Hi Everyone,

My doctor just started me on Ativan along with Tegretol and Keppra
that I have been on for years now.At first she just had me taking it
on days that I was having seizures,then just last week when I told
her how much better I feel in every way,she even said,she noticed how
much better I looked.She had me start taking a small dosage daily.I have read up on it a little and see more on anxiety
than taking it to help control seizures.Never even mentioned anxiety to
her,didn't realize I had a problem there,other than maybe a little social
anxiety.Seems to helped that tremendously,so far.

My question is have many of you taken it for seizures?And did
it improve not only moods but your seizure activity.I was also
on antidepressants that was not working,but,so far the Ativan
is working better on the depression than any anti-depressant ever did.

Just wondering the effects it has had on anyone else.
I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks,Sherri

i was just prescribed that along w/ my depakote and topamax. im only supposed to take it if i get a bunch of auras in a row. i havent used it yet so i dont really know the effects but i do know that it can be addicting. i do have some anxiety about certain things like giving speeches and stuff, but my doc warned never to use it for that bc of the feelings you get after taking it (kinda like youre drunk i guess). i thought it would be good for that but i guess not. i think i was prescribed 1 mg to take each time i feel i need too. how much is everyone else taking??

Hi,

Mine is only 0.5 mg. I have read that it can be
addictive,which worries me a little,but,it has been
working pretty good or my mood.But,I am not taking
anymore than my doctor prescribed.

Take care,Sherri

hi all this is vickie i think im having seizures will know soon i dont take adivan but i do take xanax 1 mg for my panic/anxiety and it helps calm me down and xanax is addictive as well i been taking xanax allmost 2 yrs and to be honest they help but is adivan better?" my sister takes klonipin 1mg so i dont know which is better but as long as they calm me im taking them now as for the seizures im having after i have a attack it calms me it down after i have a spell i go to a specialist as soon as they call me for the appt .sherri the meds your on do they help you with your seizures??? im just wondering cause once i start meds i hope they help me cause i hate theses seizures.
vickie

No,none of the meds. that I am on have ever controlled
them 100%.I have mine monthly(catamenial) no matter what,
and my dr. has got to point she is about to say mine are
refractory(cannot be controlled). :(

Take care,Sherri

sherri what is catamenial????
hugs vickie

Vickie,

Catamenial is when you have them monthly,but,only around
menstruation,either before,during or after.Mine are always before
and I have read that most others are too.I was hoping when I
reach menopause they would all stop,but,not always,it is all due
to our wonderful hormones.:rolleyes:

I hope everything goes well today at doctors. Sherri

sherri went to drs (endo) all went well she upped my levoxyl to 50mcgs ,so im hoping i will feel better now i fell once at the drs and again when i got home they called me about going to the indianapolis hospital but my phone has been out for 2 days so they called my husband at work they were suppose have my phone back on by now but not so far so im calling in a bit ,all my labs came out normal cortisol was good tt3-4 ft3-4 all good .the tsh was high but i done knew that so now that im on the 50mchs im hoping i start feeling better ,i still have the seizures though but thats why they are sending me to the indianapolis hospital to keep a eye on me to see how i do when i have a seizure which is i mainly start getting a little scared then i blackout and its like im sleeping i have my kids where i told them if mommy ever blacksput and they cant wake me call daddy.what do you do with your seizures do you passout and all that too do you get any kind of warning its coming or do you just fall .i even passout sitting on the couch ,boy they are scarry and afterwards i get so tired i lay down and go to sleep.i ask my endo about meno i said if i allready had 1 ovary removed and if my other one wasnt working right would that cause seizures she said no so i believe im getting them now like you said the closer to meno is when they come back i have never had a seizure since age 4-10 i did get into hatefull rages as a kid and also when i had pms was that a sign of a seizure i read on the boards where a boy did this if so i had the rages but never passedout from them not till 2006 then in june and july 07 is when i started blackingout .
how well does your ativan work?im on 1 mg xanax 3 times a day as needed but when my tsh got to normal range i didnt need as much so the thyrold does have something to do with this i think,i take the xanax to help calm me down and it does help ,
hope your doing great im so so as of right now it will take about a week before the 50mcgs start working for me and then once i go to indianapolis i can start my seizure meds and hope they can possibly give me back my life ..........hugs to you vickie

Hi Vickie,

I hope the increase on your meds. helps.

