Posted by med_empowered on January 28, 2007, at 2:43:19
In reply to Re: medication for epilepsy / anxiety and depression, posted by blueberry1 on January 25, 2007, at 21:29:03
Here's the thing: Epilepsy is a very real illness, with very real symptoms. Psychiatric diagnoses are largely guesses, and they vary from doc to doc. So..I'd say...first treat your seizures. When those are truly under control, then address any remaining psychiatric symptoms. Keep in mind that both seizures and anticonvulsants can have psychiatric effects.
Have you tried Phenobarbital? Its old school, but added to other anticonvulsants it can help. Plus, it's cheap, readily available, and can help with sleep, anxiety, etc. There's also Frisium, which might help more than the Valium but keep you in the benzo family. Depakote is a good call, and Dilantin might also help--its older, but also has some uses in bipolar. I think there's a version of it pre-mixed with phenobarbital.
Also, consider trying supplements under the guidance of a trained professional. Some people with epilepsy find that supplements reduce the number of meds they take and the dosages of meds.
Good luck.
poster:med_empowered
thread:726372
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070125/msgs/727354.html