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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 zealot on Wed, 2010-11-10 - 18:13
Revelations, That was my nightmare. Unfortunately I was misdiagnosed and my epilepsy wasn't diagnosed until a couple of months ago after I was so badly mismedicated in a hospital that I went into neurolepsis and had convulsions. That, plus my history, got me the dx. I've had so many seizures that I am no longer bipolar. The irony here is that the epilepsy caused the mood disorder and also cured it. ECT came about after doctors observed improvements in patients mood after seizures. It's pretty barbaric, although the newer techniques work quite well for some people with minimal damage. Now I take Keppra and pray a lot. My health is ruined from the abuse and mistreatment. I still have seizures, but have no more med options because nothing else works, I'm allergic to it, or I can't tolerate the side effects. I hate the Keppra, but I'd be dead without it. The most important thing is to find the right AED(s). Not having seizures will reduce your anxiety more than anything I can think of. Make sure you get the brand name extended release formulation of whatever it is if it's available; otherwise do a Q8 hour (three times a day) or Q6 hour (four times a day) dosing schedule depending on the med. This is critical. Some of these meds can be depressing as well. You've got to find the right med or meds at the right dose or doses for you. We are all different. Baruch Hashem. Hoshia na. Devorah Zealot Soodak http://psychout.typepad.com/ the zealot needs help! Please read my blog. Thanks. P.S. Links to my latest posts

Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Submitted by Sausha on Wed, 2010-11-10 - 23:11

i have both epilepsy, tle, and i'm bipolar with an extreme anxiety problem.  yes, having the two together is not fun but as was said...some of the meds, i take lamictal, treat both conditions.  the anxiety can be very dibilitating.  I'm on permanet disability because mine is so intense.  I also take prozac and alprozalm as needed, which isn't very often.  i have a movement disorder much like epilepsy except the shaking happens for 30 secs or so then stops for 4 minutes then starts again...all night long.  my whole body shakes violently durring these episodes.  dr added klonepin to take before bed for that one.  it helps with my jerks durring the day but don't know if it's working at night because i sleep in a seperate room than my husband because of this.

None of this is fun.  untreated anxiety is a serious thing and you need to get some help for that.  maybe not something you take every day, but as needed.   the prozac helps with anxiety and the abilify as an add on helps too.  there are a few options for you.

oh, i also have clinical depression, which is one of the reasons why i take the prozac and the dr. recently added abilify.  it's all about quality of life in the end.  I wish i didnt have to take all these meds but the seizures, suicidal thoughts and the like are no way to live.  I wish you all the best.

i have both epilepsy, tle, and i'm bipolar with an extreme anxiety problem.  yes, having the two together is not fun but as was said...some of the meds, i take lamictal, treat both conditions.  the anxiety can be very dibilitating.  I'm on permanet disability because mine is so intense.  I also take prozac and alprozalm as needed, which isn't very often.  i have a movement disorder much like epilepsy except the shaking happens for 30 secs or so then stops for 4 minutes then starts again...all night long.  my whole body shakes violently durring these episodes.  dr added klonepin to take before bed for that one.  it helps with my jerks durring the day but don't know if it's working at night because i sleep in a seperate room than my husband because of this.

None of this is fun.  untreated anxiety is a serious thing and you need to get some help for that.  maybe not something you take every day, but as needed.   the prozac helps with anxiety and the abilify as an add on helps too.  there are a few options for you.

oh, i also have clinical depression, which is one of the reasons why i take the prozac and the dr. recently added abilify.  it's all about quality of life in the end.  I wish i didnt have to take all these meds but the seizures, suicidal thoughts and the like are no way to live.  I wish you all the best.

Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?

Submitted by zealot on Thu, 2010-11-11 - 00:51
Abilify has a seizure risk. It also can cause anxiety. It also causes dyskinesias. It doesn't sound like a good med for you. There are better SSRIs than Prozac. This polypharmacy is disturbing. Have you tried Lithium? That works very well for depression and mania and if your kidneys can take it (mine can't) is one of the best meds out their for bpd. The Abilify is bad news. It's just the newest poison the drug company reps are pushing now so all of the doctors are writing for it. If you have seizures and a movement disorder you should not take an atypical antipsychotic or any antipsychotic for that matter unless there are no other options. This is just getting me upset. I trusted my doctors and ended up sick and injured. I know psychopharmacology better than most psychiatrists. That is sad, but true. If the lawyers would let him, I know a really good doctor who would verify that statement. Baruch Hashem. Hoshia na. Devorah Zealot Soodak http://psychout.typepad.com/ the zealot needs help! Please read my blog. Thanks. P.S. Links to my latest posts P.P.S. My brand-newest post!

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