New epileptic and HORRIFIED - Epilepsy Message Board

tanaiah94 · 05-26-2008, 09:22 AM

Hi I had a tumor removed from my right frontal lobe nearly 3 years ago and then ended up with a staph infection. I now have epilepsy. I started off with Grand Mals, then started having them while conscious. I am frightened all the time.
I now will have an aura first then my face pulls down on one side, I start dribbling and biting my tongue. Then I stiffen up, cant control my limbs and make that ghastly noise when I cant breath and am frothing at the mouth. I hear my children screaming in fear and they run out of the room.
I haven't had a seizure for almost a year (I do have either panic attacks or auras though) I hate to go out on my own.
About 3 weeks ago I had the sensation of my face pulling down again, I rubbed it and it went away. I am now permitted to drive. What do you think? I am on Trileptal 600mg, Dilantin 350mg, Frisium 20mg, Rivotril 3mg and Aropax 10mg per day. I feel terrible all the time and am not sure whether I am having panic attacks, auras or am losing my mind due to all the pills. I have suffered severe anxiety all my life. I have also gained 10kilos, are any of my meds known for weight gain?
Please help

penny96 · 06-11-2008, 08:34 AM

Hi Tan, I'm surprised that noone has replied to your post. I am also an epileptic and have been for 25 years. You were concerned that your meds were causing weight gain. The meds you listed aren't typical. I know that tegretol can cause weight gain and Keppra can cause weight loss. You mentioned that you can drive, does that mean you no longer have seizures?
If the answer to that is yes, just go on taking your medication to continue being seizure free and exercise to lose weight.

Penny

SentenceDoing · 06-11-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penny96

I know that tegretol can cause weight gain and Keppra can cause weight loss.

I actually had the oppposite response. Tegretol didn;t affect my weight at all, but when I added Keppra, I gained weight. When my Tegretol doisage was increased, I lost the weight I had gained. Recently, my Keppra dosage was increased again, and I've gained 10 lbs. Overall, I've gained about 25 lbs since I started Keppra.

penny96 · 06-11-2008, 05:25 PM

I'm surprised you've gained weight with Keppra. I've been taking it for 5 years now and since I can't seem to gain an ounce. I think that alot of it has to do with Keppra reducing your appetite. I find that I'm not eating as much, I'm more eating to live rather than living to eat if you know what I mean. I hope that Keppra is controlling your seizures because it is mine pretty well. I only have 3 seizures/year.

Penny

030free · 06-11-2008, 09:57 PM

I no longer have seizures as you know since surgery last year, but In still on Keppra and I also have a problem with gainning weight, but when on tegretol 7 years ago, I was 10 pounds heavier which was good. I eat normal, a lot at times, my appetite dont change, but I loose more than I gain, I though it had to do with one's metabolism