As far as me having an aura,I do when it is just a complex partial
seizure,but,when I have the drop attacks I usually don't,only one time
I did and that was bad,because instead of staying in bed,I got up to
let my parents(I had to stay with them for a few months,waiting on the
disability)I was about to have one,not knowing if it would be a CP or what.
Well,I never made it to my parents,but,they heard me call my Dad and by
then I had fell down the steps.Stupid move on my part,but,I guess I was
just so scared.

The Ativan seems to be working pretty good on my depression.My dr.
didn't tell me why she put me on it,just told me to take on days I was
having seizures,so I figured it was to maybe help slow them down some.
But,I now think she put me on it in case of any anxiety I may have had
those days(didn't know I was,usually so tired).Then when I told how much
better it made me feel (mood wise),she then told me to take daily and I
am now off all antidepressants which can cause more seizures on some(never
me though).And now that I am taking daily,I still have my monthly seizures,
but,I my moods are now GREAT!!My family has said,they can even see a
big difference in me,I smile more and my eyes are just so much brighter.My
dr. even said,she noticed a BIG difference in me last time I saw her.


Take care,Sherri :)

wow sherri that is great news they put me on the xanax because right after my surgery i got a very bad panic attack and i was a total mess and as for my female hormones they are fine i do take the xanax 3 times aday and today i took one and didnt take another till 12 hrs later ,i did fall down again today but didnt passout it was a small one but my head still hurts like crazy i was on tylenol but i called the drugstore and he told me to try advil so i took one a little bit ago so i will see if that helps for my head cause the tylenol wasnt helping me 1 bit i was taking them every 6 hrs only 3 times a day though cause they said not to take more then 8 pills a day i go to indianapolis aug 27,28,29,and come home the 30th and i was reading my levoxyl pamplet and it says i can only take certain seizure meds with it but im sure the dr will know all this .my husband at first thought xanax was causing the seizures so i called the mental health ward and they said no only if i took too many at once or if i stopped them cold turkey which i didnt and i was having this even before i knew what was going on ,i know xanax is addictive but for the anxiety it helps and maybe once my tsh levels get to normal range maybe i wont need as much but even when i was within normal range i was still falling so its just something thats happening to me i guess and all seizures dont mean epilepsy .i think the reason i got seizures is when i bit into that electracal cord when i was 2 and it threw me across the floor and it did make me passout then but i didnt start the falling down till i was 4 but my mom said i shook and stuff and was out cold but i will get better oh and my phone is finally back on thank goodness...............hugs and glad your doing fine and im praying i will be too can you drive or did they take your lic from you ??? also do you get the bad headaches??? mine are horrible they about kill me they are so bad....
vickie

I have Ativan for seizures on an as needed basis (for when the aura starts) to prevent runs of seizrues. It's helped.

Whatever you do, don't ever run out, or stop suddenly, as this can be fatal. It's a safe medication but a lot of docs don't take it seriously when telling someone to stop taking it.

Hi Neuro,

Thanks for the advice,I will keep that in mind.I am taking now on
a daily basis,and I take one extra pill on days I am having seizures.

It has me feel so much happier,as if it was some kind of anti-depressant.
Works better than any antidepressant I was ever on.My family has even
said they can see it in my eyes,they are much brighter. :)

Take care,Sherri

Well,as great as this Ativan has been helping me with my anxiety
problem,even though doc put me on it for seizures.I am going to
have to call her today,and they are probably going to take me of
it :( I am having trouble breathing,and it is listed as one of it's severe
side effects :(

Take care,Sherri

Yikes....just see if there's another drug in that class you can take to come off of the benzodiazepines...seriously. :)

Hi Neuro,

Getting ready to go to ER,my parents are coming over to take
me.MY doctor advised this when I talked to her,not so much
the Ativan when I told her that I took another and it made me feel
a little better,but have had bad headaches for 2 days,dizziness,chest
tightness,frequent urination and shakiness.She said it would be better
to be checked at ER.
Just wondering if this Ativan is maybe helping my seizures,becuase this
normally when I would probably be having them,only a few auras and now
instead maybe a panic attack instead of seizure?Never had panic attacks
before though,only anxiety.Any opinions will be appreciated.

