much. My mouth tends to overload my brain! It's not as bad as it was before, but my ups and downs really suck! The Navy and VA have both suggested I see a psychologist, but I don't want them throwing even more medications at me. In additon to Keppra and Carbatrol, I take Diazepam for anxiety as needed (rarely take it). On the rare occasions I do take Diazepam, I get SEVERE headache's afterward - sometimes lasting 2 days!

I have no history of mental illness or clinical depression, only anxiety. I'm not sure what to do or if I even believe their crap-shoot diagnosis. Do any of you have advice as to what you think I should do, if anything? Have any of you experienced anything similar? Thanks so much for reading my ramblings :)

Take care and God Bless!!!

Angela

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