Brain Injury Support Group

Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.

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Traumas & Injuries
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Amantadine?

goldenorf
goldenorf
Hello all I'm new here and hopefully can get some support.

where to start! I had a TBI 18 month ago and seem to be getting worse over time I have just been diagnosed with post concussion syndrome and asked to take amantadine but I am very wary of tablets as since the TBI all tablets I take seem to have a magnified effect on me i.e. one paracetamol is like taking 4 or 5 and this effect seems to be with all tablets and medication so was just wondering if anyone out there has or is taking Amantadine and could give me any information thanks all.
cheesecake88
cheesecake88
goldenorf, just wanted to say Welcome to the group. I have not taken Amantadine, but like you I am hyper sensitive to meds. I can not take anti depressants, instead of making me sleepy, I become manic aggitated, but I do take an anti seizure med, low dose, that helps calm my brain, so I usually say "go slowly" low dose, even start at half a tab to see how you react because we are all different. I believe there are some here who have taken the med somewhere in the past posts. Let us know how it goes if you try it. brainline.org has good info as another resource. Hugs
anita926
anita926
Hello and welcome. I like Cheesecake also took an anti-seizure called Trileptal. It worked fabulously for 10 years, but I got low blood sodium and had to get off or die. I took a med that made me gain 20 pounds and didn't help at all. My therapist then was shitty. I found my old therapist pre TBI and he said bullshit to staying on it like the last doctor insisted She said it took time to work. There are a lot of shitty psychiatrists out there. I pay for mine since he doesn't take insurance. A lot of the good ones don't but there are still some good ones that do.

It took me a long time to find the right meds. I am on them now and am very happy some times but almost always have good days. For pills to work right you also need counseling. I was in a mental hospital after trying to kill myself. They said meds are only 70 % of the fix. You need to be the rest.

I wish you luck. Remember, nobody can force you to take a med. You have to be pro-active and consult either several experts or get the right mix for you.

My psychiatrist has a wonderful sense of humor. How many psychiatrists are funny. Before I met him; none............He gets me. How I think, feel, want out of life, my faults, problems and bla blsa bla.

Keep on trucking. It looks like you have a good reason. Happiness in our life is important just like feeling well while trying.