on Tegretol and strange symptoms after waking Posted: 12-02-07 14:35pm
Hi there all
I have been epileptic since the age of 9,
I am now 36 years YOUNG (smile). I
actually came off the medication, Dilantin
when I was 17. It was due to my
extremely high tolerance of alcohol, when
I started drinking, it seemed to bring it
back on when I was about 20 or so. I was
put back on Dilantin and then eventually
Tegretol was added to that. Luckily for
me, I guess, I usually have a lot of
symptoms that may last for about 30 mins
to 2hrs before it actually comes on and I
go unconscious for a while.
Anyway, it has not affected me for a very
long time, I lived life normal, was in
cadets, driving, and doing many activities
with caution, no smoking and no drinking.
Also trying to get a patterned rest.
Here is where it gets puzzling for me.
I moved to England 2 years ago, they have
no Dilantin here so they put me on
Epatulin together with the tegretol.
There are times when I may drift off in
front of the television or computer like
everyone else I know, but when I come out
of my doze off, I feel very very sick.
The first thing I feel to do is go to the
toilet, and there I feel as though a fit
wants to come one. It is a very weird
feeling. When I sought of suddenly come
out of that doze off I feel lost, almost
as though I have no clue where I am or
what happened.
This has never happened to me before, I
normally doze off and I would have no
problems how many times I jumped out of my
sleep. I don't know if to attribute this
to my change in medication, change of
climate, change of diet?????? I have a
fast release Tegretol tablet that I take
if this happens and it avoids the attack
coming on. I really cannot afford to have
attacks happening now where I need to be
driving (though I know when an attack is
going to come on, but doctors have to
follow the law) and I am about to get back
into my studies.
So is there anyone who experienced
anything similar to this can give advice
on this. It is driving me crazy know that
after all these years I have not had a
problem and all of a sudden I cannot even
drift off.
