Which one of your medications has changed your life?

The survey I have just taken was regarding my medication which is Lamotragine.  I used to take Keppra which was dreadful, so when I had the new medication it was such a relief to really start to feel like my old self again.  I feel like every month I get nearer and nearer to the person I always was.  I had a huge episode in July, and was hospitalised, nothing since then and the meds will hopefully keep me free of seizures.  Here's hoping that one day I will get my driving licence back again and begin to regain the life I once had. 

I find it terribly isolating having epilepsy, as it scares me to go out on my own, hence I tend to spend nearly every day on my own stuck in the house, even the garden scares me sometimes.  I am learning though to trust my medication, so little steps, but hopefully by next Spring I will be going out and about again and walking my beautiful dogs.  I am trying to keep very positive:)

This survey was very informative. I didn't mind answering all the questions.

I suppose the questions and therefore the answers given, were entirely relevant to some respondents, but I do not believe the answers I have given added in any way to the sum total of knowledge.

I'm currently taking solpodol 30/500s,Tramadol,Pregabalin,amytriptiline,Atenalol,ramapril,indepamide,dioxazosin,amolodapine,metaclopromide,gaviscon and movicol oh and vitamin D3.my life is a train wreck.i don't want to take any medication.PS forgot to mention I also have a spinal chord implant which I have to charge once a week via my utility belt.and I have a Cpap machine as I have sleep apnea.which I have to wear every night to sleep.reading this you can understand I have no friends ,no social life,basically no life I stay at home unable to work and I look after my disabled son.But I get on with it I know there are people out there worse off than myself.

not all questions were tailored to me. With my medicine I take it as and when I need it, there was no specific choice for that answer.

Because I take excessive amounts of medication including 5 different ones for erratic hypertension 4 for pain and others for sickness constipation and acid reflux a lot of the questions did not relate to me.

I have been on various medications for depression and anxiety for many years. I have social anxiety and find it difficult meeting people. I was put on pregabalin last year and went up to highest dose 600mg along with highest dose of duloxetine. The pregabalin made me very hungry and I put on a lot of weight, felt very bloated and more self conscious. The pregabalin lost its effect after about 10 months. I slowly came down to 150mg of pregabalin and lamotragine was added in. I feel better but still slightly anxious. Have difficulty sleeping, dry mouth etc. On full dose of pregabalin my appetite increased, was extremely forgetful and went about in a daze. I am also on inhalers for asthma and chronic lung infection, underactive thyroid, IBS, and had a failed operation for flexor tendon injury for which I get a steroid injection in my hand. Many years of stress has made me lose confidence, lack self esteem and you feel like you are never going to get better. Depression and anxiety ruins your life and I feel unless people are going through it others dont understand.

I find once I take Frusimide I am restricted in my movement  as need to stay near toilet always as I cannot wait long. This last for about six hours a day so I cannot go out etc and get excercise i could do with too

I started with back pain about 35 years ago when I was in my mid thirties.  I wasn't diagnose with AS until I was 55 when things got so bad and I was losing mobility that I decided to go private.  The Consultant at the time prescribed Nabumetone which for me has been a "God send".  They take a few days to kick in but then the pain disappeared completely.  I took them every day for about 10 years but then started with stomach problems as they are known to cause internal bleeding.   The Doctor prescribed Omeprazole to counteract the effect of the Nabumetone but of my own volition I decided to try taking the Nabumetone only if I had pain.   This works well for me and I manage the situation more or less by listening to my body.    I also find that by visiting the gymnasium at least twice a week it not only keeps me reasonably fit but it helps considerably with my mobility. I can't undo what has already taken place and my spine is fixed for more that a foot in length at the base, also I have no rib cage expansion, however I am determined not to get any worse if I can help it.   Until recently I was with Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where I saw the consultant annually who did my measurements and assessed how I was getting on.  I moved house about 5 years ago and was transferred to Scarborough which leaves an awful lot to be desired compared to my previous support.  Fortunately I cope alright on my own but would have felt better had I had the knowledge that there was someone to contact should I need them.

I take various medications for peripheral neuropathy and if I am absolutely honest I find that they are becoming less and less effective and I have much more pain and find getting around very difficult.  I now even resort to a wheelchair when travelling otherwise I use crutches when walking.  I have been told that there is no real solution for neuropathic pain so I just try to grin and bear it as it were.