Hi! I'm new here. I found this board acouple of weeks ago and I think it's great. I'v had e since I was 6 weeks old. I'm 25 now. I'm going to quit smoking on june 1st and I was wondering if any one has had trouble with this causing auras or seisures for them. I am on tegertolCR and my seisures are controlled but my anxiety level is high. I quit smoking before but I had exreme dissiness and anxiety that I started again. The docs are no help, they tell me they can put me on anti anxiety drugs or something but I 'm already drugged up enough. tired all the time from tegertol. I'd like to know if it's just normal anxiety from quitting or do I have to start having siesures again to quit smoking. Feeling so stuck. thanx in advance for your help.

Congratulations on your decison to quit. I quit 2 weeks ago yesterday. I haven't had any problems at all, but I am not on as many meds as I used to be. I was onTegretol XR and one other, but now, just Keppra. I quit once before for 6 months and didn't have problems, but the same pertains re the amount of meds. I had had surgey by the time I decided to quit both times. the first tiome, I used the patch which I suggest you try simply because the nicotine in the patch should help prevent as severe a withdrawal and with that, less anxiety. I have been drinking ice water constantly in an attempt to flush my system as well as provide some feeling that I am smoking in that I use a straw. The pulling on the straw is helpful along with lollipops etc. If you should notice any change in your seizures, as in worse, your dioc needs to know. Do not use Wellbutrin or another simiilar. It can increase seizure activity. If you and your doc think an antidepressant would help, I took Zoloft without problems with my seizures, but I didn't take it for smoking cessation. There is a good board on this site re smoking and on other neuro sites too. Congrats and good luck. Phoebe

I wanted to throw my two cents in. I don't have "E" but my better half does. But I quit smoking 14 months ago. Best damn thing I ever did!!! I used the 4 D's.

Drink Water( Carry a bottle everywhere)
Deep Breaths(Really helps)
Don't Buy or Beg
Do something with your hands (played with rubber bands)

And yolo theatened to leave me if I didn't quit. :blob_fire Anyway

Every now and then I still think about lighting up. :nono: I still used the water and the breathing to stay off the mental cravings that hit real strong once in a while.

I wish you the best of luck. Keep us posted (cool pun) on your success.

Live well

Yolos other half
Gerry

I don't know about the quitting smoking causing problems, but I was on Tegretol for about 20 years and after about 10 years had a period of being very anxious, getting to the stage where I did not even want to leave the house. When I mentioned this to my doctor he told me that this was a very common side effect to this drug (but did not take me off it). After being switched to the 'Retard' version of the drug the problem went away. Maybe you should also look at your medication and not just at the cigarettes as the cause of your problem. BTW I've been an on and off smoker since I was a teen and not experienced your sort of problem when not smoking.
Gary