Seizure disorder and pregnancy

Re: Seizure disorder and pregnancy

• thisiskate member

  July 2015

  I have epilepsy as well. I'm pregnant with my second child. I'm taking zonegran 200 mg daily, switched from topamax when we start trying with #1. I take 1 mg of folic acid twice a day that was prescribed and 800 mcg from the drug store + what's in my prenatal. My ob said I can take up to 4 mg daily. My seizures have been under control and I haven't had one in 10 years almost. My daughter was born without any birth defects. I went to a high risk ob at about my 17-18 week to get an ultrasound to make sure everything looked ok. He told me "your boring", which as a patient you want to be. I also did weekly non stress tests at the end.

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• gvgauthi member

  July 2015

  I have been on topamax for years but switched to Trokendi (400mg per day) because of the side effects I was experiencing. When deciding to get pregnant, my neurologist over a year ago tried getting me on Lamictal but unfortunately had some serious side effects. The same happened with Keppra. When it came time to get pregnant I titrated myself off the Trokendi over a 3 month period before we started trying. Not sure if that was the safest thing for me but no seizures since I got off and I'm 21 weeks. Anatomy scan came back normal too. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!!!

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• NinniN86 member

  July 2015

  I am 35wk preg & hv sufferered syncopic seisures for many years. I was on Cinnerazine & Pregabalin which i was weined off during 1st trim & on high folic acid still. I became anemic which makes me v dizzy so also on iron & now on bed rest till birth from other problems 2. But i can gladly say only 1 seizure after 1st trim & baby is very big, healthy & all tests hav came back good even wif the meds during first few months. Good luck preg is hard enuf without all the extra worries of ur own health & how these things affect ur baby. Much love xxx

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• lavenderash member

  July 2015

  I didn't find out about my first pregnancy until 4 months in. As soon as I found out I went off my carbamazepine pretty much cold turkey. At that point I hadn't had a seizure in several years. My neurologist said to keep an eye on things and if I ever had an episode to go back on the meds - it would be unsafe to have a seizure either during pregnancy or after I had the baby in case something happened while holding my newborn. She also told me that despite what the studies show, there was almost no increased risk of spinda bifida with use of anti-seizure medicines during pregnancy. My son WAS born 2 months premature, but there never was a reason given for it, just one of those fluke things. He's now 9 months old and I still haven't had another seizure even though I'm still off my medication. I have epilepsy as well, and my seizures usually begin with a feeling of deja vu followed by a simple partial seizure. It's like a jolt goes through my body and then it feels like it's slowly draining. I end up being "spaced out" for up to 30 minutes or so. I can still function during them, I'm just not always fully present. I've had the deja vu feeling on a number of occasions since going off my medication but it never progresses beyond that, thank goodness. 
  
  I'm now pregnant with my 2nd and still off the carbamazepine. I'll keep monitoring this one the same as the last, but for now I'm happy to be off the medication. Even if it's just the slightest of risk to the baby, I'd still rather not be taking anything if I can help it.

  
  

  
  

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