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Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 19:18Hi everyone. I have several questions and Im very confused right now, maybe someone can shed a light on this situation. Im 24, I had my first grand mal seizure 4 years ago. I was hospitalized because I hit my head and was knocked out for a day straight.. About half a year after, I had another seizure, in my sleep and was taken to the hospital as well. This time a resident neurologist prescribed Lamictal to me. He told me to build up, 25mg, then 50.. etc till I finally reached 100mg tablets, twice a day. Everything was perfect, 2 years I havent had a single seizure..
The Doctor and I have descided to try to lower the medication, or get rid of it completely, since my EEG and MRI's showed no problem, and no-one in my family has ever had seizures.. We began lowering the dose, and as soon as it got to 25mg, twice daily, I had another seizure.. Then we decided to go back to the dose I was taking, and I slowly began building up back to 100mg twice a day.. On my way up I had another seizure.. afterwards I stayed on 100mg twice a day, and everything was fine for about another 6-7 month.
Then I was moved to generic, lamotrigine, and I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but I had another grand mal seizure.. My doctor moved me to Brand name Lamictal again, and got the autorization from my insurance so I get Lamictal, not generic.. He also bumped up my dosage to 100mg morning, and 150mg at night.
Everything was fine for another 5 months, then last week I had another seizure, right before I was about to go to bed.. I thought it was because I took my Lamictal a few hours later then I usually did. Then 3 days ago, I had another grand mal seizure, this time right after I woke up.. Now Im worried.. I have never had seizure so frequently. This time I was taken to a hospital. They put the EEG on my as soon as I arrived, and did not give me any Lamictal at all. I was on the EEG for 3 days,I was sleep deprived since the hospital kept me awake most of the night + I didnt take any lamictal while I was there, and still didnt have a single seizure.. After 3 days of testing, they said everything is fine and discharged me.
Now I do not understand, does this mean the Lamictal is not working for me anymore, or was this a break through seizure??? (To be honest I was kinda stressed and tired, and lacked some sleep this past week) But since I was on lamictal I though that wouldnt matter.. My neurologist is not telling me anything usefull, just bumped up my dose of Lamictal another 50 mg. Now its 150mg morning, 150mg at night.. I was pushing for 200mg twice a day, but he said they only increase little by litte, since too much of it might also increase seizures. But somehow I find it hard to believe that the extra 50mg will keep me safe.
Also what seemed weird is that, my aura before a seizure, is the same as a side effect of Lamictal.. I get really dizzy moments before a seizure happens..
Did anyone experience anything like this?? Does this mean my body is adapting to Lamictal and reducing it effect.. Im not really comfortable having a seizure every 3-4 months, and then having my dosage bumped up another 50mg.. If everything was fine before, even on 100mg twice a day.. Can someone shine some light on this situation??? I would appreciate it..
Comments
Re: Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??
Submitted by Mallory3990 on Tue, 2012-07-03 - 16:34
Hey i know exactly what your going through I was put on lamictal and during that time my seizures doubled it was every other week i was having to be rushed to the hospital. I just wasnt coming out of the seizures by myself plus i was having more grand mal seizures. My typical seizure is complex partial seizures so it was a very confusing time.
Hey i know exactly what your going through I was put on lamictal and during that time my seizures doubled it was every other week i was having to be rushed to the hospital. I just wasnt coming out of the seizures by myself plus i was having more grand mal seizures. My typical seizure is complex partial seizures so it was a very confusing time.
Re: Break Through Seizures on Lamictal??
Submitted by thebloodluna on Tue, 2012-07-03 - 15:20
I have complex partial seizure - used to be called temporal lobe disorder I guess. I get an aura - facial twitching and a hand twitch on the right side. My vision goes pink and I go into a blackout lasting any where from 30 secs to 3 minutes. I pick my clothes, mumble, my eyes roll back in my head, and my right hand twitches a bit during the black out. I'm very confused after, drowsey and unsteady on my feet. I am terrified I will lose my job.
I have been on generic lamictal for almost a year. started it for bipolar disorder II but finally got to a neurologist 6 months ago after having untreated seizures since 1996. (Apparently all doctors think if you have bipolar you must have anxiety attacks) I was on 400 mg daily and was still having seizures. The neuro left me on the same dose. Then the vomiting started about 3 months ago (no I"m not pregnant, had several tests including blood work) I vomit every morning, badly. I self-reduced the meds down to 200 mg when the neuro wasn't listening, waited a few weeks and asked for a lamictal level. It was good. I got a lecture about not taking my meds, she won't switch me.
I get at least one break through a week. It's affecting my job. Just had one at work today and got sent home. I am terrified I'll loose my job. I'll have to talk to my neuro about the difference between generic and name label. Are there any other medications anyone knows about that are good for the complex partial absence seizures?
I have complex partial seizure - used to be called temporal lobe disorder I guess. I get an aura - facial twitching and a hand twitch on the right side. My vision goes pink and I go into a blackout lasting any where from 30 secs to 3 minutes. I pick my clothes, mumble, my eyes roll back in my head, and my right hand twitches a bit during the black out. I'm very confused after, drowsey and unsteady on my feet. I am terrified I will lose my job.
I have been on generic lamictal for almost a year. started it for bipolar disorder II but finally got to a neurologist 6 months ago after having untreated seizures since 1996. (Apparently all doctors think if you have bipolar you must have anxiety attacks) I was on 400 mg daily and was still having seizures. The neuro left me on the same dose. Then the vomiting started about 3 months ago (no I"m not pregnant, had several tests including blood work) I vomit every morning, badly. I self-reduced the meds down to 200 mg when the neuro wasn't listening, waited a few weeks and asked for a lamictal level. It was good. I got a lecture about not taking my meds, she won't switch me.
I get at least one break through a week. It's affecting my job. Just had one at work today and got sent home. I am terrified I'll loose my job. I'll have to talk to my neuro about the difference between generic and name label. Are there any other medications anyone knows about that are good for the complex partial absence seizures?