I suffered depression for several years before discovering that lamotrigine was to blame for it. Prior to that I had been on Keppra, which had been even worse. I'm on Lacosamide now, which is much better. It's worth discussing this with your doctor as there may be alternatives. Best of luck to you.

The feeling of depression with epilepsy is natural. Some of the depression is from the medication and some of it is because you are living in fear that you might have a seizure again . Hang in there.

I had similar experiences as tattyhead when I was on carbamezapine since I was a kid, it's actually gotten way better on lamotrigine but the seizures have gotten worse :( Not really sure what to do, transitioning from one med to another is so disruptive and I feel waaaay better now.

rrosinski, have you switched meds lately? Have you been feeling depressed for a while or just recently?

I was in a similar situations: I had been seizure free for a few years, graduated and had a job. I was and still am on Lamotrigine and I got depressed.

My first piece of advice would be seizure prevention is number 1. If your seizures start again you could get more depressed and they can be dangerous. If you have spent a while finding a medication that stops them with minimum side effects, then STAY on that because it can be difficult to take that journey again. Many people take lamotrigine as an anti-depressent or for bi-polar, but it can effect everyone differently.

2nd advice: Keppra is known to cause depression (and 'rages'). People have found relief from those by taking vitamin B (do research! this could be a bad idea if taking lamotrigine).

3. I found meditation helped. I went to meditation classes and then developed a routine at home. It wasn't enough for me though.

4. I started writing everything that had bothered me over my life, things I felt guilty about, people who I hurt, people who had hurt me, what bothered me about myself incase I was harboring negativity that I wasn't aware of and that was bringing me down. This helped too.

5. I went on a mild antidepressent. I didn't want to initially, but I calculated everything that was right in my life and couldn't find anything that would be causing it or could be solved. Depression isn't a natural state for the brain to be in, so the anti depressant (MILD) must have balanced the endorphin's and lifted my mood. I took them for about a year and went off them with no problems, so from personal experience, this is the path I would take again if I needed too.

I wonder if depression is particularly common around mid-20's?

Good luck!

talk to your neuro about it, it could be the medication. I couldn't tolerate Keppra or Neurontin because of depression. Especially on the neurontin it crept up so slowly that it took me awhile to recognize it. People with epilepsy are also more prone to depression. Even though I don't suffer from depression as an actual dx it is part of my migraine aura and migraines and seizures are related as well.

I can relate to you very well. I am eighteen and have had epilepsy for almost a decade now. I have been struggling with depression since I was nine and have tried to commit suicide twice by taking more of my medicine then I should have. The ways I cope are to write or draw, allowing me to put my feelings on paper or I talk to someone I trust. I wish you luck and I hope this will help.

I was on Mysoline for years, tens of years even. My Epilepsy was well controlled. But it has a side effect of depression and I was trapped in it for years. Ask your pharmacist if any of the meds you take for Epilepsy or anything esle, if applicable have a side effect of depression. Then talk to your doctor if the answer is "YES". Talk to him/her anyways. From that conversation may come tips to alleviate the depression.

Depression does happen with this. It is even worse after the event happens. I'm 43 and talk to no one about this. I just signed up for this site for the same reasons. I have never signed up for anything like this , or even talk about it. i'm married work full time, drive and have a nine year old. several times a day it comes into my mind and passes by. Most of the time i'm fine, but the sadness of dealing with this or the results from this. The way i am treated and talked to by my wife. I feel like i'm damaged goods and have to deal with it. If anyone else needs to talk, i'm here. All Posts i see are several months old. It all finally caught up and i have No one to talk to. I hide this from every one. Have to sisters and 2 young parents that i cant talk to about this. Having a full time (plus) job and commuting 3 hrs a day and friends that i lost touch with due to my wife hating them all since they are women. It was easier to stop talking instead of fighting. They all hated each other which sucked, but that's why i have no one to talk to. Some co workers know, but i act like nothing ever happened when it did like 3 years ago full blown. I hide it from everyone else.

I have epilepsy for over 11 years. Bad m/c accident. Piece of skull removed. Haven't had a grand meal in over 3 years. I lost a lot of friends. Use to have so many. And now I just got leukemia cml. Crazy now. Don't want to do much. I am 58. Worked out all my life until accident. But to much pain to workout anymore. Even walking isn't easy very far.

And the way that stopped grand mail is by marijuana cbd(for seizures)

This isn't a tip but a question. You are a beautiful young lady and I'm not sure at what age you were diagnosed but my daughter was diagnosed at 11 and just turned 13. Her seizures are also very unpredictable and have not been able to be controlled with medication.
My question to you is, when you found out you had epilepsy what did you feel? We're you scared, embarrassed, worried, angry???
My daughter will not talk much about her feelings but she has changed so much since the diagnosis. She was once my little mermaid and now water terrifies her. She was once so happy and full of joy and now is angry and bitter. She also tends to make up very intricate fabricated stories. So I am wondering if there are ways I can support her that I am not. Are there things I can do to help her? What do you wish someone would have said or done for you? And advice at all would be amazing.
Thank you in advance and as a sufferer of depression for many years just remember that depression doesn't care if everything is going well in your life or not. It just comes and goes as it pleases. I know for me, meds have worked but it took years to find the right one. Just don't give up!!!! Much love!!!

Depression has many root causes, including medication used to control Epilepsy. I was on Mysoline and was depressed for tens of years until I was taken off of it. My neurologist at that time said that depression is a side effect of Mysoline. Certain forms of childhood trauma and trauma in general could provoke depression as a concequence of the trauma. As for your medications, you can call your pharmacist and have him/her tell you if the medication you are taking has a side effect of depression. Depression itself can be due to imbalance of brain chemicals in the brain. This is more of a psychiatric issue. I hope this might be helpful.

I too suffer from depression. Could be life issues, meds & seizures that contribute to feelings. I don't know how much is from each factor though. I take Dilantin, before it was phenobarbitol (that's some strong stuff!) Anyways a couple of years ago I got tired of losing my license because of the seizures that I told dr. about (who then reported to DMV) so I took matters in my own hands and have been using Charlottes Web (strain of marijuana) and it works great! It tastes nasty but not belittling like waking up in a strange place after a seizure. I still take 2 Dilantin pills because I'm scared of seizures still and I have been more successful at fighting my depression. I'm pretty sure its because I've cut down on western meds but there's no data to back me up!

One needs all the facts. Some medications for Epilepsy do have a side effect of depression. I know Mysoline does. I experienced that first hand. Not forcing that on you as a definite reason. Just to be aware of side effects of your medication you are taking. But depression has many roots apart from situational depression. Could be a concequence of a trauma in your life and the connection has not been made, or a chemical imbalance in the brain that is not neurological in nature. Ask your family doctor. He is the best one to help out in enabling you to understand your depression sometimes.

Depression hits without warning for me. I find myself on the couch all day and everyday tasks are difficult. I went to the doctor and was given a scrip for anti-depressants. It helped tremendously but I also had to work at it. Journaling is great.