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~ Side effects from anti-anxiety meds (Lamictal)~
I am sitting here both relieved and thankful. Ever since I had my RTKR and then the revision, it doesn't hurt at all, but my balance is way off. I have to be extremely careful or I will fall, and some of them have been real hurtful ones......like on the garage floor which is concrete and I landed on my back, hitting my head, into the coffee table sending everything there flying, including my water and tea, walking up a slight hill on some grass, and many, many, more times. I haven't said anything to you all because I was terrified it was something awful .... a brain tumor, Parkinsons ....
Well .... I got the Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative Medicine and in the section on Stress and Mood Disorders, page 177, it talks about anti-anxiety medications. It says "side effects include unsteadiness, drowsiness, reduced muscle coordination, and problems with balance. These medications can also cause memory problems." I cannot tell you how relieved I was .... these side effects are primarily from the anti-anxiety meds.
I know that taking Lamictal, causes my hands to shake, and for that (they call them essential tremors) I have to take a small dose of propanalol, which is a beta blocker.
Anyhow, if any of you folks are experiencing any of this, as I have been, take heart .... it may not be at all what you think.
abby
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I have been taking Lamictal for quite awhile now and ever since I started it my writing has been shaky and terrible. My doctor put me on Propanalol, which didn't seem to work. So, on my own, I reduced my Lamictal from 2 to 1 tablets per day (going only 1/4 tab. at a time), and my writing is much improved, but not totally normal. My doctor in another town and state told me that Lamictal did cause the shakiness and she also went with the propanalol. I don't see my doctor for another 4 weeks to tell him about this. Is there anything that is more effective for this reaction than propanalol? Thanks much. Barb
@amberpep, welcome back. Before changing the dosage of a medication, you should always talk to your prescribing doctor or a pharmacist. Can you call your doctor tomorrow? If you can’t talk to your doctor before your appointment, you may wish to consult with a pharmacist.
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2 ReactionsThat's a good idea. When I call my doctor's office, you can't talk to him directly as he's so busy. I'll call the Pharmacist tomorrow AM. Barb
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2 ReactionsI take lamotrigine for seizure prevention. I have never had tremors. I am and have has GI issues in constipation diarrhes etc listed as side effects on drugs.com. My dosage was reduced from 100mg twice daily to 75mg twice daily after I contacted my neuroligist. I have some improvrment
This is interesting. I was prescribed lamictal for bipolar 1 depression after the antidepressant I was taking made me suicidal. I've felt like it's been a game-changer after going from daily thoughts of suicide to absolutely none for a year now (quitting the antidepressant had an almost immediate effect, while ramping up the lamictal seems to have improved things even more). I have noticed occasional shakiness in my right pinkie in the last few months, but had not connected it to the new medication. Now I'm wondering. I'll have to ask. It's only happened a few times and quickly gone away, and I have orthopedic problems with both hands, so I'd assumed it was tied to those. Perhaps not.
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,
Hi, @minajo - that is indeed very challenging to work with your profound autistic and nonverbal daughter on her treatment.
Since you were talking about issues with lamotrigine (Lamictal XR), I'm providing some Mayo Clinic information on this medication that may be helpful:
-Lamotrigine (oral route)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lamotrigine-oral-route/description/drg-20067449
I'd also like to invite into this conversation @jakedduck1 @santosha @bruizersmom @21amy @lilomen1 who may have some input for you on whether the evening dosing of this medication may be leading to sleepless nights, refusing to go to bedroom and napping on a chair. They also may know whether genotyping could be helpful in determining the best seizure meds for your daughter.
What does your daughter's neurologist or epileptologist think about the medication challenges she's had? What does he or she think about whether genotyping might be helpful?
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1 Reaction@lisalucier , thank you for introducing me to this chat.
@minajo
Hi Lisa,
I have taken Lamictal for 4 months and also had insomnia with this medication, besides shin rashes (they disappeared after some weeks of usage). Lamictal could control my seizures well, and the side effects were very few, but I could not sleep. I was a nightmare! So my doctor at that time switched to another AED.
When reading your post, I remembered I did pharmacogenetic for AEDs after having tried 5 different AEDs and not having success, either because they could not control my seizures or because the side effects were intolerable. At that time, I was being treated by a neurologist and not by an epileptologist. The neurologist did not take this exam much into his consideration. Perhaps, because I was the one who asked him to prescribe this exam and not the other way around (doctor's ego). Besides that, this exam was or still is not yet widely available here in Brazil (my blood samples had to be sent to Spain, if I remember well), and it did not consider all AEDs available on the market. But, the situation might be different in the US.
With this post, you reminded me to show this exam, which I had totally forgotten about, to my current doctor. Thank you so much! The exam was not valuable at the time I took it because of the reasons I have pointed out above, but it might be helpful today.
God bless you and your daughter!
Chris (@santosha)
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2 Reactions@minajo
Hi Lisa, once again
I just retrieved a post from Kerry (@keeg1010) from 2021. Her son has cerebral palsy, autism and had recently developed seizures at that time.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/seizureshow-to-dose-cbdmedical-marijuana/
I have been in contact with Kerry since then, and she has become a friend. Her son's medication was switched to Epidiolex and he stayed 2 years seizure-free. Perhaps you could speak to her directly? She is a very nice person. I hope she pops in!
Chris (@santosha)
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1 ReactionThank you for your sincere interest in my issues!
I have asked for that but neuro said he didn't have any evidence to support..
We are changing epileptologist in September as she has not listened to my concerns.. perhaps new one will tho she is a neurologist but after last two years with epileptologist and no help i asked for new..
Lisa was on Zonisamide, you might remember Chris, and steadily gained weight, took months for dr to change them she had severe impaction, no such issues on Dilantin..
Very strange a ER dr said her 9 minute seizure last year before volvulus diagnosed, probably triggered by nerves in intestines.. she's so complicated, also had a qt prolongation in hospital, sometimes epilepsy misdiagnosed because of that!
So hard going from Zonisamide to lamictal i just have to keep her on it toll i know gi issues resolved..
What other tests help find correct AED ? Gonna have to push for genotyping i know!
Have a lovely Easter weekend
Thanks so much Maureen, Lisa's mom
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