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Lamotrigine vs. Zonisamide
Tue, 02/20/2018 - 17:47Topic: Medication Issues
Hello all :) I'm 18 years old and I was diagnosed with epilepsy about a year and a half ago and have had seven tonic-clonic seizures since then. My neurologist first started me on Keppra, but the side effects made me feel terrible, so I decided I needed to switch meds. My neurologist then started me on Lamotrigine which I've been taking for about a year now. Although the side effects of it aren't as severe as the side effects of the Keppra, there are many more. I'm experiencing memory loss, insomnia, fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, anxiety, and trouble concentrating, just to name a few. For a while I was only taking 300mg per day of the Lamotrigine, but they have started to increase my dosage because I had another seizure about a month ago. This has been making the side effects much worse and I've been struggling a lot in school which is upsetting to me because I've always been a very academic person. When I explained this to my doctor she recommended a switch to Zonisamide. I'm hesitant to switch medications because I know that the side effects will worsen when the meds overlap, but if Zonisamide has fewer side effects or if it will impact my learning any less I'm willing to try it. I'm hoping there are some people out there who have experience with this Zonisamide or with Lamotrigine and how it affected their cognitive functioning. I know side effects can be different for everyone but I'm just looking for some advice or opinions! Thanks :)
Hi! I am 56 and have been
Submitted by AnnT on Mon, 2018-03-05 - 00:20
Hi! I am 56 and have been treated for partial complex seizures since I was 17. I totally understand where you are coming from. I am presently on lamotrigine 150mg daily and have been for several years with excellent control. Over the decades, I have been on several anticonvulsants, though not zonisamide. And, the short of it is that they all have cognitive side effects. The key is to find the most effective medicine with the least irritating side effects for you. Lamotrigine causes less mental slowness and fatigue, and does not cause weight gain. But, that also means it causes more anxiety, insomnia, and nausea. When I switched from carbamazepine to lamotrigine I could think faster, and I had less word finding problems but more short term and working memory issues. Still, I like it the best of all the meds I have tried. Some side effects you can use to your advantage: for instance, to me my daily morning dose of lamotrigine is like a cup of coffee. It wakes me up. The falling drug levels in the early evening make me anxious, but, by then I’m home from work (I’m a doctor with grown kids now) relaxing, cooking dinner, and heading to bed. So for me, a worse mood and fatigue in the evening is worth the better sleep. I am confident you and your neurologist will find a medicine that works well for you, though remember your needs and priorities (and likely your meds) will change over the years. Good luck!