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Changing Meds for JME
Tue, 08/29/2006 - 21:30Topic: Medication Issues
Hi
I'm new to this site and am so thankful for how helpful it has been. I'm a 27 f and was diagnosed with JME when I was 16. Am currently taking 750 mg of Depakote and have had excellent seizure control-not one in 11 years! However, the Depakote has messed with my hormones in a BIG way...I don't get a period at all, I am sluggish and tired quite often, I feel foggy and unable to focus on tasks for very long, and I suffer from the extra 10-20 pounds of bloat that many other people do. I'm going to my neuro to change meds. He has suggested Keppra or Topomax, but from what I've read, they are only successful as adjunctive therapy. Has anyone changed meds successfully who has JME? I hate to mess with therapy that has worked for my brain so well, but I'm miserable from the Depakote. I'm scared out of my mind to change in case I lose seizure control. I'm curious to know if others have these same challenges and what they have done. Thanks!
Comments
Re: Re: Changing Meds for JME
Submitted by SHYGIRL on Mon, 2006-10-23 - 10:23
how did you find out you have Jme is there a certain test for that or does it show up on the EEG? JENNIFER P.S I HAVE ATONIC SEIZURES I THINK I MAY HAVE MYOCLONIC EPILEPSY ALSO.
Re: Changing Meds for JME
Submitted by laugene on Thu, 2006-09-07 - 09:55
Hi,
I am going to keep this short. I started on Depakote when I was 13 (now 36 - in 4 days) and about 1 year ago this new Neurologist switched me to Zonegran because he said it was a new med and it would be easier on my liver and **it would make me lose weight** (I was not fat, I just had my 2nd HEALTHY baby and still carried 20 extra baby lbs which I could have lost with exercise, but who wouldn't take the easy magic pill to lose weight if offered? BIG MISTAKE...) The Zonegran has an appetite suppresant -which speeds up your metabolism... so I was constantly shaking and felt like my blood was "boiling" and I couldn't get to sleep - if you have epilepsy you know how important SLEEP is right?....
Well, the switch to Zonegran happened at the same time as I was going through my 'Divorce' so then I needed an antidepressant (which the Depakote covers a bit of mood disorders) and the same doctor put me on Lexapro... which instead of helping sent me to Instant depression and within a month I hit ROCK BOTTOM... The combination of Zonegran and Lexapro had me shaking, zombie, borderline bipolar, and almost suicidal... Thank God for family and friends... as soon as it was possible I was switched from Lexapro to Cymbalta which took me out of the shaking, zombie and depression... all overnight, but I still get the muscle spasms every so often even as I take my medication as directed 500mg/day of Zonegran + 60mg/day of Cymbalta... I believe is stress and lack of sleep... I am a single mom of toddlers 6&4 and as soon as my insurance kicks in within 2 weeks I will hopefully see a new (AND BETTER) neurologist to put me back on Depakote alone (I hate taking multiple meds). I used to take 2000mg/day... FYI :)
Good luck
God Bless
Laugene
Re: Changing Meds for JME
Submitted by Essie on Wed, 2006-08-30 - 09:13
Hi Bjoy! I can't help you much, as I'm new to this epilepsy-world. I don't have it, but my son was diagnosed with JME 3 weeks ago. He's five and a half. They've put him on Lamictal. And I've read it can be a good medication for JME. I don't know if you should change to it, but at least it gives you a starting point to read about! Good luck, and take care. Essie (mom to Nian(5))