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daughter on lamictal, can it have cognitive effects?
Sun, 04/29/2007 - 09:13Topic: Parents & Caregivers
Hi, i am new to epilepsy.com
I have a 12-1/2 year old daughter who seizured in february, 2006. So for a little over a year now we have been on Lamictal. We have not had another seizure since her initial one in feb 2006. Shortly after starting Lamictal, i noticed a huge difference in cara's school work, as did her teachers. Cara had a 98 average last year and was one of the top 10 in her class. Now, she has lack of concentration, grades have fallen considerably and is totally unorganized. She did move from elementary school to middle school in sept, so that too could have an effect. Cara is also a type 1 diabetic since age 4. She is insulin dependant and wears an insulin pump 24/7, and checks her blood glucose about 10-12 times a day depending on afterschool sports and stuff.
She is also a fraternal twin. Her twin sister, shannon, is fine, no seizures or diabetes, only freckles!!
has anyone else experienced any similiar effects after being on lamictal? if no more seizures accure, we will start to ween her off by february 2007, but she will be getting ready for high school at that time and grades are just not what they used to be.
thanks so much for listening! any help is greatly appreciated!
Comments
Re: Re: Re: daughter on lamictal, can it have cognitive effects?
Submitted by solis on Wed, 2007-05-02 - 12:16
Sorry, but it's not always the AEDs that cause memory problems.
It's the epilepsy itself.
So, while some may see an improvement via changing meds, such is not alway the case, nor should it be expected as we all react differently to meds.
Pages on memory & E..
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/thinking_memory.html
~sol
Re: daughter on lamictal, can it have cognitive effects?
Submitted by Lucille on Wed, 2007-05-09 - 17:25
Hi there,
My daughter was 7 when she began Lamictal. Right away her cognition was improved. Her situation is different. Over 100 seizures a day certain meds helped. So far she really is med resistent. She is on her 6 med since she was diagnosed at age 6 1/2, she is 8 1/2 now. Currently she is taking Zarontin and Lamictal. Initially her seizures were dramatically decreased, but not gone. Now, Seizures up to less than a hundred a day, but alertness has not decreased. Cognition about the same, somewhere in between where it was before Lamictal and Zarontin and where it should be. Seizures do have an affect on cognition, alertness, frustration, exhaustion, mood. From reading, research and my own experiences with my daughter experiences must be individual. Lamictal has is currently recommended as a drug that does not effect cognition, however, it does indeed effect her sleep in combination with Zarontin. She had a hard time sleeping, and waking during the night. Now she sleeps after school and by bedtime from the seizures and the effects of the meds. I am going to try omega-3 and vitamin B6 at different times and together if need be. Good luck
Lucille
Re: Re: daughter on lamictal, can it have cognitive effects?
Submitted by kasala on Wed, 2007-05-02 - 07:05
My 10 year old daughter was a very good student until starting medication - first lamitcal then tegratol. She is now on Keppra for a month and my little girl is back!!She said to me yesterday how she now finds maths easy again , homework is not a struggle any more. Talk to your doctor please as your daughter could be helped by changing meds.