Hi everyone;
My last grand mall was over 4 months ago, but I keep getting auras 3-4 times a month…
I’m currently on Trileptal – 900mg. and since I want to get pregnant I do not want to
Increase the meds. Did any of you have auras while you were pregnant???(I’m waiting for them to come down for over a year but it doesn’t happen…)
I really want to get pregnant!!!
Any advice or info is appreciated.
Thanks.
I am pregnant now. you will have to increase your meds, because the amount of blood in your system increases. Therefore, the meds arent' enough. I hadn't had any seizures in almost five years, and shortly after I got pregnant I had one. I have had some auras, not too bad, I have more than doubled my lamictal (one of the safe ones) and it's going fairly well. I just am trying to be safe, not driving, which is a pain! not taking showers when noone else is home, you know just stuff like that. Most women will have an increase in activity while they are pregnant, mostly because of the blood volume thing, but also because of the extreme tiredness, the lack of sleep, hormone changes! Being pregnant is HARD, lol! But it's worth it! Just be sure that you are taking at LEAST 4mg of folic acid, and prenatal vitamins, start taking them now. I had been takign them for almost a year when I got pregnant. I am sure someone told you that extra folic acid (you can't overdose on it, just dont' take a whole bottle!) will help reduce birth defects, but it helps the most in the first few months, before most women even know they are pregnant! good luck!
Thanks so much for writing.
I was surprised to hear that you’ve increased your meds (When you are pregnant)
I keep trying to avoid increasing my Trileptal (Although I still have auras 3-5 times a month)
I just feel that every time I increase the meds, It gets better for a while and then it gets worse again…
So I’m saying what’s the point?! I’m scared of what can happen to the baby.
But I’m going to talk to my doc. About it now… I would love to hear more about how it goes
And how you are doing.
I wish you the best of luck & health!
You have to increase your meds, because your blood volume increases. It's better to do that, a seizure is far more dangerous to the baby. Tripeltal is a class c drug, which means it hasn't been studied and they dont' know if it has bad effects or not. Of course it is always best to not take anything but we don't have a choice. Have you tried to get on some of teh safer drugs?
I started going to a specialist long before I got pregnant and they told me that even though some of the drugs were classified as D or C that there were really only a few they worried about serioulsy. I take phenobarbital too, and it is a D, and so far I have no problems, at 26 weeks, all the major stuff has developed and he has no problems with them, they didnt' see a cleft palate, which is the most common side effect, but that is nothing at all to worry about, an easy surgery and it's fixed! And actually until recently phenobarbital was used to stop preterm labor, go figure!
But anyway, i doubt there is anyway to get around increasing your meds, all my drs told me that would have to happen, like I said your blood volume increases and your body produces some kind of hormones that bind the medicinde ( i dont' understand that very well). If you were to have a seizure adn fall or stop breathing that will hurt the baby a whole lot more!
If you are still having auras on this med then it isnt' working really well for you, i wouldn't think, but i am not sure of your history. You need to have your seizures and stuff under control before or it would be awful i am sure. I have been really really lucky so far, adn I just keep praying every day it will continue that way! I will keep praying for you too!
Something you may want to check inot (i guess i am allowed to post this, if not I apoligize) if you do get pregnant, is on the FDA's website, there are numbers where you can sign up for stuides on certain meds, I signed up for one on the lamictal, just so there can be more info for other women about what happens!
Good Luck! And find yourself a maternal fetal medicine dr. they are specialists and know all!
Auras & pregnancy?! 
