Is seizure medicine addicitve? - Epilepsy Message Board

crystalw · 02-24-2004, 05:58 AM

I went to the seizure specialist yesterday. He said that seizure medicine wasn't addictive and it wouldn't cause seizures if you stopped it. (I had heard that it could) He said if you have seizures and stop the meds then you will have them again but it won't cause them. Here's my thing. When I tried to go off the topamax even by 25mg I got a HORRIBLE migraine. I had to cut my pills a little at a time and even then I had to take maxalt for the headache for a few days. Anyone else with that problem?

tkdmom96 · 02-24-2004, 10:56 AM

Hi again,

Well, we learned from our Epileptologist/Neurologist a couple of things over the years...

1. If you have seizures and stop meds, you will likely have seizures again because your brain "knows" how to have a seizure, the pathways are there

2. Seizures can occur from medications themselves, if you in fact don't need the meds or if the medication levels are too high (toxicity) for your body

Our daughter was toxic twice over the years as we adjusted meds. That is why doctors are slow to increase or wean meds.

You mention "seizure specialist"...is he an Epileptologist? Or has he done a fellowship in Epilepsy at a clinic that specializes in Epilepsy?

Vicki
mom of Katie, the most courageous young lady I know

Lisa T · 02-24-2004, 02:27 PM

Crystal we have talked about my bouts with headaches due to topamax... I have to take magnesium oxide for that reason... I'm not cutting back though, we are always increasing! So the headaches are the topamax!! If I forget to take my morning dose, by eleven I'm down with a horrid headache. I call it my med alarm clock, I try to Never let it go off!!!!

How are you doing now???

Lisa

tkdmom96 · 02-24-2004, 05:23 PM

Hi Lisa T,

That was one of the side effects that our Ep mentioned to us, I forgot to mention in the last post. I looked in the "book" I keep for Katie, as to why we decided not to try Topomax. She decided to start Katie on Lamictal instead.

All my best to both of you,

Vicki
mom of Katie, the most courageous young lady I know

KaitiePrincess · 02-24-2004, 08:58 PM

From personal experience, all I know is that I've come to RELY on it...but I don't know if I'm so much addicted to it.

The first thing - in regards to Topomax, I was on that first - and I'm going BACK on it...if I forget to take a dose - yeah, I take a trip through head ache city too...and seizure city if I wait too long but DEFINATELY headaches!

Then I was on Lamictal and they took Topomax away...apparently my body liked topomax and hated lamictal...I had headache after headache and sadly SEIZURE after SEIZURE...now I'm back on Topamax AND lamictal just for now so my body stops screaming and then they will SLOWLY take the lamictal away for good...

I think thats the key though - the most delicate BALANCE in the world...it's no so much an addiction - but a calculation and a gentle balance between what your body and soul can tolerate without losing touch...and what your brain needs to be seizure free.

Love Kaitie!