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seizure medications

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Q: Is it true that anti seizure medications can make birth control less effective?
I’m on Topamax for bipolar disorder, and I know it’s also an anti seizure medication. I’ve heard that some medications for seizures can make birth control pills less effective.

Is this true?
Is Topamax one of them?
Is there a pill that won’t effect the medication I’m on now?

A: Yes it can! Trust me. I had no absolutely no idea. I was taking the pill regularly and then all of a sudden I was pregnant.

Whenever you are taking any medication at the same time as the pill, you should ask your doctor exactly what you are taking so he can make sure that both the Topamax and birth control pills will still be effective.

Even if you buy cold and flu tablets or pain relief tablets, check with the pharmacist.

I know some cold and flu tablets should not be taken with Topamax as it makes the active ingredients in Topamax less effective.

Q: Over time, can anti seizure medications cause cirrhosis of the liver?
I have epilepsy and have been on anti seizure medications, such as Tegretol, Dilantin, Depakote, Keppra, etc, since I was 9 years old (I’m 25 now… and female). I’ve been noticing some strange symptoms lately, like bruising, upper right abdominal discomfort, and loss of appetite. Am I jumping the gun on this and being overly dramatic or should I see a doctor?

A: I think you should definitely see your doctor. Liver problems can be a side effect of most anti seizure medications (and most other medications too). I’m currently on Dilantin and Depakote and it’s been affecting my liver too. Your doctor will often check your liver functions when he/she checks your blood levels. But if you are having symptoms, I would definitely go see your doc.

Q: can seizure medications interfer with a pregnancy if the medication came from the male?
my brother is on seizure medication and he got his girlfriend pregnant. will the medication interfer with the pregnancy? is the baby in danger?

A: Check with a physician. to ascertain the discharged effects of medication not removed by your brother’s liver. Your baby may not be in any danger at all.

Q: Do all seizure medications have sexual side effects of some kind?
I’m on Trileptal, and lately my sexuality has been on the decline. It’s hurting my relationship, I fear.

A: Just like any medicine Trileptal had a bunch of side effects, but there doesn’t seem to be any sexual ones. It’s possible that there is a mental cause. I know I sometimes get a little depressed after I have a seizure, and especially when I was first diagnosed. Or maybe there is something else that has happened or changed in your life recently?

Q: What happens if oral anti-seizure medications are mixed with alcohol?
Medically, what is the effect on the brain and body? At what point is it leathal? Could a sixteen year old girl who had seizures but was other wise healthy have died from combining the two, or were other drugs involved? Thanks.

A: Seizure meds are sedatives. Mixing alchohol can be very dangerous since it will dramatically increase the sedating effects of the seizure meds.

Q: Is it safe to take the generic drug for all seizure medications?

A: Generics in most cases are safe. They are the exact same chemical compound, just lack the brand name.

If you needed to take the brand for some reason, your doc would have told you specifically to get the brand name, as well as written it on the script.

Q: Is it ok to take oxycontin with my anti seizure medications depakote and lamictal?

A: Yikes, oxycontin should be taken off of the market it is a seriously natouriously bad drug that can lead to dependancy and the feeling that you have really bad pain, when it is the drug…in addition it causes depression and paranoid thoughts. I would talk to your pharmasist and doctor and avoid this pain killer.

Q: How do seizure medications work?
I am taking zonegran, lemictal, and clonazepam.
like neurochemically, neuroanatomically, etc..

A: Zonisamide is used in combination with other medications to treat seizures in adults with epilepsy. Zonisamide is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Zonisamide controls epilepsy but does not cure it.
The exact mechanism of action is not known for zonisamide. According to Leppik, while zonisamide may be a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor like acetazolamide, this is not one of the primary mechanisms of action, which might be blocking repetitive firing of voltage-gated sodium channels and reduction of T-type calcium channel currents, or by binding allosterically to GABA receptors like the benzodiazepines and muscimol, or increasing the levels of the glutamate transport protein in the brain while decreasing the amount of GABA transport protein, in other words, inhibiting the uptake of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA while enhancing the uptake of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.

