I would say that the least problematic cause for constipation would be the zonisamide the of the seizure meds listed but it depends on the person. Does she drink a lot of water and get plenty of exercise? Does she take stool softeners and/or Metamucil or similar. I've taken seizure medicines for almost 60 years and have had this problem from the beginning. Occasionally, I take magnesium citrate, which is a liquid-type laxative, but I don't take it very often.
Sometimes they're just really isn't a lot you can do and just have to do the best you can. I'm sorry to hear about the aggressive behavior. Is that type of behavior all the time or only when she has seizures? Has your doctor been to a G.I. doctor to get their suggestions of what you might be able to do. One Emergency room Dr. suggested that I take a stool softener as well as a certain type of laxative, but I can't remember the name of it. What he suggested definitely helped, but I no longer take it any longer, and I can't remember the name of it.
Take care,
Jake

Oops, I meant daughter not doctor

Hi @minajo
I am very sorry to get this news from you and your daughter.
She probably is aggressive because she is not sleeping. This happened to me when I took Lamictal because I also could not sleep. Though it is one of the AEDs with fewer side effects, as I have already mentioned, it can interfere with sleep. Not sleeping was the worst side-effect I have experienced with AEDs. Desperate to get some sleep, I have tried many sleep medications (natural and allopathic medication, acupunture). None of them really helped me to get a better sleep. I could sleep with some allopathic medication, but the sleep was not recovering and I had nightmares. What has helped me to restore my sleep was to get off the AEDs and change to medical cannabis. Yoga nidra practices during the day were very important to me at that time, as 30 minutes of yoga nidra can correspond to up to 3 hours of sleep. But because of autism, this is a yoga practice that perhaps would be difficult for your daughter to do.
Again, if I were in your place, I would ask the doctor about Epidiolex. There is another person in this group (or in another one), who also has a son with epilepsy and autism and got much better with Epidiolex. I can not remember the name she uses in the group, but I do have her personal contacts. If you are interested, I can ask her is she is willing to talk to you. If you are interested, private message me.
My best wishes!
Christine

This is not a sophisticated solution, but maybe your daughter will comply with a daily dose of prunes -- either 5-6 whole or chopped (any brand but I prefer Italian) or 8 oz. juice, for constipation caused by PD, does the trick for me. I also take a fair amount of Lamictal daily for depression with no side effects. I'm plugged into this group because close family members suffer from epilepsy. Challenges with your dear daughter are immense and I wish you my very best.

@minajo
It doesn't sound like the Lamictal is controlling her seizures, especially if she goes into status epilepticus. I also have a history of Status with long term comas. I hope they didn't have to put her into an induced coma to stop her seizures. Was this her first time having status seizures?
Have you mentioned to the doctor about changing, increasing the Lamictal dose or an adjunctive medicine?
Can your daughter communicate, perhaps in some type of distressed behaviour she is having drug side effects?

Hi @minajo
Perhaps your daughter is having this aggressive behavior because she can not sleep well. As I mentioned in another post, insomnia was the worst side effect I had while taking Lamictal. I also became aggressive during the period of insomnia.
Chris (@santosha)

My daughter is at her target dose 300 mg lamictal and we will try to get lab level done this Monday, she will need Ativan as of course the side effects known for drug insomnia and aggressiveness are present
Her epileptologist states we knew we'd have issues but to keep going rill target dose
She suggested Klonipin for sleep but daughter did awful on Trazadone..
Shes on 10 melatonin but i wonder if Valerian root could be added? Some supplement instead of another addictive controlled med? 😵‍💫
She wouldn't get in bed last night, care home has rules!
She fell asleep in big comfy chair, i said let her just get sleep, no matter where
Sometimes my. hands tied with carehome as with the medical cannabis, they are against it.. oh my..

Hello all.. my nonverbal daughter who had sigmoidectomy 6 months ago is slowly recuperating but had a high Lamotrigine level end of December while in hospital being treated for post op ileus and went from 300 mg XR Lamictal to 250 but after discharge her epileptologist reduced to 200mg? No reason given
Daughter had more issues, then her behavior escalated, stopped taking meds until finally her Lamictal given at 8p..
Then a 5 minute seizure end of march so dose upped to 300 again but level toxic so now on 275 but still drug given at 8p and she has sleepless nights, refuses to go to bedroom, naps on chair..
Is the evening dosing causing?
Anyone know if genotyping would help with determining best seizure meds?
She's a profound autistic and being nonverbal very ,very challenging!
Thanks
Lisa's mom,