Has anyone tried Briviact?

I tend to get irritable from many of the anti convulsants.  I tried 100 mg Briviact in 2018 and suffered from lost sleep, irritability, and mild depression.  The worst side effect I had from Briviact was the constipation.  I never had the problem with any other medication I've tried.  Everyone is different and you never know how it will work it's tried.  The important thing for you to do is to keep track of the meds tried and the results.  If possible it would be good to take her to an epilepsy specialist.  They will consider the drug failures and will be able to offer alternative treatments.  VNS may be an option now, and by the time she's an adult she will qualify for RNS.  I tried many meds as a child and went through lots of seizures.  As an adult my treatment decisions would have been easier if mom and I would have kept records of all I went through.  Doctors value this information, and so will your daughter.  Mike

Hi Mike, thank you for your helpful and insightful comment. This is all very new to our daughter and to us, so trying to learn and make best decisions to help. What's the VNS and RNS? 

Hi, Thank you for posting. As Michael shared with his experience with Briviact, treatment and how the body may react to certain medications varies for each individual. It’s important that you're following- up with your daughter’s healthcare team to determine what individual treatment plan is best for her and if she experiences any changes side effects, symptoms, seizure types, frequency and behaviors. The goal of treatment with medicines should be –No Seizures and No Side Effects. However, we know that some individuals may experience too many side effects, that are very bothersome or cause other health problems. To learn more about medications she takes and things to look for, visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/seizure-and-epilepsy-medicines/side-effectsYou all may want to consider keeping a journal or diary. My Seizure Diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diaryis a great tool for identifying & tracking seizures, setting reminders, managing medications & side effects, setting reminders,recording medical history, moods, behaviors, triggers, and other personal experiences, that may affect seizures and wellness, which can be shared with her healthcare team. It’s common for those who are in caregiver role to feel overwhelmed, but it is just as important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself as well.https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/parents-and-caregivers  It can be helpful to connect with other parents who may have similar experiences, to ask questions, find & give support to each other, by visiting:  https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/parents-and-caregivers/parents-helping-parents  Or contact our 24/7 Helpline, where trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer help, hope, support, guidance, and access to national and local resources. 1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org. epilepsy.com/helpline