I may have to go stay at my parents a few days if ER recommends,
my Dad will ask,I know.

Thanks,Sherri

Hi Everyone,

Back from ER,I pretty much diagnosed myself.The ER said,it was
good that I did take that extra pill(started to feel a little better
after).Anyways,they said that because I have had an aura or two
within the last few days and this is the time I would normally be
having my monthly seizures,what happened was the Ativan was
actually working on helping stop my seizures.But,instead the pressure
in my brain was still built up and had to release in some form,so I was
having an anxiety attack.Never had one before,just social anxiety,and
that is why I was not able to recognize what was going on.
The ER told me that all they would have done was give me another Ativan,
but,I had already done that.So,the doctor actually told me that I had
self-diagnosed myself.
Will call my doctor and let her know in the morning.
I am sooooooo happy that I will not have to come
off the Ativan :D But,they told me to take it easy and rest up
the next couple of days.Still a little short of breath,and bad headache.

Take care,Sherri

So glad you're feeling better, Sheri! :)

Yes, Ativan is a good Rescue Med. I keep it nearby when my simple partials start to cluster and I fear that they are starting to generalizing and will turn into complex partials. Lorazapam (the generic form of Ativan that most phamacies give us) is great for 'panic attacks....' but at just .05 mgs. I say it's awesome at calming down our overly excited neurons in our brain when they have the audacity to seize!

Rest up now!

Hi,

Thanks dogmom,my headache is gone this morning,but,still
a little short of breath and my muscles feel tight all over.I will
take another Tylenol to help the stiffness.I don't feel as bad
as I have the last few days,after having CP seizures,only if I
fall and happen to really hurt myself.

I am going to go rest(doctors order)for awhile now.

Take care,Sherri :)

I"ve got the Ativan for auras as well- when I remember to take them, and don't get too goofy before I remember to do so. But when I do, I seem to have fewer back to back seizures, and wake up clearer (still have headache). I had asked for that med, and my doc agreed, that ERs typically give that IV, so if I could get it in by mouth before the seizure started, it might help- it has.

Still having a bad headache off and on all today,along
with some breathing problems.It is sooooo discouraging.
Hopefully it all subsides when I start my period(like my
seizures do).I read that anxiety can delay your period,
and I know that now from experience.I should have
started by now.This really bites!!

Has anyone else ever had an anxiety attack in place of
a seizure?

Take care,Sherri

I think it's possible to be panicky and have symptoms similar to seizures- like changes in breathing that cause tingling in the hands, visual changes, muscle tremors, etc. But those are generally remembered completely, and stop with breathing into a paper bag and some guided breathing rates.

There's usually some sort of immediate trigger with panic/anxiety attacks. Seizures can be triggered by stress, but it's a build up of days of stress, sleep disturbance, etc. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference other than an EEG during the episode.

Hi Everyone,

I am not positive yet,but,I believe all of these anxiety problems
have actually been caused by the Zoloft that I was just started on
Monday.And it all really hit the roof Tuesday.Like I said,I have never
had anxiety problems and everything that I have been feeling is listed
under the side effects.I am calling my doctor that put me on it first
thing in the morning.I told him with the Ativan that my neuro had put me
on I was fine,but,he insisted.I know everyone says that a doctor cannot
make you take anything.Well,the Ativan has been the best med ever for
me and that is really all I needed,so why over medicate myself if I don't
have to.And with the Ativan being the lowest dose possible.I have only
been taking this Zoloft for 4 days now,so it shouldn't be hard to stop,I
shouldn't even have to worry about weaning myself off,but,I will call my
therapist in the morning.Just keeping everyone informed,thanks for
listening.
Neuro,thanks for the information.

Take care,Sherri

No sweat. :)
I have a problem with all of the meds in the SSRI category (Zoloft in there), with weird symptoms- yawning constantly (actually listed as a side effect, and I purposely don't look ahead at the side effects to not give myself any cues about reasons to complain about the med !! I do look up interactions since I'm on so many meds), tremors, muscle weakness, getting spazzed out over stuff that doesn't normally upset me, etc....that was 2 or 3 of those meds, so I won't take them anymore. Jmho.

