Is lithium the cure for epilepsy?

Question

I had epilepsy as a child a fall on the ice last year brought it back. I have grand mal seizures, and they have frightened my entire family. I take nine pills a day. One for my thyroid. 5 for the epilepsy and 3 for depression. I can no longer do anything by myself. I can't go anywhere by myself. The depression is only getting worse. I get b shots and take iron. Then there is the puffers. I am so tired of medications. I'm tired of the pain and no answers. I'm only coming up on 40 and my body is 40 years ahead of me. I feel like I have lost my life. My boyfriend is afraid to take me fishing anymore. I'm the youngest person in the doctors office...in more than one doctors office. I'm tired of not having control of my life. I am desprate to get my life back. I just wish it didn't have to mean more pills, but I want my life back. I'm terrified that I will have a seizure while having sex? I pray I never do. Desprate for help and a cure where Doctors have failed.

Answer 1

Lithium is not a drug for epilepsy, as someone else has previously mentioned.

I feel bad for you, although I am going through a lot of the same frustrations. I have adult-onset epilepsy and if I don't go three or four days without having a grand-mal, then it is a great week. Yes, I am considered a "difficult" case (or medication refractive, if you want to get technical). I am on four different seizure meds, so I take 11 pills a day, plus I have a vagus nerve stimulator implanted. You may want to look into that...it is about the size of a pacemaker and it implanted on the left side of your chest. There are wires that lead up to your vagus nerve (so there are two surgical incisions, one on your chest and one in your neck to get the wires in place). Basically, it tries to retroact the seizures by shooting voltage back into your brain. It takes a little getting used to...I've had mine for about nine months and can barely tell when it goes off. The surgery is outpatient and you are in the operating room for less than an hour. Look into that, or ask your doctor. It also has been shown to help with depression...

Just be careful. If you get auras before your seizures (mine range from a weird headache to a stomache to dizziness), make sure that you get to some place safe...i.e., the bed, the floor. Somewhere where you can't hurt yourself. It also doesn't hurt for your family to educate themselves a bit more on epilepsy, so they know what to do when you have a seizure. Have someone hold your head so that you don't hit it hard (my husband puts his hand underneath my head), have them turn you a little to the side, in case you vomit and even have them talk to you during and right after your seizure. You won't hear what they are saying, usually, but it calms the other person and keeps things a bit in order. My husband will even just sing or tell me nonsense, if he can't think of what to say. Everyone who knows me knows what to do when I even start to get a little glassy-eyed. Make sure that you have a Medicalert bracelet or ID tag, just in case you have a seizure when you are out without a loved one.

And...I know you really don't want to hear this, but you should NOT be driving. I had my license yanked pretty quickly after the DMV found out I was having seizures.

It does limit your life until you find the right combination of meds/treatment. Don't feel bad about getting a second, third, fourth opinion.

I wouldn't worry about having a seizure DURING sex, but I know I've had them afterwards. My seizures are brought on by overstimulation, stress, etc.

My best thoughts are with you.

Answer 2

I hear ya on the meds. I take 10 piills a day for my epilepsy and I wish there was a cure. There are only different types of treatments. If the meds arent working there is a few options. One would VNS therapy. That is basically where you have magnetic chip by vangus(sp?) nerve and it only works if you can sense your seizures coming. If you can't then there is the ketogenic diet. That is a very strict diet that you go on and I'm not sure how it works. Other than that the only the only other option out there would have to be surgery and considering the type of seizures you have i don't think your a canidate but i could be wrong.

Answer 3

Lithium Seizures

Answer 4

Dizziness is one of the side effects of Tegretol (or Carbamazepine), but I'm not sure of anxiety. What I do know is that apart from Tegretol being used to control epilepsy, it can also be used as a mood stabilizer. For this reason tegretol is supposed to treat anxiety, and not to cause it. If you're taking more than one medication, anxiety could be the side effect of something else. Check with your doctor.

Answer 5

LITHIUM IS NOT FOR EPILEPSY. It is for manic-depression. You need a lot of help. Talk to your doctor about the medicines you are taking. Epilepsy medicines may sound like, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Dilantin.....

Answer 6

To your query NO.
Lithium is used as a natural calming agent,there have been many resorts built up around Lithium Springs,ie Lithia Springs,Ga.

Answer 7

You are going to the wrong doctors. DO NOT TAKE LITHIUM, see a specialist. There is no cure.

Answer 8

Making dietary changes is your first line of defense in treating hypothyroidism. Learn here https://tr.im/uexTo

Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

1. Just say no to the dietary bungee cord. Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar, including refined carbohydrates like flour, which the body treats like sugar. Make grain-based carbohydrates lesser of a focus, eating non-starchy vegetables to your heart’s content.

2. Up the protein. Protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues and enjoying it at each meal can help normalize thyroid function. Proteins include nuts and nut butters; quinoa; hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products (organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and sustainably-farmed fish); and legumes.

Answer 9

some neurologists are starting to use electrical implants to control epilepsy that isn't being controlled well by meds.

this article
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060220/20brain_5.htm
gives you some info.

You can't control everything in your life - so use your energy controlling the actions and events you can control.

Answer 10

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