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Anxiety and Epilepsy -- medication
Sat, 05/18/2019 - 11:37Topic: Medication Issues
My 19 year old daughter had her first seizures last weekend -- two tonic-clonic seizures back to back. She had an EEG Monday, and seized during the exam. The neuro said preliminary diagnosis is Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.
She has long struggled with anxiety and until now took Wellbutrin. On the day of the seizures, she may have inadvertently doubled her dose, and Wellbutrin lowers seizure thresholds. Doc took her off Wellbutrin cold turkey, and prescribed Keppra 500mg twice a day and Amyltriptaline 25 mg at bedtime for the anxiety.
It's been six days. The anxiety is overwhelming her and when she's not panicking she's sleeping. Does anyone have information on anxiety and epilepsy? Feedback on the meds she's on? Any input appreciated.
Comments
maybe have the provider try
Submitted by efrager on Tue, 2019-05-21 - 11:13
maybe have the provider try lexapro for your daughter? how is the keppra working? side effect of anxiety as well.
Hi Nell_A, Thanks so much
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2019-05-20 - 09:30
Hi Nell_A, Thanks so much for posting. It is common for those living with epilepsy to experience feelings of depression and anxiety depression, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/healthy-living/emotional-health/overview-depression & https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/challenges-epilepsyAs a caretaker, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/parents-and-caregivers it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well. The Wellness Institute, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/our-programs/wellness-institute , provides tools and strategies to better assist your loved one and support you in your important role. https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/healthy-living/stress-and-wellness/managing-stressIt may be helpful to connect with others who live with epilepsy, or care for someone with epilepsy, to ask questions, share experiences, and find and give support to each other, by finding your local Epilepsy Foundation at epilepsy.com/localsupport , www.epilepsy.com/affiliates . You may also contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-332-1000,contactus@efa.org , epilepsy.com/helpline , where a trained information specialist can connect you to resources, provide referrals & additional supportPlease continue to express concerns with your daughter’s healthcare team, to further discuss any potential changes in side effects, behaviors, symptoms, or seizure types. For information regarding JME please visit, https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/juvenile-myoclonic-epilepsy , seizure medication side effects please visit, https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/side-effects & https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/stopping-medication Additionally, you and your daughter may want to consider along with her doctor, having a device that can help track seizures, by visiting, https://www.dannydid.org/ , and by keeping a seizure diary, https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diary as another self-management tool. These tools may be helpful in managing medication & other therapies,identifying & tracking seizures, other symptoms, recognizing triggers and health events that may affect seizures and wellness, which can be shared with her healthcare team.