Can medications cause stomach problems ??? - Epilepsy Message Board

BAHAMAS · 12-01-2008, 11:19 AM

Hi

I am presently taking Keppra & Lamictal for my Epilepsy & I wondered if
if any medication can cause stomach upset , ulcers or any heartburn/acid reflux problems ?

Thanks Craig

030free · 12-01-2008, 12:24 PM

Any medication, not only for E can cause stomach problems or other side effects depending on the person taking them. It can take time for your body to adjust, and rarely it can also mean the body its having problems accepting and proccessing such meds. When I began Keppra yrs ago, I too had some stomach upsets, but after a month or so my body adjusted and until today I no longer have problems. If your new at taking these meds, you can try taking them on a full stomach or a glass of milk, it helps with your stomach coating, if you continue to have problems you should speak to your neuro asap especially if symtoms worsen... Hope you feel better
Laura

dogmom · 12-01-2008, 01:18 PM

Oh Lordy YES these meds can affect your digestive tract! I have IBS so these AEDs have wreaked havoc on my poor tummy...so much so that my doc ordered a colonoscopy/endoscopy (bleck.) Thankfully, no polyps (there is a history of colon cancer in my family) but I have developed an ulcer due to the meds.

Hopefully your stomach will adjust to the meds in time. Mine is just hyper-sensitive, I guess. But hey! I've lost 28 lbs I didn't really need to drop since I started riding the medication train 3 yrs. ago (which has included stops in Lamictal-land, Dialantin-ville, Topamax-town, Carbatrol-city, um, what else? Oh yeah, Lyrica-land was especially fun, now I'm staying in Keppra-ville and the Zonegran-Zone!)

Hang in there.