Suicide risks

Be aware: F.D.A. Finds Increase in Suicide Symptoms for Patients Using Seizure Medications

One of the drugs I liked - Depakote, along with Lamictal, Topamax, Keppra, Lyrica and Neurontin have been linked to increase suicide.

Neurontin, as best as I can remember, does absolutely nothing to help with seizures and I’m not too sure why they even prescribe it at all. A few years ago I read a piece about how some families were suing the makers of Neurontin for that very reason. It did nothing.

It’s important to self evaluate your mental state while taking these drugs. The Depakote helped relieve me of grand-mal’s but it does this by slowing down my mental functions. It slows down the brain - which lessens the chance of a missfire. The bad part is, you do think slower. I suppose most of these drugs do the same. Thinking slower may work against seizures, but it’s not easy on your psyche. You begin to question who you are.

Self evaluation is needed because if you get depressed, thinking slower only strengthens the sadness. (Especially if alcohol is involved.) It’s a nasty combination. Do yourself a favor and get on another drug if depression takes over.

I know, you don’t want to go to the doctor again and fool with that. Just do it. You don’t have to be living with depression. Slug thru it and keep going.

And remember, if you ever really feel like killing yourself - e-mail me your phone number at tomkorioth at yahoo dot com. You don’t have to keep feeling like that. I know, it sucks.

Epilepsy Drugs

Don’t settle. If you are like me you don’t want to take any drugs. The side effects and the daily hassle to take the drugs are a struggle on its own. Don’t let that bother you and don’t just settle on a drug just because you don’t enjoy the hassle of bothering the doctor. Your doctor works for you; although I know there is nothing that saps your soul more than waiting around a doctors’ office. Bug the hell out of your doctor. If you are not happy with your doctor, find another one.

Your goal needs to be to find a drug that allows you to function on a daily basis. There are enough drug choices now that you shouldn’t settle on something that doesn’t do the job. - mainly getting rid of the grand mals.
For people like me the main struggle was against the grand mals. After 15 years of half-ass drugs I finally settled on Depakote - which did relieve me of grand mals but had the unfortunate side effect of slowing my thinking down to a crawl. Still, it was worth it to get rid of the grand mals.

FYI: My good life long friend and former Governor Ann Richards suffered from epilepsy.

I'm giving my Krusty Brand seal of approval to Depakote.