You're right- a few days on the stuff shouldn't be a problem- let the prescribing doc know- you might respond to an older medication.

Hi Everyone,

Well, I called the doc and he wasn't in,but,his nurse told me
to stop taking them and see what happens.Well,for a good part
of today I still had a very bad headache,ate a little more than usual
and it has been gone ever since along with all other side effects.
I feel wonderful now :D

Neuro,

I too seem to have problems with taking SSRI's.I have been on
Prozac,it helped at first,but,then I ended up even more depressed.
Wellbutrin XL made me have suicidal thoughts and now this Zoloft.
I am going to stick to the Ativan,as I said before it has done wonders
for me.My whole family has noticed a difference in me,I have my old self
back,the way I was 10 years ago.

Take care,Sherri

Glad you are feeling better.

Are you still taking Keppra?

Yes, I am still taking Keppra,only 250 mg. at night though


Take care,Sherri

Good you're feeling better- it's miserable to feel awful and not know why...

Hi,

Thanks everyone, me too :D

Take care,Sherri

Hi Vickie,

I just read thru the post here and saw the one you wrote
about biting an electrical cord when you were 2 and it threw
you.The day that you posted that was when I was going through
all of those bad days and had to go to ER.Sorry I overlooked your
post.I have been wondering how you are doing.That had to be
really hard on you at such a young age,and then you started having
seizures 2 years later could definitely be the reason.Because when
I was 1 year old and had the high fever 104 and had convulsions
shortly after they gave me the penicillin.Doctors were never 100%
sure if it was the high fever(for many does cause seizures)or the
reaction to the medicine.I never had another seizure though until I
was 4 and they have never stopped since.As you know I am the
same age as you are.

Hope you are doing better.Take care,Sherri :)

Hi Vickie,

I just read thru the post here and saw the one you wrote
about biting an electrical cord when you were 2 and it threw
you.The day that you posted that was when I was going through
all of those bad days and had to go to ER.Sorry I overlooked your
post.I have been wondering how you are doing.That had to be
really hard on you at such a young age,and then you started having
seizures 2 years later could definitely be the reason.Because when
I was 1 year old and had the high fever 104 and had convulsions
shortly after they gave me the penicillin.Doctors were never 100%
sure if it was the high fever(for many does cause seizures)or the
reaction to the medicine.I never had another seizure though until I
was 4 and they have never stopped since.As you know I am the
same age as you are.

Hope you are doing better.Take care,Sherri :)


hi sherri
well guess what im feeling tons better the seizures were caused by the levoxyl i was on im not back on the 50 mcgs of levothyroxine and so far its making me feel soooo much better iam so proud i can walk into stores now without falling or having a seizure its been 9 days since i last had one ,once i stopped the levoxyl the seizures and fainting stopped and im not going back to the endo cause she didnt believe me when i showed her the pamplet from the drug store saying it can cause seizures on that medication well it did she said no well my hubby sees it was he says im a much better person then before he sees a big differece in me i do still take xanax but i still have anxiety but i had that for a long time even before i got the thyrold trouble i just didnt know it but they do help me alot if i didnt have them id be a nervous wreck i only take as needed and sometimes its like 12 hrs later ,i still get those horrible headaches but they are starting to get better see when my tsh (thyrold) is too high is causes headaches and once i get to my right level for me and be on the right dose i will be just fine my endo says i wont need anything higher then the 50 mcgs for life i may still see the endo if this medication works i took it once before so im hoping this time around it works the reason it didnt last time is because the dr i had then overmedicated me and thats what caused me to faint then when i went on levoxyl thats what caused the seizures i cant take the name brands i have to have generic .and yes at 2 i bit into a electrical cord my mom was terrifed if it was me and my kid did that id sure be my mom and dad had 8 kids im number 6 my dad passed away 5 yrs ago and let me tell you i miss him more and more everyday but at least now hes not suffering like he was but i will allways miss him and i think about him all the time .hopew to chat soon just look me up on the thyrold boards im there alot or i will come back and check here .what other boards do you go too ????
(((hugs))) have a great day sherri
vickie

Hi Vickie,

I am so happy for you,that is wonderful news.:) I bet you do feel
100% better.My brother-in-law takes Xanax and he became such
a nicer person to be around,can make us laugh.The only other boards
I have ever posted on was the anxiety & depression boards,mainly
just here now.
I will check in on you to say "Hi" under the thryoid board.
Take care and so happy that your seizures are now under control.
I cannot believe that doctor did not believe you when you took the
papers in to them to show that the medicine could cause you to have
seizures.I bet you do feel alot better going into stores,etc.
I was wondering what happened to you.Glad to know now and again
I am so happy for you.

