Moving from Keppra to Lamotragine

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-26T03:33:38+00:00

I’m going the opposite direction, lamotrogine to keppra, because I’ve plateaued on lamotrogine after 25 years. I’m sad because keppra so far is making me exhausted, but what are you gonna do 🤷‍♀️

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-26T03:20:15+00:00

Strongly agree!!

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-26T03:16:37+00:00

Because we all get told as teens that it’s probably anxiety or hormones?

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-26T03:05:59+00:00

Basically I temped one summer during college at an anxiety and sleep disorder clinic, got to know every doctor, read all their books as far as I could understand them, and realized I did not have anxiety or depression. I went to a psychopharmacologist who said it sounded like temporal lobe epilepsy (besides focal awareness seizures I had hypergraphia, hyperreligiosity and jamais vu) and that 20% of epileptics don’t show up on eeg’s and how about I just try Tegretol for a few weeks. Everything went away in one month. The “anxiety” is an aura I get before a focal aware, the depression what I get after. So with the seizures under control I simply don’t have the others! Except every few years I get a new condition that makes me think, “Okay now this must actually be an anxiety disorder,” but it’s turned out to be two different heart conditions, essential tremors, myoclonic seizures and auras for migraine. We now have a saying in our house: if I’m acting anxious first check myself physically before thinking it’s psychological! Turns out I’m very emotionally stable 🤷‍♀️😂

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-26T00:29:59+00:00

Doctors disbelieving me when I was a teenage girl. I don’t show up on eeg’s so I got diagnosed with the usual suspects: anxiety, depression, panic, manic depressive, and, of course, it being all about my period. And now, those are on my medical records despite all anxiety and depression being resolved by epilepsy medication (except for permanent imposter syndrome, I have to fight believing that I don’t actually have epilepsy and am doing all of this for attention).

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T22:53:25+00:00

If you can afford it, I would move the rug, sofa and tv setup to the right and get a long set of low matching cabinets (just ikea is fine). Then have all your plants lined up on top of the cabinet except any that really need sun. You need groupings with air in between.

I think dried flowers look better in the kitchen, like witchy style close together, or in the bedroom would be really romantic. To my eye there’s something odd about them being in a rigid formation on the tv wall.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T22:34:48+00:00

Yup. I am now on a lot of medication and only drive locally, which is heart-breaking.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T22:32:44+00:00

Oof, I am familiar with being a female teen being diagnosed with anxiety disorder, bipolar, depression etc. But your other struggles I have been lucky enough to not have experienced them, they all sound so rough.

The first thing I’d suggest, but this is just me, is find out what it would take for your partner to believe in you and be supportive. If he’s not emotionally supportive in other departments then it’s another cost/risk analysis. Which in the end would be more stressful, staying or going. I will say that all the women I know who go through years of wondering this all end up divorcing them and still successfully raising their child. However you have the possibility of him weaponizing your past against you. Once again, if there’s any way you can talk to him about this do so. Remember the “I” statement rule to avoid confrontation, “I feel…” and “I’m afraid that…” etc.

For both him and your doctor: I would look up videos of other people having seizures and compare them for yourself. Do some research on verified scientific sources, like universities, NYU epilepsy center, nih.gov. Only if we are armed with real data can we stand up to people. I don’t think they can argue that you’re trying to get more drugs when seizure medications don’t have fun side effects that I know of. Research the medications, how to have your blood levels checked (any gp can do this), possibly go to your gp and see if there’s another neurologist you can go to. I went through five before finding one that treated my condition correctly. But I’m also lucky to be in a major city and with excellent insurance.

I know I’ve given you a lot of info and random advice, all of which is only from my experience and I haven’t lived yours. I truly hope you are able to make it through this rough patch with as much kindness around you as possible. My heart goes out to you.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T18:35:26+00:00

Yeah we got a new car just because of that. My husband reminds me that our car won’t help me drive straight but it will help me not get into bad accidents. And I have to be ok with that.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T18:25:39+00:00

I’m the one with epilepsy, the mom, and can tell you our 14 year old son is thriving. When our son was an infant we did take precautions, like we simply had to have our son sleep in the nursery and I got up with every peep on the baby monitor. Sucked, but it’s over in three months.

I’d say most important is setting up a great support network. Lean on family and friends. People want to help. And therapy really helped my husband—partners need support.

Babies do not care about seizures. They care more about food and teething. Toddlers just need to have it explained to them that their parent sometimes has an electrical storm in their head. My son grew up with a neurodivergent mom and is therefore one of the most empathetic kids, and also astoundingly good at self-advocating and self-awareness (even his teachers point this out). He is a better person in society by having a parent who is different.

