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Did anti-seizure meds work for you?
Haylen_WebMD_Staff posted:
Half of all epilepsy patients who are initially started on one anti-seizure drug remain seizure-free for at least a year, a new study confirms.
Click the link to read the entire article here:
Predicting Success Rates for Epilepsy Drugs - 50% of Patients Seizure-Free After Trying First Anti-Seizure Drug
What has your experience been with anti-seizure drugs?
Haylen
Click the link to read the entire article here:
Predicting Success Rates for Epilepsy Drugs - 50% of Patients Seizure-Free After Trying First Anti-Seizure Drug
What has your experience been with anti-seizure drugs?
Haylen
5 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?Half of all epilepsy patients who are initially started on one anti-seizure drug remain seizure-free for at least a year, a new study confirms.<br /><br />Click the link to read the entire article here: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/news/20120509/study-predicts-success-drug-therapy-epilepsy">Predicting Success Rates for Epilepsy Drugs - 50% of Patients Seizure-Free After Trying First Anti-Seizure Drug</a> <br /><br /><br />What has your experience been with anti-seizure drugs? <br /><br />Haylen<br /><br /><br />
dancer86442 responded:
Hello Haylen,
All these yrs, I Think I can only count on 1 hand anyone who has visited these boards, who had success w/ med #1. I realize this Community is a Small one, but, still after 20 yrs. of reading posts, 1 med, first try, is a very rare occurrence.
Personally, I went thru 5 Mono-therapy Anti-epilepsy Drugs over a 10 yr span B4 being placed on Phenobarbital. 3 dose increases w/in a yr & I was seizure free. Have been for over 20 yrs now.
Stats: I don't Like them, don't Trust them. Like the weather forecasts, forever changing. HUGS!
Love Candi
All these yrs, I Think I can only count on 1 hand anyone who has visited these boards, who had success w/ med #1. I realize this Community is a Small one, but, still after 20 yrs. of reading posts, 1 med, first try, is a very rare occurrence.
Personally, I went thru 5 Mono-therapy Anti-epilepsy Drugs over a 10 yr span B4 being placed on Phenobarbital. 3 dose increases w/in a yr & I was seizure free. Have been for over 20 yrs now.
Stats: I don't Like them, don't Trust them.
Like the weather forecasts, forever changing. HUGS!Love Candi
Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?Hello Haylen, <br /><br />All these yrs, I Think I can only count on 1 hand anyone who has visited these boards, who had success w/ med #1. I realize this Community is a Small one, but, still after 20 yrs. of reading posts, 1 med, first try, is a very rare occurrence.<br /><br />Personally, I went thru 5 Mono-therapy Anti-epilepsy Drugs over a 10 yr span B4 being placed on Phenobarbital. 3 dose increases w/in a yr & I was seizure free. Have been for over 20 yrs now. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"><br /><br />Stats: I don't Like them, don't Trust them. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> Like the weather forecasts, forever changing. <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> HUGS!<br /><br />Love Candi
saxofone1 responded:
Good morning, Haylen,
I have had a battle with meds since the spring of '75. My initial med was Zarontin because the seizures looked like petit mal and the eegs were clean.
When spikes finally showed, the docs changed me to phenobarbital because of where the spikes appeared to be coming from.
I have gone through at least 10 different meds. My meds were constantly being increased or added to. My body would become non-responsive to a current level or med and that resulted in the changes/additions/increases.
I spent the yrs prior to lobectomy on a medication roller coaster. The side-effects were often more untolerable than my seizures. It was frustrating.
But since the lobectomy in '02 I have responded wonderfully to the meds. The two I currently take are two of the four that I was taking prior to surgery.
There were some additions/changes(valproic acid and vimpat) when I changed docs when I moved to Las Vegas in '07 but those were eliminated. I was sooooo glad to eliminate Vimpat!!!
Off hand I don't know of anyone who has had success with their doc's first choice of med.
Have a good weekend.
OMT, BOOOOO on the Lakers or Boston.
angie
I have had a battle with meds since the spring of '75. My initial med was Zarontin because the seizures looked like petit mal and the eegs were clean.
When spikes finally showed, the docs changed me to phenobarbital because of where the spikes appeared to be coming from.
I have gone through at least 10 different meds. My meds were constantly being increased or added to. My body would become non-responsive to a current level or med and that resulted in the changes/additions/increases.
I spent the yrs prior to lobectomy on a medication roller coaster. The side-effects were often more untolerable than my seizures. It was frustrating.
