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memory loss during exams

My daughter is nearly 17 and had her first siezure 8 months ago. After an mri it was discoved that she has a 1cm brain cyst. She was prescibed tegrato 400 and takes it twice daily. Since taking this medication she seems to have memory loss under stressful situations, mainly exams and her grades have dropped by 30 percent. She was always a good student and studies a lot. Nothing else explains the change and her understanding during lesson time is great according to her teachers. Is there an alternative to tegratol which does not have these side effects, or do all anti epileptic drugs cause these problems?She has not had another siezure since taking tegratol and I dont want to risk causing one by asking her doctor to change the medication. Also I have read that tegratol affects calcium level in the body and also thyoroid. Underactive thyoroid and osteoporosis run in our family so should we change medication regardless?
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1563109 tn?1295585149
I have had seizures for many years. My opinion for what it may be worth. Talk to your Dr. about reducing the amount of medication to see how low she can go with out having another seizure. I had to insist on this happening and the Doctor would only do it in the hospital. I was able to go off a 400 mg. of Lamactil in 5 days after being on it for 10 years. My mind is much clearer, My balance is steady.( I had to use a cane.) I am know on Clonazapam 2 time a day( 1mg).  My mri does not show a (spot ?) I have had a some absent seizures where it is like a day dream for a few minutes and no one is home but I am not having grandmal seizures. Ask for another MRI to see if her body got rid of it on its own. The symptoms you mention were like mine. They are much better, I am on less med.and feel more in control of things.  Check  again with your Doctor. don't wait. I did and should not have.
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1487578 tn?1307838543
my name is michele if you are considering changing you can try depicote my dr.s put me on that after we realized my kidneyes were failing from the tegretol
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Minneapolis, MN
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