Drugs update

List of drugs tried & tested so far

1.Keppra
2.Carbamazapine
3.Lamotrigine
4.Oxcarbazine
5.Topiramate
6.Phenytion
7.Clobazam
8. Zonisamide (slowly increasing this one over about 6-8weeks)

I am currently on 3,6,7 & 8........ (Back on 4 at once)

My specialist epilepsy nurse said its no more affective being on 4 drugs at once than on 2.
The problems with being on all these drugs at once is:
More side effects of feeling generally crappy, fatigue & tiredness, due to the amount of drugs in my blood/system. So my consultant, docs and specialist nurse all want to reduce the amount of drugs I take. oh and of course me as well.

I also can't lower or change any of the existing drugs, whilst adding in a new one for 2 reasons
1. It will make my seizures go a bit mad and worse and possibly make all of my existing side effects worse.
2. The docs won't know if its the new drug making all of this happen or reducing one of my old drugs that is making it all worse!
So they keep me stable on all the other med's when introducing a new drug. And the drug of the month is now 'zonisamide'

With trying a new drug it can all seem to be good at the start with helping my seizures and providing I don't get any immediate side effects everything looks positive. Then after a little while it's as if my body says 'yeah whatever!' and carries on as before. It gives me false hope :-(
With zonisamide my nurse said it can take several weeks for it to build up in my system, but it is a very affective drug for a lot of people. Lets hope I don't get any side effects!, won't really know until my doses get bigger tho.

My consultant said because I seem to be particularly sensitive to drugs that they would do this one slower.

Next appointment with consultant is in a couple of weeks and we can discuss how I'm getting on with zonisamide.

Think that all makes sense!