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Meds Are Driving Me Crazy!

Wed, 12/15/2010 - 22:28
So a little background on me, I'm on 3000mg Keppra XR and 300mg Lamictal XR for my seizures. Absence and grand mal with no known triggers other than missing meds. I've been on these meds for well over a year and I just sort of exist. Know what I mean?? I'm dealing with depression and insomnia. I stay up pretty much until the point of exhaustion taking over. My mind runs like a mile a minute when I'm laying there trying to sleep. I'm usually up til 3 or 4 am and wake back up between 11am and noon. I'm also dealing with memory loss, I've lost a lot of the info I learned in college. I couldn't remember daily work duties and wound up quitting my job to keep from getting fired. I'm embarassed because of the things I forget daily. I forget everything and feel pretty much like a slug. Can these meds leave me with no motivation to do anything?? Not even take care of myself and my family. Lately, I think I've been experiencing the "Kepprage". I get irritated very easily and angry over little things. The best way I can describe it is that when something bothers me, it's the equivalent of someone running their fingernails down a chalkboard. I'm afraid I'm gonna lash out at my son or husband. Can I do anything to help get back to living a "normal" life? I want to be happy and involved in activities and be able to take good care of my home and family. Any ideas??

Comments

Re: Meds Are Driving Me Crazy!

Submitted by mscoulte on Mon, 2010-12-20 - 09:00
No side effects yet, but I'm sure there will be some! He is only on 25 mg bid, so it's a very low dose to start. I'll let you know how it goes...

Re: Meds Are Driving Me Crazy!

Submitted by army101wife on Sun, 2010-12-19 - 13:08

Mscoulte-

I went from Lamictal to Keppra and Lamictal. I noticed the anger and irritation starting a couple of days after I started the Keppra. His irritation and anger levels may lower even more without the Keppra. I know that I at least "know" when my anger level is starting to rise and can try to back away from whatever is irritating me. I understand him thinking that all his work knowledge is going out the door. Unfortunately, mine was affecting my job and people noticed. I would "search" for the correct word I needed or forget a simple task (work specific-such as where to route the same trucks we had arrive everyday to) that I had done everyday for almost a year. I have had a couple of panic attacks on Keppra (which I have been on for over a year) which I had never had panic attacks before. They are mostly in crowded, loud situations or situation where I have no control. Luckily, these panic attacks are rare for me and hopefully he won't have anymore. I added the Keppra because the Lamictal wasn't controling my seizures alone. I didn't experience a increase in seizures with adding Keppra, but I also kept the Lamictal. My big issue is taking the meds on time! I take the XR so that I only have to take at night, otherwise I forget. Luckily, the military pays for most of these meds. I only have a small copay. I had no problems with the generic Lamictal when I was on it. I just had a difficult time with timing the doses. It also didn't help that I was anti-meds, I only really took them when dear hubby or mom was around. Not something I should have been doing and I was lucky I didn't have any serious issues. The only thing I noticed about being on Lamictal alone was that I was sleepy, constantly tired. I could sleep 12 or 14 hours and want a nap later. Now that I started the Keppra I have to wait until my stops racing and I'm completely exhausted to sleep. Then I sleep for 12 hours or so. Some people (I have been told) don't really experience problems with the tiredness. Good luck to him and you! Hopefully, with him feeling better already you won't have any issues. Sorry I'm so long winded! :D

Mscoulte-

I went from Lamictal to Keppra and Lamictal. I noticed the anger and irritation starting a couple of days after I started the Keppra. His irritation and anger levels may lower even more without the Keppra. I know that I at least "know" when my anger level is starting to rise and can try to back away from whatever is irritating me. I understand him thinking that all his work knowledge is going out the door. Unfortunately, mine was affecting my job and people noticed. I would "search" for the correct word I needed or forget a simple task (work specific-such as where to route the same trucks we had arrive everyday to) that I had done everyday for almost a year. I have had a couple of panic attacks on Keppra (which I have been on for over a year) which I had never had panic attacks before. They are mostly in crowded, loud situations or situation where I have no control. Luckily, these panic attacks are rare for me and hopefully he won't have anymore. I added the Keppra because the Lamictal wasn't controling my seizures alone. I didn't experience a increase in seizures with adding Keppra, but I also kept the Lamictal. My big issue is taking the meds on time! I take the XR so that I only have to take at night, otherwise I forget. Luckily, the military pays for most of these meds. I only have a small copay. I had no problems with the generic Lamictal when I was on it. I just had a difficult time with timing the doses. It also didn't help that I was anti-meds, I only really took them when dear hubby or mom was around. Not something I should have been doing and I was lucky I didn't have any serious issues. The only thing I noticed about being on Lamictal alone was that I was sleepy, constantly tired. I could sleep 12 or 14 hours and want a nap later. Now that I started the Keppra I have to wait until my stops racing and I'm completely exhausted to sleep. Then I sleep for 12 hours or so. Some people (I have been told) don't really experience problems with the tiredness. Good luck to him and you! Hopefully, with him feeling better already you won't have any issues. Sorry I'm so long winded! :D

Re: Meds Are Driving Me Crazy!

Submitted by tbaldwin on Sun, 2010-12-19 - 14:25
I was crazier when I drove,I've been on more than twenty-five medicines since '74,had unsuccessful surgery in '96.And finally stopped driving in '98.From '80-6/08 seizure frequency was 1 every 3-4 weeks.6/08-11/09 I saw another neurologist put me on Vimpat 350mg twice per day & Lyrica 100mg twice daily, frequency was 8-12 wks.Then in 11/09 the doctor changed my medicine to Vimpat 350mg twice daily & Keppra XR 500mg X 3 at bedtime frequency became 1st seizure in 3mo+5day, 2nd seizure in 3mo+2days.Now none has happened since that last one,its been 6mos+1wk w/o any seizure I'm aware of. If it becomes 8 mos.,I might start driving crazy again.

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