But since the lobectomy in '02 I have responded wonderfully to the meds. The two I currently take are two of the four that I was taking prior to surgery.
There were some additions/changes(valproic acid and vimpat) when I changed docs when I moved to Las Vegas in '07 but those were eliminated. I was sooooo glad to eliminate Vimpat!!!
Off hand I don't know of anyone who has had success with their doc's first choice of med.
Have a good weekend.
OMT, BOOOOO on the Lakers or Boston.
angie
Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?Good morning, Haylen,<br /> <br />I have had a battle with meds since the spring of '75. My initial med was Zarontin because the seizures looked like petit mal and the eegs were clean.<br /> <br />When spikes finally showed, the docs changed me to phenobarbital because of where the spikes appeared to be coming from.<br /> <br />I have gone through at least 10 different meds. My meds were constantly being increased or added to. My body would become non-responsive to a current level or med and that resulted in the changes/additions/increases.<br /> <br />I spent the yrs prior to lobectomy on a medication roller coaster. The side-effects were often more untolerable than my seizures. It was frustrating.<br /> <br />But since the lobectomy in '02 I have responded wonderfully to the meds. The two I currently take are two of the four that I was taking prior to surgery.<br /> <br />There were some additions/changes(valproic acid and vimpat) when I changed docs when I moved to Las Vegas in '07 but those were eliminated. I was sooooo glad to eliminate Vimpat!!!<br /> <br />Off hand I don't know of anyone who has had success with their doc's first choice of med. <br /> <br />Have a good weekend.<br /> <br />OMT, BOOOOO on the Lakers or Boston. <br /> <br />angie
hula_dancer73 responded:
hi haylen,
I have tried about 10 different drugs to no avail.
Lamictal came out I was put on that along wi th depakote.
the depakote made me toxic at 2000 mgs so I was taken off that and slowly ebcuase of the lamictal theyhad to be cross-titrated.
then I was on Tegretol t hat made me toxicenougn to put me in the hospsital.
dilantin for 3 months, topamax for 6 months then again later for 2 years. then there was neurontin, and the current ones LAmictal, Vimpat and Klonopin.
hav been on Lamictal since Oct of 03.
and can not forget the VNS.
hula_dancer
I have tried about 10 different drugs to no avail.
Lamictal came out I was put on that along wi th depakote.
the depakote made me toxic at 2000 mgs so I was taken off that and slowly ebcuase of the lamictal theyhad to be cross-titrated.
then I was on Tegretol t hat made me toxicenougn to put me in the hospsital.
dilantin for 3 months, topamax for 6 months then again later for 2 years. then there was neurontin, and the current ones LAmictal, Vimpat and Klonopin.
hav been on Lamictal since Oct of 03.
and can not forget the VNS.
hula_dancer
Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?hi haylen,<br /> <br />I have tried about 10 different drugs to no avail.<br /> <br />Lamictal came out I was put on that along wi th depakote.<br /> <br />the depakote made me toxic at 2000 mgs so I was taken off that and slowly ebcuase of the lamictal theyhad to be cross-titrated.<br /> <br />then I was on Tegretol t hat made me toxicenougn to put me in the hospsital.<br /> <br />dilantin for 3 months, topamax for 6 months then again later for 2 years. then there was neurontin, and the current ones LAmictal, Vimpat and Klonopin.<br /> <br />hav been on Lamictal since Oct of 03. <br /> <br />and can not forget the VNS.<br /> <br />hula_dancer
Haylen_WebMD_Staff replied to hula_dancer73's response:
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I know your insights and history are so helpful for newbies!
Thanks for all you do to support this community!
Haylen
Thanks for all you do to support this community!
Haylen
Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I know your insights and history are so helpful for newbies! <br /><br />Thanks for all you do to support this community!<br /><br />Haylen
BlazingTiger responded:
I have been on several different seizure meds. I have had this disorder for many years i am now 43. I found one that seems to work. Although not seizure free. I have been on tegratol now for a few years it is the one that has worked best for me. I was also on keppra worst med I ever had the side effects were a killer for me. major mood swings, insomnia, aggression & did nothing for my seizures.
Jason
Jason
Report This| Share this:Did anti-seizure meds work for you?I have been on several different seizure meds. I have had this disorder for many years i am now 43. I found one that seems to work. Although not seizure free. I have been on tegratol now for a few years it is the one that has worked best for me. I was also on keppra worst med I ever had the side effects were a killer for me. major mood swings, insomnia, aggression & did nothing for my seizures.<br /><br />Jason
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