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Personality changes

Fri, 01/07/2011 - 13:04

My daughter was diagnosed with petit mal seizures or absence seizures over a year ago. She's been on both lamictal and topomax for the last 8 months. Recently we've noticed that she is starting to have several seizures a day ranging from very minor to strong. But one thing we've started to notice is that after several small ones she gets very mouthy, and doesn't listen, and well her personality changes from happy go lucky to mad and angry. Does anyone see this with their kids. I know she's a kid and will do those things but for her it seems to be amplified. We've done another EEG and will get the results next week. The neuro and I feel she is having more and I feel that the medication she is on is causing some of the behavorial problems.

Comments

Re: Personality changes

Submitted by MinKels on Sat, 2011-01-08 - 17:53

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June 2010 and that was enough to cause some changes in my personality, and I am considered to be a person who can (according to friends/family/employers) "handle anything". Since getting my seizures pretty much under control in August in 2010, I am feeling somewhat better about myself, but have noticed that I don't have the same self-confidence that I used to, care less about how I look, and have become a bit more short-tempered (good thing I have a long fuse naturally I guess).

Mood swings can be precipitated as an after-effect of the seizure itself; it's not uncommon for someone to feel moody/depressed or even agitated after a seizure. Your daughter might simply also be frustrated about knowing she is "different" from her peers because of her condition, and might feel limited by it. I am back to driving now and now go on my daily walks as part of my exercise but still have to call my husband frequently to reassure him I am okay (not seizing out on the side of the road). Don't get me wrong; I love him very much and appreciate his concern; it's just a reminder that I am still limited.

The medications she is on also can be causing some of her behavioral issues and personality changes; I would venture to guess this is probably the main cause and am glad your neurolgist is at least willing to consider this possibility. I'm on the extended release form of lamictal, Lamictal XR and since the last dose increase, it has caused me to be moody. I would imagine that it would do the same with your daughter, and since kids generally don't have the experience in regulating their behavior that adults do, the moodiness could show itself as mouthiness, not listening, and going from happy to grouchy in a matter of minutes--or seconds!

Topamax also can cause anxiety and mood swings, so it is possible that this medication can also be contributing to your daughter's recently changed behavior.

Good luck with the doctor's visit, and I hope that you and the doctor can find a better medication combination for your doctor.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June 2010 and that was enough to cause some changes in my personality, and I am considered to be a person who can (according to friends/family/employers) "handle anything". Since getting my seizures pretty much under control in August in 2010, I am feeling somewhat better about myself, but have noticed that I don't have the same self-confidence that I used to, care less about how I look, and have become a bit more short-tempered (good thing I have a long fuse naturally I guess).

Mood swings can be precipitated as an after-effect of the seizure itself; it's not uncommon for someone to feel moody/depressed or even agitated after a seizure. Your daughter might simply also be frustrated about knowing she is "different" from her peers because of her condition, and might feel limited by it. I am back to driving now and now go on my daily walks as part of my exercise but still have to call my husband frequently to reassure him I am okay (not seizing out on the side of the road). Don't get me wrong; I love him very much and appreciate his concern; it's just a reminder that I am still limited.

The medications she is on also can be causing some of her behavioral issues and personality changes; I would venture to guess this is probably the main cause and am glad your neurolgist is at least willing to consider this possibility. I'm on the extended release form of lamictal, Lamictal XR and since the last dose increase, it has caused me to be moody. I would imagine that it would do the same with your daughter, and since kids generally don't have the experience in regulating their behavior that adults do, the moodiness could show itself as mouthiness, not listening, and going from happy to grouchy in a matter of minutes--or seconds!

Topamax also can cause anxiety and mood swings, so it is possible that this medication can also be contributing to your daughter's recently changed behavior.

Good luck with the doctor's visit, and I hope that you and the doctor can find a better medication combination for your doctor.

Re: Personality changes

Submitted by babygirl416 on Thu, 2011-01-20 - 12:33
when im on my medication. (i am a tonic-clonic epileptic) but i have severe mood swings. kinda like im pmsing only 10 times worse. just be patient with her. and talk to her. if it continues to get worse take her to her doctor and see what they can do.

Re: Personality changes

Submitted by tcameron on Thu, 2011-01-20 - 17:53

All AEDs can cause different side effects/personality changes.  However, when I took Topamax, it not only changed my personality, it also caused confusion, hallucinations, and eventually no response to anything.  I even had 2 CT scans one day, because 2 people found me unresponsive and were concerned I'd had a stroke.  I wasn't aware of either CT scans!  I've met other people at my seizure support group meetings who have told me that they feel fantastic on Topamax.  However, if you look up the AEDs that cause the worst side effects, Topamax is one of them.   Every brain is different, so it takes experimenting with different AEDs and doses to find the ideal match.  

All AEDs can cause different side effects/personality changes.  However, when I took Topamax, it not only changed my personality, it also caused confusion, hallucinations, and eventually no response to anything.  I even had 2 CT scans one day, because 2 people found me unresponsive and were concerned I'd had a stroke.  I wasn't aware of either CT scans!  I've met other people at my seizure support group meetings who have told me that they feel fantastic on Topamax.  However, if you look up the AEDs that cause the worst side effects, Topamax is one of them.   Every brain is different, so it takes experimenting with different AEDs and doses to find the ideal match.  

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