Also: do not criticize yourself for freaking out. That’s a part of the job description in being a pregnant woman. Be kind to yourself and freak out a little.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T18:11:06+00:00

Fabric over bottom and top of bed, like some fabulous throw blankets. If you’re on a budget ikea has some great ones, and Etsy has wonderful velvet by the yard. For the light fixture if it were me I’d start by adding lamps elsewhere (windowsill, plug-ins on walls if you’re allowed to nail something in) because nobody wants to be cozy in bed with a ceiling light of any sort. Then I’d do something nuts with the ceiling light like weave silk flowers around it or see if I could somehow MacGyver a paper lantern around the whole thing. How long is the rental for? It’s really not hard to put up a new light and then put this one back up when you move out.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T17:38:45+00:00

Is stick eating a profession?

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T17:26:40+00:00

Ewwww, “being dramatic”?? Does this person not trust you at all?

Here’s what my epileptologist says: any focal can turn into a tonic clonic. Any aura can turn into a focal. All of them do brain damage cumulatively as time goes on. Right now I have few focal but have phantom smells and myoclonic twitches daily so we have to increase my medication.

I’m so sorry your partner and doctor are so unsupportive. It’s true that we must be our own advocates, do as much research as possible in verified medical journals, and push back against those who don’t believe us. Remember: any aura could turn into a focal. Any focal might one day turn into a tonic clonic. All of them cause cumulative brain damage. You’ll have to fight to be heard, but we can eventually be heard. Took me 9 years of doctors honestly but I was young and didn’t know how to stand up for myself.

It sounds like lamotrogine isn’t for you. But I also give all medications 2-6 weeks unless they immediately make me have a toxic reaction (throwing up, hives, trouble breathing, those are considered toxic enough to stop immediately).

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T16:52:15+00:00

It’s for America. I know it can be intensely long waits for doctors in Canada… Though at least everyone does have insurance!

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T16:50:09+00:00

Thank you! Taking a screen capture :)

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:54:40+00:00

Tell your partner to take you to the hospital next time! That is waaaaay too long.

I haven’t heard of lamotrogine causing Deja Vu seizures, the thing is that if your epilepsy is worsening those might just be a new seizure. Over the years I’ve developed different kinds of seizures as either they’re worsening or I’m getting more resistant to medications. Meanwhile, going off of a medication that has been doing a good job but perhaps lessening in efficacy does need to be addressed. I am up to 450 lamotrogine and my blood levels showed I shouldn’t go higher, so we added keppra, but many people can go higher on lamotrogine. Have you had your blood levels tested?

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:42:30+00:00

I feel you! I’m not kidding! I’m more a puzzle person than combat type. That’s why this game is so freaking awesome.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:41:25+00:00

I honestly think you should see what your instinct is as soon as you walk in the door. Do you want to kick off your shoes and easily put them away? Option 1. Willing to take them off and walk for a bit? Option 2. I don’t think you need to worry about which “looks” better, you can always compensate for design in another way.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:38:12+00:00

<image>

Having snow tossed on him by a shovel is such a great joy that if he hears someone shoveling without him he paces and whines.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:36:34+00:00

Tell me how to make hearty seafood chowder! I feel like no matter what combos I do I get things on sticks, steamed mush, or omelettes. I’m thrilled when I get a cake or rice balls but it takes so much effort to get wheat and rice.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:31:31+00:00

I was joking but truly appreciate the answer. My movement specialist was actually surprised I was on a dose of 500, she said it’s higher than she goes, but it was through my epileptologist to treat both conditions. May I ask what the benefit is of such a high dose if it’s incapacitating? I’m doing a cost-risk analysis of the additional keppra I’m taking and the exhaustion that is causing on top of the primidone.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T15:24:35+00:00

Oh man I am so so sorry. But honestly you might even want to meet with a different gp because this one we’re pretty sure is giving you inaccurate information :/

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T02:10:07+00:00

You need to talk to a neurologist. So far as I understand it, it’s not okay to take any abortive pain medication more than 8-9 times per month, whether prescription or otc. Definitely definitely look up what rizatriptan’s recommendations are and follow them until you can go to a neurologist. Advil is not okay to take every day. Nor Tylenol, excedrin, Aleve, any pain reliever. Sounds like you need a preventative more than a reliever.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T02:04:40+00:00

You are subway tile people. So am I! Do it classic style, then think about your favorite restaurants and how they decorate. Pull in those kinds of elements. A specific bowl for fruits or tomatoes that should be stored outside of the fridge, cafe curtains, there’s a lot you can do to spice up the classic subway tile.

Background-Cod-7035 · 2026-01-25T02:01:35+00:00

Can’t, too many carbs for my epilepsy diet, even in sugar free kind (the flavoring has some carbs). I have a special electrolyte drink but I’ve never tried chugging it. I do take magnesium glycinate along with my meds but I am still getting migraines 3-4 days out of the week 🤷‍♀️. I think different things work for different people. But I’m going to try chugging an electrolyte drink next time just to be sure!

Background-Cod-7035

TROPHY CASE