Take care and ((((HUGS)))) to you too :) Sherri

Hi Everyone,

Well,I haven't been around for 4 or 5 days,had to go stay with my
parents.Like I said before,I didn't have any seizures this month,and
thought it was due to the Ativan.Well,I didn't have them when I
normally would before menstruation,instead it was after.I guess
because I waited and they came after is why I had some whoppers.
I had 16 seizures in 2 and a half days.I took my daily planner of pills
to take,but forgot all about taking the extra Ativans on days of my
seizures,wasn't able to think about it until I came out of my seizure
state.I wasn't even able to do much for myself,alot more worse than
usual.
I hope the seizure increase was not caused by them coming after
my period instead of my normal seizures before.Is that possible?

Glad to be back home.
Take care,Sherri

Sherri, hope you are feeling better. Glad you are home!!!

Thanks alot j2006 :) Me too!!

Take care,Sherri

I know what you mean about forgetting the extra Ativan when the seizures are so frequent- I do the same thing. All I think about when the aura hits is getting to bed, or somewhere safe.

I know what you mean about forgetting the extra Ativan when the seizures are so frequent- I do the same thing. All I think about when the aura hits is getting to bed, or somewhere safe.

Hi Neuro,

It is too bad when our seizures get that severe.I think I
am going to remind my mother and sister and have them
call me if I am still home on days I am not feeling good to
remind me.I tell you this whole week was a doozy for me.

I also mainly think of getting somewhere safe or putting out
a cigarette if I am smoking.

Glad to be back.Take care,Sherri

hey sherri just thought id stop in and say hi to you and nero and all the rest its been allmost a whole month since i had a seizure or a fall and some on the thyriold board tried to tell me that the seizures werent from the meds well it WAS for one when i stopped all thyriold meds the seizures and blackouts stopped im walking into stores and everything i have not fell since and im so proud of this ,i went to a new dr and he ran a bunch of tests on me so i will get results monday i know i need my thyriold meds but the 3 i allready took just wasnt the right ones for me plus my new dr thinks they had me on too high a dose of the thyriold .and this new dr hes going to take me slow to give my body time to get use to the meds and to make sure i dont have anymore side effects omg i was a horrible mess 3 weeks ago im off meds and to tell the truth i dont feel all that bad i know i need the meds though but my dr thinks i may have went hyper and if so then the 50mcgs were way too much .but hes checking all that ,and i truely believe this time i found the right dr for me .i get the headaches but nothing like before is it safe to take excedrin tension for my headaches no asprin i cant take the asprin but says it has caffeine says its like drinking a cup of coffee which is ok as i only drink 1 and a half cup a day sometimes just one then i drink caffeine free pepsi at night its 500mg so will this help its not migranes i have its from my thyriolds being too high says high but means im not producing enough thyriold hormones but once my levels get to normal the headaches will go away cause they did before.
and guess what else me and my family are going to a amisement park so see iam alot better i just hope the new meds i get are better then the ones i tried and im sure they have more then just 3 brands out there for thyriold illness ....
((((((((((((((((hugs to all)))))))))))))))))))))))
vickie
write me back soon im mostly on thyriold boards but will check back here from time to time ok all......

Hi Vickie,

I am sovery happy for you,you must really be looking forward to
going to the amusement park with your family.
I have just got back,I had to go stay with my parents,I had one
h*ll of a week.15 or 16 seizures in just 2 and a half days.I couldn't
even tell my family my name when asked.But,I am back now,just really
tired because I didn't sleep through the night for about 3 days.

Take care and Glad to hear you are doing so good,going into stores
and all :) Sherri