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Getting frusterated!
Fri, 01/26/2007 - 17:57Topic: Medication Issues
Yes here I am again so thankful for this site! I have switched from 400 mg dilantin to 200 mg Zonegran. I was doing all right but had some issue the week before my monthly cycle early Jan with headache, dizziness, a little insomnia, noises were bothering me. My neurologist suggested I go up to 300 mg, taking it slowly at 25mg a week thinking maybe it was seizure activity. The first week at 225mg I ended up in the ER with rapid heart race breathing problems, muscle aches, joint pain frequent urination due to side effects from the zonegran. I don't think it was a simple partial I remember the whole thing. I haven't slept well at all for about seven days now. My level was only 17. Up from 9.2 when they took it a month ago while still on the dilantin. Yes! I even Know that would make it be low, why she couldn't remember that?! Sorry so frusterated. The kicker is we live in such a semi small town that my neurologist is the only one and still is out of town and I feel like crap! I took myself down to 175 because still felt horrible at 200. Now I feel cloudy like I'm in a dream my brain feels like it is vibrating I have ringing in my ears which I have always had on Zonegran. I am trying to hold on till Tuesday. I just wonder how this all happened, last year this time my life really was great and then boom my tumor(hemangioma) bleeds I have a grand mal seizure in June an abnormal EEG and seizure meds become your life.Who knows if i am seizing everyday i can't tell what is a seizure and what is a side effect from the meds. I can tell my husband and kids are sick of it so I try not to talk about it. Is this common? I just thought what the heck I'll just vent on here. At least you all will understand. I am so trying to be strong but it is so hard sometimes. Anyway I guess when she gets back we will just move on to the next drug. Is there any out there for light weights:) like me.Thx for listening and letting me vent.
Comments
Re: Re: Getting frusterated!
Submitted by bnewright on Thu, 2007-02-01 - 11:57
Jeni
After getting more irritated with with my neurologist here who seems to feel drugging you to the max is the the answer. My neurosurgeon is moving me on to a guy he works closly with.This will be a three hour drive but at this point who cares. I am hoping for much better results.:) The neurologist here wanted to put me on 900 mg of trileptal along with the 150 mg zonegran. I am still just a 150 mg of zonegran and feeling so much better. Keeping my fingers crossed and prayers going that this guy brings better results. What a pain it is to try to find the right Dr and the right meds. Bless all of you....Smiles
Em
Re: Getting frusterated!
Submitted by bnewright on Sun, 2007-01-28 - 18:45
Jeni Thank you for this information! I will share it on Tuesday with my neurologist. Hopefully we will find the right medicine combination with the least side effects soon.
I'll let you know what she chooses for me and how it all goes.
Em
Re: Getting frusterated!
Submitted by Jenii xD on Sun, 2007-01-28 - 05:16
I used to have the same problem of not being able to tell the difference between a side effect and an aura/simple partial. My doctor told me if there's more time in between dosage increases, you'll experience less side effects. This time during my increase of Lamotrigine, I'm doing the increases every three weeks instead of the usual two. It's working out rather well so far. I used to think my family got sick of me complaining all the time. You have to remember that it's hard for them, too. They're sad and frustrated from seeing your difficulty, and not being able to do anything about it. If you haven't tried them, I've heard from a professor that Depakote and Lamictal target more parts of the brain than many of the other meds. My preference is for the Lamictal. Hugs, Jeni