Lamotrigine is used to treat certain types of seizures in patients who have epilepsy or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a disorder that causes seizures and often causes developmental delays). Lamotrigine is also used to increase the time between episodes of depression, mania (frenzied or abnormally excited mood), and other abnormal moods in patients with bipolar I disorder (manic-depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Lamotrigine has not been shown to be effective when people experience the actual episodes of depression or mania, so other medications must be used to help people recover from these episodes. Lamotrigine is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.
One proposed mechanism of action for lamotrigine involves an effect on sodium channels, although this remains to be established in humans. In vitro pharmacological studies suggest that lamotrigine inhibits voltage-sensitive sodium channels, thereby stabilizing neuronal membranes and consequently modulating presynaptic transmitter release of excitatory amino acids (for example glutamate and aspartate)

Clonazepam is used to control seizures. It is also used to relieve anxiety.
Clonazepam exerts its action by binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABA receptors, which causes an enhancement of the electric effect of GABA binding on neurons resulting in an increased influx of chloride ions into the neurons. This results in an inhibition of synaptic transmission across the central nervous system. Benzodiazepines, however, do not have any effect on the levels of GABA in the brain. Clonazepam has no effect on GABA levels and has no effect on gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase. Clonazepam does however affect glutamate decarboxylase activity. It differs insofar from other anticonvulsant drugs it was compared to in a study. Benzodiazepine receptors are found in the central nervous system but are also found in a wide range of peripheral tissues such as longitudinal smooth muscle-myenteric plexus layer, lung, liver and kidney as well as mast cells, platelets, lymphocytes, heart and numerous neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines
Zonisamide (generic name) Zonegran (brand name), Lamotrigine (generic name) Lamictal (brand name) and Clonazepam.

Q: how long does one have to be on seizure medications?
what if the seizure follows with just slight jerks once in three months.

A: you need to speak to your doctor regarding that!

Q: What effects do anti-seizure medications have one dogs?

A: Anti-epileptic drugs such as Phenobarbital are commonly used to reduce or prevent dog seizures. Below are listed the most common dog seizure drugs here for you, to inform you about their side effects.

Phenobarbitol:
The side effects of Phenobarbitol are sedation, loss of coordination, lethargic, appearance of depression, weight gain, increased thirst, increased eating, excessive urination, difficulty balancing, weakness in the rear legs, and elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) levels which is found by blood tests. Another side effect is the dog’s system becomes used to the drug, and will usually need a greater dosage to maintain control. Dogs taking Phenobarbital need to have their liver enzymes tested every few months to check for possible liver damage. Phenobarbital can cause severe liver disease.

Potassium Bromide:
It is prescribed and used to lower the dose of Phenobarbital. Side effects of Potasium Bromide are vomiting, depresssion, lethargy, and extreme drowsiness.

Clorazepate:
This drug has been used in conjunction with Phenobarbital. Clorazepate is a benzodiazepine drug of the same group as Valium. Side effects of Clorazepate are sleepiness and a wobbly gait.

Felbamate:
It is often given in conjunction with Phenobarbital to lower the Phenobarbital dose. Blood samples need to be taken to check for the possible side effects of liver toxicity and bone marrow suppression.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)
It is often administered as a supplement to other anti-seizure medication such as Phenobarbitol and Potassium Bromide. My personal experience with this medication was my Mother and Sister, who have had multiple back surgeries each. Neurontin caused mental confusion in both of them, and forgetfulness. My sister nearly burned down her kitchen on Neurontin. I couldn’t find any information on the side effects on dogs, but I would not recommend putting your dog on it.

Levetiracetam: (Keppra)
Used in people to control both focal and generalized seizures. Keppra has been used in dogs in combination with Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide to lower the daily dose of Phenobarbital received, and in cases where Phenobarbital was not able to control the seizures. Keppra side effects in dogs include a stiff wobbly gait, vomiting, and salivation.

Zonisamide:
Dogs taking this drug need to be their salt levels monitored.

Natural remedies
Natural and holistic treatments may also be used as a gentler alternative to conventional prescription drugs that often bring about some serious side effects. Herbal and homeopathic remedies are safe and very effective to reduce the symptoms of epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Two well known herbs such as Passiflora incarnata (Passionflower) and Scuttelaria laterifolia (Skullcap) contain active ingredients that help to support the natural equilibrium of the nervous system. Homeopathic ingredients such as Hyoscyamus, Belladonna and Cuprum mettalicum helps to maintain stability and balance of the nervous system for cats and dogs.

