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Drugs of choice?
Wed, 03/15/2006 - 13:10I'm curious how many people have had a say so in their medications, how many just take what is given them, how many research what they are given, etc. For me, my history of medications started with an ER doctor starting me on Dilantin, as he was the first one to give my condition a name, and he started me up in the ER to stop a major seizure. My GP just continued on the band wagon, and the neurologist didn't seem to care. A couple years later when I realized it what it was doing to my liver, I requested something new. The neurologist switched me to Keppra, which my understanding is supposed to be paired with something else, is not a stand alone drug. When I was completely off the dilantin and finally solely on the Keppra, I went on a 2-day on-again off-again seizure trip. I'm now on Topamax, but I think my neurologist just picks whatever drug the companies are handing out samples of. I am in the process of being referred to a new doctor, but am wondering what others take, how they got to taking what they are taking, and how much confidence they have?
Comments
Re: Re: Drugs of choice?
Submitted by Susumarie on Sun, 2006-03-19 - 13:26
I'm curious why your doctor recommended you go off Dilantin (was he the same one that started you on it) and what was your feeling about going off it? I had a really hard time when I first started Topamax -- sounded like a real idiot when trying to form a sentence, but I've adjusted well to everything except I still poop out fairly early in the evening. Last night I was so impressed I was going strong at 10 oclock, when I realized I had forgotten my pills (a first).
Sweetsue
Re: Re: Re: Drugs of choice?
Submitted by ccruse on Sun, 2006-03-19 - 13:41
I was having a difficult time with it,(Dilantin) I felt sick all of the time, plus there are the long term things like the bone thinning, and the liver damage that he said he just didn't like as well, so he said he would like to switch me. I got started on Dilantin by an ER doctor as well, and switched to Topamax by a neurologist. The longer I have been on the Topamax (I have been on it about 8 months now) the easier it has been to cope with the side effects. I too had word recall problems and I am still finding I have some memory problems but at least my seizures are controlled. I feel very fortunate to have found a dr I feel comfortable with and also that the first drug I tried controlled my seizures and for the most part I can function on it without many disruptions in my daily life.
Re: Drugs of choice?
Submitted by ccruse on Fri, 2006-03-17 - 21:43
I too started on Dilantin and am currently on Topamax but I think that with medication it is such an individual thing. Each person reacts differently. When my neurologist recommended I go off Dilantin I told him I didn't want to be put on something that would make me gain weight and he put me on the Topamax. It was a difficult adjustment at first, and my neurologist has even offered to switch me due to various side effects but the Topamax has been effective seizure control for me so I have declined. I have actually done a lot of research on many of the available seizure drugs so I know what my options are. Also I think you have to trust that your physician is doing the right thing for you and if you don't have that trust, it is time to find another doctor.