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Vimpat

Tue, 05/12/2009 - 21:33

Has anyone tried Vimpat yet?  If so, will you share your experiences with it (good and bad), decision to take it or not, etc.?  My doctor wants me to switch to it.  Thanks so much!

Comments

Re: Vimpat

Submitted by razor on Thu, 2009-10-01 - 00:41
I hope the meds are controlling the seizures for you. I've had luck, it has been 5 weeks since the last seizure. I still have those side effects but have noticed it's not as bad if I make sure I eat before taking meds. At appt. with my Neuro was told that was a very common side effect of Vimpat and should weaken with time. The Dr. is also going to stop the Pheno in a few months. I think I prefer those side effects rather than having seizures. I only have those side effects after the morn. dose. Never after eve. dose. Good luck and I hope to hear how you have been.  

Re: Vimpat

Submitted by MeredithM on Thu, 2009-09-03 - 19:40

I have been on Topamax for years and I have been experiencing the same issues as Bradin, the memory loss and not being able to find my words has been the worst. I am taking 275 twice a day along with 1500 Keppra twice a day, and I am still having seizures, so my doctor decided to try the VNS, vegal nerve stimulator, implant, summer of 2008. That didn't work very well, so I was put on Vimpat last week. I've been living with these awful headaches that won't go away. But that's not the horrible part, I am getting married next month, and he told me that my husband and I will not be able to have children because the Vimpat causes deformations in the fetus. I've always thought there may be a chance I wouldn't be able to have children because I am on so many medications, but I'd always been such a high believer. Whether or not other medications can do this, I do not know, but the last time I went into his office there were booklets there that said how women with epilepsy can live a normal life and have normal children, so I thought there was hope.

I hope this helps anyone else :/

I have been on Topamax for years and I have been experiencing the same issues as Bradin, the memory loss and not being able to find my words has been the worst. I am taking 275 twice a day along with 1500 Keppra twice a day, and I am still having seizures, so my doctor decided to try the VNS, vegal nerve stimulator, implant, summer of 2008. That didn't work very well, so I was put on Vimpat last week. I've been living with these awful headaches that won't go away. But that's not the horrible part, I am getting married next month, and he told me that my husband and I will not be able to have children because the Vimpat causes deformations in the fetus. I've always thought there may be a chance I wouldn't be able to have children because I am on so many medications, but I'd always been such a high believer. Whether or not other medications can do this, I do not know, but the last time I went into his office there were booklets there that said how women with epilepsy can live a normal life and have normal children, so I thought there was hope.

I hope this helps anyone else :/

Re: Vimpat

Submitted by tonialpha on Fri, 2009-09-11 - 18:27
I have been on Vimpat a little longer and we are now good friends and the drug actually helps.  I am on Keppra and Zonegran too.  They lowered the dosages of Keppra and Zonegran and that helped w./ my balance and my seizure activity.  The seizure activity has really dropped like the person that initially started the drug says it really helps but it does cause a problem w/ memory.  I was blaming my teenagers or brain surgery but it might  be the medication.  I can do a lot of things recently.  I noted I can think clearly.  I noted that I was mixing something up w./ medication of Keppra of 750 and 500 and I realized the Epileptologist told me 500 3 times a day.  It hit me.  He said 3 times not  taking 2- 500's and 750 at night to save money.  That is why I feel dopey or rationalizing like before.  Now I take the right dosage of the Keppra of 500 TID, daily, (1500 mg daily) Zonegran 100 mg. TID, daily (300 mg. daily) Vimpat 250 mg BID daily  (500mg daily)

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