Pregnant with Epilepsy (anyone else?)

Lhanly

Anyone else been on epilepsy drugs such as Lamictal or Topamax during their pregnancy? This is my first baby and I'm on both of them. I'm a little concerned because Lamictal is known for cleft lip and palate.

I'm only 10 1/2 wks along but I'm concerned that I will have seizures during my pregnancy and I've already m/c once.

 

 

ada0716

This is also my first pregnancy and I have epilepsy and am still on my meds.  I am on Keppra 1500 mg a day.  My doctor tried to get me on Lamictal at one point when we were gearing up to start trying to get pregnant but I kept having break through seizures, so we tried the Keppra and it works great.

I am seeing a high risk OB, a Fetal Specialist and my Neurologist for bloodwork every month.  I would discuss w/your OB being referred to a Fetal Specialist if you aren't already.  They don't deliver babies, but they watch the baby while you are pregnant and usually have more sophisticated u/s machines in their office than your OB.  I get an Ultrasound once every four weeks for them to check out LO and so far he is perfect...no cleft lip, heart defects or neural tube defects...

I don't know if any of that helped but you are deffinitely not alone!

Mouseygail

I wish I had more info for you, but my sister is epileptic and was on meds during both of her pregnancy and has two perfect little girls.  Good luck to both of you!!!

Dec31stBride

I don't have epilepsy, but I was a scientific liaison for an epilepsy drug (not the ones you're taking). I just wanted to suggest you ask your neurologist and/or ob/gyn about adjusting doses when necessary for the lamictal - the levels can change dramatically due to hormonal flux (I think I recall the biggest shift is around l&d / post-natal period - you should read up on this stuff). I don't know about Topamax, but try to focus on the fact that a larger % of babies are born totally fine w/ Lamictal than with abnormalities - and cleft palate can be repaired if it does occur. Plus, its safer for you and the developing fetus to be seizure-free. Oh, and sign up with the pregnancy registry!

Good Luck! 

solnyshko79

I do not have epilepsy, however I am TTC and taking SSRIs, so I recently asked my OB GYN if he had anoyone on a specific SSRI I am on, he said no, but he mentioned that he recently had a girl on Lamictal, and she had a perfectly healthy baby. It will all be all right!

ephilpott

I am epileptic and TTC. I am currently taking Primidone and Topamax. My neurologist had told me sometime ago...that when I was ready to TTC that the meds I currently am taking should be fine, especially the Primidone....because there is a great deal of research out there on that medication. He wasn't too sure about Topamax....but said that since I'm on a very small dosage of it anyways, it should affect TTC or the ability to deliever a healthy baby. Check with your neurologist and she what he/she has to say in regards to Topamax because there isn't a whole lot of research out there on the effects of that drug.