Re: Dilantin VS Lamictal

Posted By Warren on June 28, 1997 at 20:43:45:

In Reply to: Dilantin VS Lamictal posted by Warren on June 28, 1997 at 20:39:25:







: Hello: I am diagnosed as having seizures (complex partial that secondarily
generalize). An EEG I had done related the following: "The EEG is mildly
abnormal, demonstrating scattered sharp activity in the frontal regions
and brief bursts of spike, sharp and slow sharp activity". I have been
taking Dilantin 400 mg bid daily for about 18 years. I have annoying
cognitive side effects, and also suffer depression/anxiety. My seizures,
however, are controlled except for an occasional aura now and then,
related to flickering lights, ie: sun through trees.

I am interested
in the possibility of changing to Lamictal (as monotherapy). Does it have
fewer side effects than Dilantin? Is Lamictal used alone for my kind of
seizure disorder? Is the Dilantin causing my depression/anxiety, or is
that caused by the seizure disorder? I've heard that an EEG showing
problems in the frontal region of the brain (like mine), can be tied to
various mood disorders. Finally, I have an extremely unpleasant knot
in my stomach (tension) all of the time. I can't decide if it's the
anxiety problem (too much adrenalin/cortisal in my system?) or something
to do with the seizure disorder.

Any comments and/or suggestions would be very appreciated.


PS: I made a "typo"! I meant to say 200 mg Dilantin bid - not 400 mg bid!