Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

ADHD Medication & Epilepsy - Your Experience

Tue, 03/03/2020 - 14:57
I’m thinking about going on ADHD medication for the first time as part of my treatment plan, but some doctors are reluctant to try it with me because I have active multi focal epilepsy while on two AEDs even though it’s been nearly twenty years since I’ve had generalized (tonic clonic) seizures. I’ve only had three generalized seizures in my whole life and they were considered eclamptic seizures that were part of another rare and severe acquired brain injury that caused my epilepsy and cognitive impairment. So, I’ve read a ton of stuff online that says that the risk of seizures is actually low with ADHD medications (stimulants) and that AEDs can compensate for the risks, but my epilepsy specialist seems to think otherwise and so do many psychiatrists that would be able to prescribe the medication. I’ve found a doctor who isn’t going to rule it out and is considering doing it on a trial basis for me, but he doesn’t take my insurance, so the VA pharmacy won’t fill the prescription and I’ll be stuck paying cash at another pharmacy and I also want to be sure that I have my epilepsy specialist on board with the trial. (He said he would work collaboratively with another doctor on it, but he would prefer not to do it “right now”. I don’t know what he meant by that when I saw him in January - maybe because he was adding a new medication.) What has your experience been with ADHD medication? Under what conditions (e.g. seizure control) did your doctor prescribe it to you?

Comments

Hi,Thanks for posting. We are

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2020-03-04 - 09:54
Hi,Thanks for posting. We are glad to hear that you have found a doctor that is willing and able to work collaboratively with you and your epilepsy specialist, to help make sure you are getting the most appropriate treatment for your ADHD & epilepsy. It’s best that you follow-up directly with the doctor you saw in January for further clarification as to what the reservations were for not wanting to do this “right now” and if that was related to you starting a new medication or not. It’s also important that the doctor who is managing your epilepsy is aware of any potential changes in the medications you take and your individual treatment plan. Additionally, there are a number of patient assistance programs that may be able to help with medication cost, please visit,  https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/247-helpline/patient-assistance .Or you may always contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: epilepsy.com/helpline ,where trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer support, guidance, and access to national and local resources.1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org. Or contact local Epilepsy Foundation, here: https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliates ,who can provide you with additional assistance as well.

Hi there. I've been taking

Submitted by Believer_59cd4d81a99cf on Mon, 2020-03-23 - 23:21
Hi there. I've been taking ADHD medication for a couple of years now to combat the side effects of my anti-seizure medication. My Neuro was very confident that it wouldn't cause an issue for me specifically (but of course everyone is different.) I was already self-medicating with caffeine, and it isn't all that different. If caffeine is a trigger for you, I'd tell you to be a lot more wary. Good luck! 

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.