My doctor just put me on trileptal because my neurontin has started losing its effectiveness. It makes me nauseous and very very sluggish. I can't concentrate, I can't think straight. I feel like a zombie. I asked for something different but my doctor insists that I give this a shot first. I still have a full time job and I'm a salesman so I talk to people all day long. That's hard to do when I can't put a sentence together. Does anyone have any tips to overcome the side effects? Something that might counteract them?
Hi - I just started trileptal along with gabapentin. Rough zombie start too but it is evening out after a few weeks. Talking all day long must be a really difficult challenge. I have sentence structure difficulties too as well as big gaps where words should be but I try to stay calm and keep my momentum going because it is the flow of talking that saves me. Take some comfort in the thought that people won’t know how weird and scary you are feeling in your head.
I am in sales too, and on the phone and was at 1200 mg of Trileptal, and had MVD, in Oct, now pain is back so im back up to 900 mg.. It makes me have aphasia ...bad.. I talk backwards, jumbled up, even type sometimes my words will be out of order.. the best advise I can give for this is just to slow down.. Its hard to concentrate on it for me too, but honestly its the best medicine that I have used for it. My neurontin didnt work either, or Tegretol, that one was giving me really bad side effects, so maybe once it has been in your system for a few weeks those side effects will fade away.. I also notice that I bruise really easy when I take it.. im not sure why, but it has some weird side effects.. but I hope if works well for you, <3
Survival! = TWO of THE best tips I got off here in the last 2 years -
- before my MVD - I was on medium dose trileptal -- side effects of thinking and talking never eased up.
I was able to lower my dose by putting prescription lidocaine patches or cream on my skin - patches better, 12 hours relief
AND I talked to neurologist about having 1 bottle of low dose ritalin-- used only on days HAD to concentrate and talk
- all his epileptic patients are fuzzy headed - and it helps them when they realllly need to be their best normal-- I don't think you could get a year's worth but any decent neurologist or primary would back you up to counter-act side effects
Finally got sick of it all and had MVD
Let us know if you are able to get better help!
I've also been on tegretol and it was also rough on me. The gabapentin was great. I had no side effects other than it making me really hyper. I had breakthrough pain more frequently on it, but I'd rather have the pain once in awhile and still be able to function. I really wish it was still working. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I'll definitely ask my doctor about the lidocaine patches.