Lamotrigine for epilepsy, any experiences?

[used2bthin]

Saw the neurologist today, DD, five has has a few partial seizures and it was said to be our decision about medicating but when asked the doctor said it was appropriate to start treatment now.

I am worried that this was more because I was anxious about the epilepsy though and aalso very worried about side effects although he said this was likely to have less effect on her cognitive ability than others(she has SLI and other developmental issues but making slow progress so I would have hated something that made her drowsey and unable to focus.)

I ave just got dd sleeping through after a year of awful nights though and he said it causes insomnia in a few people. Any one else found this? Also aggressive behaiour? So worried about this and whether it is all to help me not her!

I took lamotrigine as a teenager and for me was the only drug that gave me no side effects. The only thing I did notice was when they increased dosage too high I became very tearful and emotional until it was lowered again. Other than that nothing to report as for me it worked without the nasty effects some other drugs gave.
Good lyck

Thanks chundle thatsgood it wasgoodfor you. Dd already steroid dependant and when her dose is upped often gets upset and aggressive and can't sleep, been through an awful time recently with that and ended up having to reduce it a bit. So the thought of messing further with her state of mind really worried me and I am now feeling unsure of the benefits as her seizures are fe and fairly subtle, anyone have any ideas about that? Maybe it could be interfering with her mind having seizures though?

Think am going to book a GP appointment to discuss this as am feeling so upset about it and wishing I'd expressed it more at the appointment-maybe then we'd have come away with the neurologist saying don't go with meds yet then as he said ultimately it was our choice. The guilt if she suffers side effects will be dreadful and I have enough of that from having to make surgery "choices" for her.

Thank you, oh dear being emotional seems to be something it does then. Did the weepiness last long? Was it a permanent thing whilst on them I mean or initial reaction? No sleeplessness then?

yes he mentioned the rashes they sound pretty scary, this all just seems awful for a child who has actually as far as I know, only had a few small seizures. They can get worse though I think. Wish it was clear cut, really not sure I should have agreed/chosen meds.

Thanks Leonie, oh permenant-not good poor you (and my poor dd if she is like that with it-she is already a bit weepy at school as she can't talk enough to say what is wrong. ). Good that it doesnt cause weight gain- carbemazipine is the next one if this doesnt work out and she could def do without weight gain, she is a little overweight atm. Alos due to her condition she gets excess hair so again would be good to avoid that.

Crikey, DD already has severe hormone issues-think we've "met" on other threads about this-she has adrenal insufficiency and is a salt loser AND she has a SLI, the worst part of which is memory/word recall problems. Sounds like lametrigine makes sense although clonazepam sounds like it works best for you. Still massively feeling it could be wrong to treat her at all and stillfeel unsure as to whether its necessary but its good to be informed about all this.

Oh good luck with it.I am going to see the GP and hope they are understanding enough to talk it through with me(new GP) failing that I will see if the neurology nurse will talk it over by phone. Failing THAT (neurology department don't seem to have much time or at least don't seem to call back1 )I will ring our endocrine consultant and at least check they are happy with the drug combinations-better safe than sorry and I know that consultant much better so may get some more ideas as to why it could be a good plan to medicate.

Same as Leonie really lamotrigine def best drug I've been on as far as side effects go. I'm on topirimate now, good seizure control bad for moods

thanks chundle and Leonie. Not managed to get dr appointment yet and still unsure as to the right thing to do. But good to hear that it has less side effects for you both, hopefully will be the same with dd.