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Lamictal vs. Keppra vs. Dilantin?
Mon, 08/14/2006 - 08:27Topic: Medication Issues
Because of a recent MRI showing mild atrophy of my cerebellum due to long term Dilantin use (I've been on it for 46 years) my doctors want me to switch to a new medication. One advises Keppra, the other Lamictal. But I'm almost more wary of the side effects of those drugs than I am the possibility of maybe having problems walking a long time down the road. I've lived life normally on the Dilantin with almost no side effects (except now this!) and since no one seems to know the long term effects of the new drugs either, I'm not sure I should risk some of the side effects mentioned here and switch. I'm concerned being on Dilantin for so long will make switching difficult and raise the risk of side effects. Any advice or thoughts on experiences on Lamictal vs. Keppra would be very much appreciated. I need to make some sort of a decision in the next few months. Thanks very much! "CB"
Comments
Re: Re: Lamictal vs. Keppra vs. Dilantin?
Submitted by tj on Sat, 2006-09-02 - 15:20
I just bumped into this site, but signed up right away. I live in Europe and am married to a man who got epilepsy after removing a brain tumor. I just wanted to tell you that he has been on keppra 3000mg per day for a year and a half and has also been on lamictal for the past six months. He´s taken 600 mg per day for a month and a half now. so far he has few serious side effects. he still has seizures, but lately they´ve been quite light, without loss of consciousness etc. i hope keppra end lamictal will work well for you.
Re: Lamictal vs. Keppra vs. Dilantin?
Submitted by Amber on Sat, 2006-09-02 - 00:48
hi CB I have complex partial epilepsy. I've been on Dilantin before with the combination of Sabril and Epilim too. Though I'm on none of them now they just stopped working for me. I'm presently on a combination of Lamictal 500mg per day and Keppra 1000mg. I've been on Lamictal for at least 4 years now in combination with Epilim at first then Topamax. Lamictal is treating me well so far when I first started taking it I reached a certain level and I had the side affect of blurriness and started running into walls etc. Though my present neuro. told me that was probably because of my previous neuro. increasing it too quickly. As i'm now on a higher dose than before with no problems. My current neuro has just put me on Keppra since topamax didn't work. The combination of the two have been great with no side affects from either. Keppra is great for me so far even my family are saying they can't believe the difference in me. Hope this may help you Amber