New Anticonvulsant Information
This web page is to provide you with information about your medication. It is not a substitute for medical care. If you have any questions about your medications, please contact your doctor or local pharmacist.
Introduction:
Felbatol is a newer medication for seizures. It is added to other seizure medications to help give better seizure control.
Use:
Felbatol is effective for simple and complex partial seizures. It is also used for Lennox Gastaut syndrome in children. It is hard to predict how Felbatol will help you. Some people get better seizure control with Felbatol, others do not.
Side Effects:
Adverse effects may happen with Felbatol. Most are mild to moderate, and some get better as you take the Felbatol. The most common adverse effects are trouble going to sleep, weight loss, decrease in appetite, dizziness, tired feeling, nausea, and headache.
About 1 in 4000 people have severely decreased blood cell counts with Felbatol, called aplastic anemia. Frequent blood tests are required with Felbatol.
About 1 in 26,000 people have severe liver problems with Felbatol. Frequent blood tests for the liver are required with Felbatol.
Pregnancy:
Felbatol did not cause birth defects in animals. Felbatol has not been studied in pregnant women. If you are taking Felbatol and become pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Felbatol does get into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breast feeding.
Effects of Other Antiepileptic Medications on Felbatol:
Felbatol increases the amount of Dilantin, Depakote, Depakene, Tegretol and phenobarbital in the blood. Phenobarbital, Tegretol and Dilantin decrease the amount of Felbatol in the blood. Ask your doctor about dose changes if you are taking these medications.
Dosing:
Felbatol is usually started slowly over 3 to 4 weeks. This helps to prevent the adverse effects of Felbatol. Do not stop Felbatol without your doctor’s advice. Felbatol doses must be decreased slowly.
Contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse for questions about your medication or condition.
Introduction:
Gabitril is a newer medication for seizures. It is added to other seizure medications to help give better seizure control.
Use:
Gabitril is effective for simple and complex partial seizures. It is also useful for partial seizures that spread to tonic-clonic. It is hard to predict how Gabitril will help you. Some people get better seizure control with Gabitril, others do not.
Side Effects:
Adverse effects may happen with Gabitril. Most are mild to moderate and some get better as you take Gabitril. The most common adverse effects are dizziness, weakness, nervousness, tremor, diarrhea and depressed mood. Gabitril may worsen absence seizures. Talk with your doctor if you think you may have absence seizures.
Pregnancy:
Gabitril did not cause birth defects in animals. Gabitril has not been studied in pregnant women. If you are taking Gabitril and become pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Gabitril does get into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breast feeding.
Effects of Other Antiepileptic Medications on Gabitril:
Gabitril may decrease the amount of Depakote and Depakene in the blood. It does not affect the amount of Tegretol or Dilantin in the blood. Tegretol and Dilantin can decrease the amount of Gabitril in the blood.
Dosing:
Gabitril is usually started slowly over about 6 weeks. This helps to prevent the adverse effects of Gabitril. Be sure to take your doses with food. Do not stop Gabitril without your doctor’s advice.
Contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse for questions about your medication or condition.
Introduction:
Lamictal is a newer medication for seizures. It is added to other seizure medications to help give better seizure control.
Use:
Lamictal is effective for simple and complex partial seizures. It is also useful for partial seizures that spread to tonic-clonic. Lamictal can help seizures associated with the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome like drop attacks and it can be effective in generalized-onset seizures. It is hard to predict how Lamictal will help you. Some people get better seizure control with Lamictal, others do not.
Side Effects:
Adverse effects may happen with Lamictal. Most are mild to moderate and some get better as you take Lamictal. The most common adverse effects are headache, nausea, dizziness, restlessness, weakness, blurred vision, and rash. A rash can be a warning of serious skin problems. Call your doctor immediately if you have a rash on Lamictal.
Pregnancy:
Lamictal did not cause birth defects in animals. Lamictal has not been studied in pregnant women. If you are taking Lamictal and become pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Lamictal does get into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breast feeding.
Effects of Other Medications on Lamictal:
Dilantin, Tegretol, and Phenobarbital decrease the amount of Lamictal in the blood. Depakote increases the amount of Lamictal in the blood. Ask your doctor about dose changes if you are taking these medications.
Dosing:
Lamictal must be started over 6-8 weeks. This helps to prevent the adverse effects of Lamictal. Do not stop Lamictal without your doctor’s advice.
Introduction:
Neurontin is a newer medication for seizures. It is added to other seizure medications to help give better seizure control.
Use:
Neurontin is effective for simple and complex partial seizures. It is hard to predict how Neurontin will help you. Some people get better seizure control with Neurontin, others do not.
Side Effects:
Adverse effects may happen with Neurontin. Most are mild to moderate and some get better as you take Neurontin. The most common adverse effects are dizziness, trouble sleeping, tiredness, tremor, double vision, and loss of balance. Weight gain is also common.
Pregnancy:
Neurontin did not cause birth defects in animals. Neurontin has not been studied in pregnant women. If you are taking Neurontin and become pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Neurontin does get into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breast feeding.
Effects of Other Antiepileptic Medications on Neurontin:
There are no important drug interactions with Neurontin.
Dosing:
Neurontin can be started and increased quickly. Decreased kidney function can increase the amount of Neurontin in the blood. Do not stop Neurontin without your doctor’s advice.
Introduction:
Topamax is a newer medication for seizures. It is added to other seizure medications to help give better seizure control.
Use:
Topamax is effective for simple and complex partial seizures. It may be effective in generalized-onset tonic-clonic seizures and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. It is hard to predict how Topamax will help you. Some people get better seizure control with Topamax, others do not.
Side Effects:
Adverse effects may happen with Topamax. Most are mild to moderate and some get better as you take Topamax. The most common adverse effects are dizziness, restlessness, nervousness, balance difficulty, decreased concentration and attention, memory difficulty, and depression. Decreased appetite and weight loss are also common. Kidney stones occurred in 1.5% of people taking Topamax in studies.
Pregnancy:
Topamax did not consistently cause birth defects in animals. Topamax has not been studied in pregnant women. If you are taking Topamax and become pregnant or want to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. Topamax does get into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breast feeding.
Effects of Other Antiepileptic Medications on Topamax:
Topamax decreases the amount of Depakote in the blood. It also increases the amount of Dilantin in the blood. Tegretol and Dilantin decrease the amount of Topamax in the blood. Depakote minimally increases the amount of Topamax in the blood. Topamax also decreases the effect of birth control pills. You should talk with your doctor about other methods of birth control.
Dosing:
Topamax is usually started over 6-8 weeks. This helps to prevent the adverse effects of Topamax. Do not stop Topamax without your doctor’s advice.
If you or family members have a history of kidney stones, be sure to tell your doctor. Drinking plenty of water will help prevent kidney stones.