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What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?
Mon, 11/08/2010 - 20:33I 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 Fri, 2010-11-12 - 11:54
Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?
Submitted by angelacarwile on Fri, 2010-11-12 - 12:18
Thank you Zealot! You're absolutely right! I agree with you in so many ways. I don't hold much stock in what a lot of Dr's have to say these days. I'm also a product of too many years of misdiagnosis, hormone therapy and just being a guinea pig to Dr's that didn't want to take the time to get a specific diagnosis. They just stuck a band-aid on my symptoms and went about their business. It wasn't until I took my health into my own hands that I was finally able to be treated properly, but by that time it was too late. My seizures started just weeks after.
Although my TLE diagnosis is considered to be of an unknown Etiology, I know deep down it's because of being pumped full of hormones for so many years for PCOS. I've been reluctant to see a "stink" (lol) because of the possibility of having yet another medication pushed down my throat. Luckily, I have a wonderful Neuro who is open and honest and tells me like it is! Once I speak with him, I'll take his recommendation - then come here of course and ask for opinions... :-)
I also know what the loss of a great career feels like...it stinks. Like you, I was forced to retire because I was no longer capable of perfoming at the level I had prior to my seizures. Not to mention, I was no longer fit for active service with a diagnosis of Epilepsy. I do know that everything happens for a reason. I'm so grateful for the life I have now, even with Epilepsy :) Take care of yourself and again, thank you for the advice.
Angela Sanders
Thank you Zealot! You're absolutely right! I agree with you in so many ways. I don't hold much stock in what a lot of Dr's have to say these days. I'm also a product of too many years of misdiagnosis, hormone therapy and just being a guinea pig to Dr's that didn't want to take the time to get a specific diagnosis. They just stuck a band-aid on my symptoms and went about their business. It wasn't until I took my health into my own hands that I was finally able to be treated properly, but by that time it was too late. My seizures started just weeks after.
Although my TLE diagnosis is considered to be of an unknown Etiology, I know deep down it's because of being pumped full of hormones for so many years for PCOS. I've been reluctant to see a "stink" (lol) because of the possibility of having yet another medication pushed down my throat. Luckily, I have a wonderful Neuro who is open and honest and tells me like it is! Once I speak with him, I'll take his recommendation - then come here of course and ask for opinions... :-)
I also know what the loss of a great career feels like...it stinks. Like you, I was forced to retire because I was no longer capable of perfoming at the level I had prior to my seizures. Not to mention, I was no longer fit for active service with a diagnosis of Epilepsy. I do know that everything happens for a reason. I'm so grateful for the life I have now, even with Epilepsy :) Take care of yourself and again, thank you for the advice.
Angela Sanders
Re: What seizure meds are also anti-anxiety?
Submitted by angelacarwile on Fri, 2010-11-12 - 09:53
Thank you for the information :) I'm going to make an appt with my Neurologist and discuss alternate treatment plans for Anxiety and my new diagnosis of "Generalized Anxiety Disorder". I'm also going to do a little research myself to try and understand the difference between my original diagnosis of Mood Disorder associated with Epilepsy (TLE) and Anxiety Disorder.
I'm so thankful for the advice and information I get from everyone here. I won't let a few mean-spirited comments affect my participation in discussions on this website. I feel sharing our experiences, concerns and coping mechanism's can change lives. Everyone's experience in Epilepsy is different to an extent, but when I found this website it all became more real to me. For a long time I thought I was crazy, the doctor's were crazy; maybe I had somehow created this in my mind. The control freak in me thought if I created it, I could make it go away... Talking to people who shared my same experiences helped me to realize I wasn't crazy and Epilepsy wasn't a death-sentence for me.
Epilepsy has changed my life, but it hasn't been all bad:) God has truly blessed me! I met my husband one-year after my diagnosis and we now have a sweet, little boy I was told I could never have. Epilepsy opened my eyes and taught me not to take my life for granted. It opened doors and strengthened my faith. (Now this is definitely off-topic...:) Anyway, thank you for defending me. If you ever need to chat, email me anytime.
Take care and God bless!!!
Angela
Thank you for the information :) I'm going to make an appt with my Neurologist and discuss alternate treatment plans for Anxiety and my new diagnosis of "Generalized Anxiety Disorder". I'm also going to do a little research myself to try and understand the difference between my original diagnosis of Mood Disorder associated with Epilepsy (TLE) and Anxiety Disorder.
I'm so thankful for the advice and information I get from everyone here. I won't let a few mean-spirited comments affect my participation in discussions on this website. I feel sharing our experiences, concerns and coping mechanism's can change lives. Everyone's experience in Epilepsy is different to an extent, but when I found this website it all became more real to me. For a long time I thought I was crazy, the doctor's were crazy; maybe I had somehow created this in my mind. The control freak in me thought if I created it, I could make it go away... Talking to people who shared my same experiences helped me to realize I wasn't crazy and Epilepsy wasn't a death-sentence for me.
Epilepsy has changed my life, but it hasn't been all bad:) God has truly blessed me! I met my husband one-year after my diagnosis and we now have a sweet, little boy I was told I could never have. Epilepsy opened my eyes and taught me not to take my life for granted. It opened doors and strengthened my faith. (Now this is definitely off-topic...:) Anyway, thank you for defending me. If you ever need to chat, email me anytime.
Take care and God bless!!!
Angela