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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 queente318 on Wed, 2011-01-26 - 10:21

I'm not pregnant yet, but we just started trying. We wanted to start trying about a year and a half ago but my husband got laid off from his job, so we had to wait. He finally got a job in July, so now we are ready for some baby making! Lol. All together I take 350mg a day. 150mg in the morning and 200mg at night. I'm a little scared myself, but I know if I let fear take over me I'm never going to have the family I want & then I'll regret it later on. You should just tell your husband the truth that you're afraid about having a seizure while pregnant, I'm sure he'll be understanding and supportive. You should also speak to other women on this website who are or were pregnant and ask them about their pregnancy. Before I found this website, I was soooo afraid to get pregnant, but after reading other women's stories and their advice I felt so much better about getting pregnant. I mean of course I'm a little scared about having a seizure, as I'm sure any woman would too, but not as much as I use to be.

I'm not pregnant yet, but we just started trying. We wanted to start trying about a year and a half ago but my husband got laid off from his job, so we had to wait. He finally got a job in July, so now we are ready for some baby making! Lol. All together I take 350mg a day. 150mg in the morning and 200mg at night. I'm a little scared myself, but I know if I let fear take over me I'm never going to have the family I want & then I'll regret it later on. You should just tell your husband the truth that you're afraid about having a seizure while pregnant, I'm sure he'll be understanding and supportive. You should also speak to other women on this website who are or were pregnant and ask them about their pregnancy. Before I found this website, I was soooo afraid to get pregnant, but after reading other women's stories and their advice I felt so much better about getting pregnant. I mean of course I'm a little scared about having a seizure, as I'm sure any woman would too, but not as much as I use to be.

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by scorpiofire26 on Wed, 2011-02-02 - 15:13

My husband and I have had that talk about my fears and he always tells me not to worry and to just trust God (definitely easier said than done).  Writing back and forth to you on here has helped me a little because I don't feel "alone".  I have read many of the posts written by other women and although they are comforting, I still get scared.  I take the exact amount (at the same times) of Lamictal you do, so for me it feels great to find someone like me!! I have never had anyone that I knew who had epilepsy and I never even thought to try message boards until recently.  I need to start taking my vitamins and folic acid before I start seriously considering getting pregant and hopefully I can put my fears aside and start sometime soon!

Best of luck to you and your husband!!  Thank you so much for responding to my posts.  If the time comes and things work out for me, hopefully I can keep in touch with you!  It would be nice to feel like I have some support, even if it is only on the internet. 

My husband and I have had that talk about my fears and he always tells me not to worry and to just trust God (definitely easier said than done).  Writing back and forth to you on here has helped me a little because I don't feel "alone".  I have read many of the posts written by other women and although they are comforting, I still get scared.  I take the exact amount (at the same times) of Lamictal you do, so for me it feels great to find someone like me!! I have never had anyone that I knew who had epilepsy and I never even thought to try message boards until recently.  I need to start taking my vitamins and folic acid before I start seriously considering getting pregant and hopefully I can put my fears aside and start sometime soon!

Best of luck to you and your husband!!  Thank you so much for responding to my posts.  If the time comes and things work out for me, hopefully I can keep in touch with you!  It would be nice to feel like I have some support, even if it is only on the internet. 

Re: Want to get pregnant while on Lamictal

Submitted by Laurenkf on Wed, 2011-02-02 - 17:11

 

Hi,

I thought I would just add my story. I became epileptic when I was 15/16 and I still don't know why. I was taking Lamictal and Keppra when I fell pregnant with my 1st daughter and didn't realise for a while. I stayed on both drugs throughout the pregnancy though and she was born term and healthy. I was on Lamictal and Keppra with my son as well and he too was born term and healthy. They are 7 and 5 now and healthy, normal children. I recently had another daughter and was on Lamictal and Topamax (from 20 weeks) during that pregnancy. She was born term and is healthy. I also took 5mg of folic acic throughout and vitimin k towards the end.

Good Luck!

 

Hi,

I thought I would just add my story. I became epileptic when I was 15/16 and I still don't know why. I was taking Lamictal and Keppra when I fell pregnant with my 1st daughter and didn't realise for a while. I stayed on both drugs throughout the pregnancy though and she was born term and healthy. I was on Lamictal and Keppra with my son as well and he too was born term and healthy. They are 7 and 5 now and healthy, normal children. I recently had another daughter and was on Lamictal and Topamax (from 20 weeks) during that pregnancy. She was born term and is healthy. I also took 5mg of folic acic throughout and vitimin k towards the end.

Good Luck!

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