Lamictal or Topomax? - Epilepsy Message Board

valerie43 · 06-19-2003, 09:22 AM

Hi! This is my first time to your site. I am luckier than a lot of you because I have had only 2 seizures in my life, both 6 years ago, but I am terrified to go off medication for obvious safety reasons. My neurologist has had me on Lamictal, and it has kept me from having any more seizures; the only drawback is that I have some memory loss (occasionally can't remember fairly important things), and I also sometimes have slurred speech and cannot get the right words out in a conversation. I recently read that Topomax is being used as a preventative for migraines, which would be great because I get horrible ones about every 2 months. Then I learned about the weight loss side effect. I am 30 pounds overweight and am really tempted! My neurologist says that Topomax is about the only other anti-seizure medication that he would recommend for me, and it's up to me to decide which one. He did say that it is more likely to cause me to be less mentally sharp and out of it. If I am already having memory loss with Lamictal, how much worse off do you think I would be with Topomax? Has anyone out there been on both of these?

mommajessibelle · 06-19-2003, 09:38 AM

i have been on both meds but not at the same time if read through some of the past post you will find some things about topamax i am currently taking the topamax right now and if youthink you are already having memory problems and slurred pech then my guess is you dont want to take topamax lol this as far as i am consirned is a BAD drug as far and losing weight i havent lost any i have been on it for a while now and havent lost weight now i know every person is different but topamax has some awful side effects that just dont go away good luck in what ever you decide

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homer975 · 06-19-2003, 10:30 AM

I have just started on Lamictal, it has been two weeks. I was on zonegran, but it stopped controlling my seizures this spring. So far, I am much happier...zonegran was supposed to have the weight loss thing, I didn't see it. It did however make me feel as though were always walking in a haze once we started to increase the dose to control the seizures, which it didn't anyway. As for memory loss, mine has gotten worse, but not because of meds. Mine is caused by the damage to the hippocampus. My PDA has been my lifesaver.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by homer975 (edited 06-19-2003).]

Disabled · 06-26-2003, 12:57 PM

Hi. I've never been on this site before, but I was trying to find the manufacturer of Topomax and came upon your query. I take 100mg of Topomax daily for migraines. I also take Inderal daily, and occassional shots of Imitrex for breakthrough migraines. I had constant headaches and the Topomax works wonders. I also lost weight with it, and it didn't seem to bother my memory any more than any of the other meds I'm on for various reasons. I'm on 13 different medications, so it would be hard to tell. If you are only getting migraines once every 2 months, you may want to use Imitrex, but if you want the other benefits, I feel that Topomax is a great drug! I've never used the other one you mention, but it has really worked wonders for me. Good luck to you.

Ferny · 06-28-2003, 12:50 AM

Hi Everyone

I am New to this board/website, i came across it when looking around on websites about epilepsy etc...Iv also got epilepsy, probably ever since i was about 2-3 when i had a couple of funny turns,but generelly the epilepsy wasent really diagnosed until i was about 7 years of age...I started out on Tegretel, but that didnt do me any help so i was put onto epilim which i was better off on for quite a number of years, but having fits/seizures on the odd ocasion or so but not as often as i was when on tegretel.Have been on epilim ever since then up until the last month or two, when i started out on lamictol because it came to a point where epilim was making me put on alot of weight where i would weigh about 77/78 pounds. So recently, for about 5/6 months now i have been going to the gym, and that has made a differennce in my weight.I am down to about 68.90 (as of yesterday friday,27th june 2003) Big difference huh...But also lately i am having abit of a downer with my epilepsy. I seem to be fits about every 6 days at the moment either "during the night/early morning" when im still asleep or "upon waking" in the morning...So unfortunately its not all that good at the moment...I was also wondering, is there anyone out there that is "in the same boat as me" so to speak, that would perhaps like to keep in touch?? maybe we can share ideas/information and whatever else...I have heard that it can help people to talk to others with the same condition as them.It can help them to have an understanding and know wot its like and wot not etc......

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Ferny
Ferny Chick
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