Anyone here take anticonvulsants ?

[douglasr]

I've suffered from benign brain tumours since 1998 and have had three tonic-clonic seizures since 2005 (2 this year). It appears that this may be the result of scar tissue from a previous brain operation.

Anyway, I take Epilim Chrono(Sodium Valproate) currently and following a visit to a neurologist 3 weeks ago just about to start on Lamotrigine in an effort to stop regular aura and partial complex seizure symptoms.

I'm interested if anyone here takes the same or similar drugs or knows someone that does and if they can tell me how long it took for the seizure symptoms to improve or stop completely. I miss having a driving licence !

[mrsxllifts]

I take Epilim too, last seizure 1998, had my driving licence since 2001, but I am lucky that I have always been able to tell when I am about to fit so think that helped drivingwise. I think you need to be three years clear or under control, dvla website should be able to help. ,

[douglasr]

mrsxllifts said:

I take Epilim too, last seizure 1998, had my driving licence since 2001, but I am lucky that I have always been able to tell when I am about to fit so think that helped drivingwise. I think you need to be three years clear or under control, dvla website should be able to help. ,

Its currently one year seizure, aura or warning free. I get plenty of warning too. Yesterday it was spacial awareness problems followed by mixing up my words or not being able to find the word I wanted. That's the first time that's happened, normally its just a visual aura. So, 12 months from yesterday until I can get my licence back. I start my new drugs tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

[mph1977]

another point to add ref driving licences is that you will lose any vocational categories from your licence even if grandfathered at the merest hint of epilepsy or prolonged anticonvulsant therapy...

[mrsxllifts]

you get a basic, no frills/extras license and, if like mine, you have to re-new it after 12 months, then 2 years, then 3, am now on a 5 year re-new which hopefully if goes ok, should then be on a 'norrnal' time span.

Getting a warning makes a huge difference according to the doc I saw at the start of it and if you have any, knowing your triggers. I do the forgetting words thing too (mr XL calls it the alhiemers warning!), along with 'zoning out' and smelling gas.

[BlackVanGirl]

My girlfriend does, she had brain tumours when she was younger. Most drugs have a pretty short half-life (eg it all got a bit dramatic when she had a tummy bug and was puking and couldn't keep her meds down), hard to be specific because it's all so individual. Best bet will be to email your neurologist and ask, probably.

It's not been possible to stop Sarah's seizures completely, is it still the case that if your seizures are really really predictable/reliable (eg only ever in the middle of the night when asleep) you can be allowed to drive?