Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group

Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. It is commonly controlled with medication, although surgical methods are used as well. Seizures (or convulsions) are temporary abnormal electrophysiologic phenomena of the brain, resulting in abnormal synchronization of electrical neuronal...

647 Members

2,812 Posts

0 Online

daninflorida 04/10/2010

I take 400 mg tegretols, 2 x twice daily. And yet sometimes I still feel weird, that's the only way I can put it. Usually I take an extra one and go to bed. I was supposed to take my car to the shop for maintenance, I just called them and said we'll have to do it another time. Plus my friend got in trouble, I posted about that on the depression board. But taking the extra pill and taking a nap always works for me.

deleted_user 04/11/2010

I don't know it it is a good idea to raise the pills by yourself without consulting your neuro, usually any increase or decrease in dose has to be made slowly under medical supervision and over a certain period of time. It is possible that the sudden increase and decrease of your meds can cause you seizures. Have you tried to just have a nap without taking an extra pill?
I used to take tegretol too and the first thing the doc said my mom (I was a child back then) was to not alter the doses unless he said so.

daninflorida 04/11/2010

What you're saying of course makes a lot of sense. I've done this many times over the years and especially consider it an important strategy if I'm away from home and have to drive home. Otherwise I would not want to drive. I think I told my neuro about it. I've been doing it so long I don't remember. Thanks for the advice.

deleted_user 04/11/2010

Hello Danin,

I agree w/ Guy! The point of taking our AED's as prescribed & consistently is so we will retain the MAX dose in our system at all times. Fluctuations of that dose can cause seizures &/or the 'weird' feelings you are experiencing.

Stress may have affected you, too. Sooo, Definitely talk to your neuro. YOU may feel 'safer' taking that extra pill, but, is it SAFE for you? I don't think so! So, tell him/her about your symptoms.

Also, consider a Journal. More info on what to include under 'Recommendations'. :)

Love Candi

tattyhead184 04/12/2010

I was prescribed diazepam (valium) to take as and when needed (po/pr/prn is what they put on the bottle). If you could ask your doctor for some of those, that would be a much better idea.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000757.html

deleted_user 04/18/2010

I have the same thing that happens to me, I just feel strange sometimes. My son notices it and usually I stay close to home if not lay down for a while. If you tell your doctor they don't understand. It is a so hard to explain what strange means, you just don't feel right. I talked to my Neuro and she looked at me as if I was nuts. But I had a seizure a few months back and I called my Neuro and she told me to take a higher dose of meds and lay down and come see her in the morning. So I think if the doctor can have you do that randomly then I don't see what the problem would be to take extra every now and then when you feel weird.

deleted_user 04/23/2010

Actually a lot of the seiz. meds have a "delayed reaction" which can make your body hard to figure out what's happening.

Join the Conversation