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Newly Diagnosed, Scared and Overwhelmed

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 12:35

I am newly diagnosed in April 2015. I had been having 2 seizures a year (give or take) thinking I was fainting, because that is what they felt like to me and no one witnessed them.  An EEG provided a diagnosis of epilepsy.

 

In January 2015, I had a seizure.  I just started meds after my diagnosis in April.  I was seizure free until this past weekend (May 2015).  I am frustrated and agry and scared and every other emotion I can think of.  I'm frustrated because I thought the meds would stop the seizures.

 

I am on 100 mg - twice daily (200mg daily dose)  of Lamotrigine (Lamictal generic) currently working up to 150 twice daily (300 mg daily).  At that point my doctor wants to see me, I imagine to evaluate how things are working.

In the past, I had absence seizures, but the most recent one was a Grand Mal.  After that long winded explanation, my questions are:

 

1.  Is it common to have more than one type of seizure?

2. How long after starting meds did your seizures stop?

3. What is a common dosage for Lamotrigine/Lamitcal? Is 200mg working up to 300mg a little? a lot?

 

Thanks for any responses.  I don't have anyone to talk to about these epilepsy questions, other than my doctor, so I am hoping talking to someone with Epilepsy can help.

 

Jodi

 

Comments

Newly diagnosed here as well.

Submitted by Jeff fly tier on Tue, 2015-05-19 - 20:05
Newly diagnosed here as well. I have had nocturnal seizures. I am told I have focal seizures that sometimes become "generalized" to a Tonic- clonic or grandmal. I have had staring spells all my life. Hope it helps. My seizures haven't stopped, they are lessened. I don't knowAbout lamactil. It helps to see an epileptologist, neurology is quite general, epileptologist do an extra 4 years studying seizure disorders. Don't give up!

I had my first and only known

Submitted by chicks.th@gmail.com on Tue, 2015-05-19 - 21:34
I had my first and only known seizure on Jan. 10, 2015, it was a tonic-clonic. I was on Keppra at first but I stayed dizzy and felt like I was working through a cloud. I transitioned to Lamictal in April. I have had close calls but fortunately no seizures. I too am taking 100 MG per day. So far so good for me, but I have been writing down everything, and call the Dr with questions. I let him know any little thing that I notice that is different. 

1. Is it common to have more

Submitted by just_joe on Tue, 2015-05-19 - 22:45
1. Is it common to have more than one type of seizure? When I was diagnosed with epilepsy there were no types of seizures. I had Grand Mal, Petite Mal ams Focal Motor epilepsy. which meant absence seizures. tonic clonic seizures and focal seizures. So yes a person can have nore then 1 type of seizure. 2. How long after starting meds did your seizures stop? Seizure meds are nothing like aspirin where one size fits all. The neurologist will generally put you on a medication and dosage one of his other patients is taking which has controlled their seizures. A mdication that works for one person may not work for the nexe. Each person is different and medications and dosages can be hit and miss. As for stopping seizures completely some peoples seizures are completely controlled others may have a seizure or 2 a year then others have seizures daily. It all depends on the person and what might be causing the epilepsy. 3. What is a common dosage for Lamotrigine/Lamitcal? Is 200mg working up to 300mg a little? a lot? Dosages are different for each person. Size of the person. Weight needs to be taken into account as do other thngs. Think of it like food. Can all people eat the same foods and love it? Or are there some people that can't eat certain foods? Trial and error are used by your neurologist. I have gone from a confulsive seizure every 8-10 days with focal seizures (simple partial) between those days. by using many different medications. Some worked well and others side effects were wellllllllll krappy. My current neurologist has gotten my simple partial seizures down to 1 every 8-14 days. I can have a seizure while standing next to a crowd of people and they wouldn't know I had it. Relax and research some you are on the site that has information. You might also call the 24/7 help line which can be found on any page here. I hope this helps and you get your seizures under control Joe Also understand that if meds are t be taken 2 times a day those times should be 12 hours apart. If taken a few houra late then the theraputic levels may not be high enough to stop a break thru seizure. It takes time for your body to get used to the medication which is about the time th side effects go away. That time period is the time it takes to build up the theraputic levels in your body. which is why I posted meds are not like aspirin.

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