You may get additional details over here http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/pets/easesure-nervous-system-cats-dogs.htm

Q: is rum cake ok to eat while on seizure medications?
does alcohol bring on epileptic seizures??? and if so with what medication?? please answer with real answers thank u

A: if the rum cake has rum flavoring – ok

if the rum cake has some alcoholic rum baked in it, most of the alcohol has “cooked” out of the cake.– then okay

if the rum cake is baked with the rum (alcohol) and then poured over with rum (alcohol) – Not good.

Q: Do you believe John Travolta’s son was not given seizure medication because it had failed to work?
As a pharmacist I know that much like blood pressure, seizure activity can almost always be controlled with the right medication or combination of medications. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a parent stopping a child’s medication therapy for not working without seeking out something that did work. That being said, Do you think Travolta and Preston’s scientology led them to not give Jett the medication his body so badly needed?

A: No, I don’t believe they didn’t give it to him because it failed to work. Yes, I think scientology led to them not giving Jett the seizure meds. Scientologists believe diseases are caused by SPs (suppressive person). Scientologists are also against any type of psychology/psychologist treatment. This includes medication for seziures. Scientologists consider them psych drugs.

Q: Has epilepsy or seizure medication affected your ability to play the guitar?
I have played the guiat for thirty years and have recently begun having seizures. I have found some problems with the medications giving me shaky hands and some unsteadiness. Anybody else have the same problem and able to work through it?

A: I don’t have the same condition as you… I am bipolar… but I have taken some of the same meds, possibly.

Let’s see… I took Depakote for a year or so, at a pretty high dosage. Took lithium for probably 8 months. Tried gabapentin, Seroquel, and one or two others that I can’t remember the names of. I’m currently taking Lamictal.

None of these really affected my ability to *play* per se, but the Lithium and Depakote did cloud my mind up a fair bit. It was very easy for me to get distracted, to lose focus, to be forgetful, and I was tired a lot. I took Adderall to offset those effects and combat the weight gain, and that did help me out a lot.

When I have had checkups my doctors have always had me hold out my hands flat in front of me to see if my hands are shaking. I am under the impression that shaky hands is not a Good Thing.

I would strongly advise you to talk to your medical practitioner as soon as possible and discuss this with them, if you haven’t already.

Let me put it this way – if I said that my libido was down a little, they’d shrug and say “we’re sorry, that is one of the possible side effects”, but they’d always spend a couple of minutes looking at my hands.

I dunno, I’m not trying to be alarmist… but when it’s your health (and your guitar playing!) involved, I’d rather be cautious to the point of paranoia rather than take any chances.

I wish I had some concrete advice to give you… the best I can come up with is to get plenty of sleep, limit the amount of time you play standing up, stay well hydrated, and to practice in moderate amounts every day to keep that hand-eye coordination in the best state you can keep it in.

Saul

Q: I need help with my seizure medications i am very confused as to what to take and re try?
In short I am a 37 year old female that was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago and I was put on topamax then tegratol now I am wondering if the fits of anger I have been having are in any way related to the meds or if I have another issue altogether my doc put me on Lorazepam again at my request I spend so much time just blowing up and screaming around the house. It seems as if the tegratol is making it worse and also I worry the tegrotal may render my marina IUD ineffective. That would be really bad. I would not like to have any more children.

A: topamax and wellbutrin

Q: Does vitamin B3 (Niacin) “lower” the seizure-threshold of some anti-seizure medications?
I know that Evening Primrose Oil and Barage Oil lower the seizure-threshold, causing a patient on anti-seizure medication to have more seizures.

What I am concerned about, is the side-effect that is produced by taking Niacin. This side-effect is known as the “Niacin-Flush” and has similar sensations to an aura or seizure.

If Niacin does NOT lower the seizure-threshold, perhaps the STRESS of the “Niacin-Flush” may bring about seizures in individuals with a seizure disorder.

Please cite your source of information.

Thank you for aiding me in this important research.

A: Niacinimide the synthetic version on Niacin is considered “no-flush”
Perhaps you can correlate data from Niacinimide and find out if it is in fact the “flush” that is producing more seizures.

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