Lacosamide and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Joa...
• November 9, 2020

Lacosamide for Seizures "Vimpat is a horrible drug, very toxic! I had many side effects: headaches, nausea, tiredness, constipation, flatulence, stomach discomfort, shaking of hands, depression, heart palpitations, memory problems, muscle pains (legs and back). I felt terribly tired and could not cope with my daily activities. I had problems with speaking, my memory and my concentration got a lot worse. My sleep was badly affected. I had to quit my job and my social life. Every day was a struggle and I felt as if I had lost control of my own life!!! This drug had a terrible impact on my life and DID NOT eliminate my seizures. I now see that I am not the only one to have experienced those side effects, though my previous doctor denied many of them. I still ask myself why my previous doctor is so fond of this drug???? Partnership with pharma UCB? As he was resistant to change this drug, I have decided to change doctors."

• Sal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2019

Lacosamide for Seizures "I have been taking Vimpat for a while now and had a lot of these symptoms listed below. Tiredness, dizziness, headaches, double vision, loss of balance, feeling faint, shaky/trembling, nausea, shortness of breath, pounding heart beat, trouble sleeping, dark urine, irritability, panic attacks, worsen anxiety, memory issues, ringing in the ears, can't find the word when speaking, weight gain, nervous tics, and itching. On top of that my seizure activity seemed to increase, not decrease. I have told my doctor over and over again and she told me to increase the dosage! Then, the doctor tried to push the VNS surgery on me. I thought about it at first, but I have not read the best reviews on that either. I feel like she is shoving Vimpat and VNS surgery down my throat so she can get kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies."

• See...
• November 13, 2018

Lacosamide for Seizures "Vimpat 200 mg, 2x/day. 10 mg clobazam 1x a day. Vimpat is a honeymoon drug, it works great for a few years and then: -ringing in ears (highly manageable) -insomnia -Memory issues! -laziness sets in, everything is a chore! For people using Vimpat in their 50s, you will eventually experience all the above, especially if on the max dosage. Your biggest complaint will be SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS! AND INABILITY TO ARTICULATE YOURSELF PROPERLY. You will be looking at a bunch of documents you were working on just the day before and can't remember what they are for! Names of people and thoughts SHOT! I am severely disappointed with Vimpat, I thought I finally hit the right drug therapy but I guess good things must come to an end. I would appreciate if anyone can suggest something new and shiny for complex partials. By the way, titration is highly unpleasant. You might have self-harm ideations as well! Try to take really early in the am and on the dot at night. A very pricey drug!"

• Die...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2020

Lacosamide for Seizures "Came off Depakote, trying to be able to function with school and normal life. Vimpat is a great drug and stopped my seizures. Way better than Keppra and Depakote. Makes me a little drowsy and tired. Also had weight gain. All in all, a very good drug for seizures."

• Pau...
• July 15, 2018

Lacosamide for Seizures "I had my first seizure 5 months ago. I’m a 44-year-old man. I’m now on Vimpat twice a day, 100 mg each time. I had a lot of side effects when I started, but I feel great now. I was very tired, needed to go to bed about 8 pm every night of the week. The tiredness is now gone. I did have a few beers when I started on Vimpat, but it didn’t work with the medication. I would suggest you stay off the beer. Vimpat has changed my life for the good, I can now think straight and have seen a big improvement in my memory. Best of luck to all."

• Who...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2013

Lacosamide for Seizures "Vimpat introduced 4 days ago at 50 mg on top of Topamax (to be phased out) and Tegretol. So far, awful. Side effects are depression, lower back pain, mood is low, irritable, sad, daydreamy, tired, anxious. I don't feel like me anymore."

• nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 13, 2014

Lacosamide for Seizures "Vimpat is the only medication I have taken for partial simple seizure. I had never had a seizure until I had a car wreck. Did not have a seizure until 4 days after the wreck. Many other anti-seizure medicines would interfere with my immunosuppressants. I only take 25 mg twice a day, but it makes me tired and forgetful. No more seizures in over a year though."

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2018

Lacosamide for Seizures "POSITIVES: I have my normal energy and personality. NEGATIVES: $750.00 for a 30-day supply with insurance! I have a little blurred vision, ringing in my ears, and short-term memory loss. (Can't remember things from the day and week and can't find words to talk well, especially in groups of people). I am 59 years old and started having multiple auras at age 56, which led to 2 grand mal seizures. Keppra made me extremely tired and anxious. Dilantin made me extremely tired, off balance, and 'high' feeling. Vimpat has worked the best with 2-150 mg pills per day."

• lau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 30, 2014

Lacosamide for Seizures "I started on Lyrica for my simple partial/partial complex seizures 5 years ago (by a previous neuro), and even though Lyrica was far from my current neuro's first choice, he decided to keep me on it. He immediately added Vimpat. For the next 8 months, I had continued frequent spontaneous seizures, and he persisted, saying we just had to find the right dosage of both. He'd change the dosage by 50 mg increases, different times of day, etc. 8 months of terrible short-term memory, lethargy, and a rainbow of different types of seizures, and as a last-ditch effort, he lowered my morning dosage by 50 mg, and I went from a zombie to me again! 5 years and I had issues only when stressed or sensory overload. But now they are sneaking back again..."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2023

For Seizures "I have nocturnal seizures, occurring only 1-2 times a year consistently. Since 2017, the only prescription medications I have taken are single anticonvulsants at a time. However, I am hypersensitive to medications, experiencing every common and rare side effect listed, except death. I did not have any health problems before taking medication, except for the occasional seizure. I have been taking Lacosamide (50 mg twice a day) since the spring of 2022, and I am tolerating it better than Keppra (which caused anger issues and more seizures) or Lamotrigine (which caused memory loss, hair loss, tremors, and other side effects). However, that is not saying much. On Lacosamide, I feel completely exhausted and lethargic 24 hours a day, which is the hardest part. I also experience dizziness, blurred vision, bad memory, difficulty focusing, hair loss, heart palpitations, and loss of interest/pleasure. Despite these side effects, I have not had any seizures for the first time in nine years. Is this as good as it gets? Honestly, I have not felt like myself since I started taking prescription medications."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2023

For Seizures "I have nocturnal seizures, occurring only 1-2 times a year consistently. Since 2017, the only prescription medications I have taken are single anticonvulsants at a time. However, I am hypersensitive to medications, experiencing every common and rare side effect listed, except death. I did not have any health problems before taking medication, except for the occasional seizure. I have been taking Lacosamide (50 mg twice a day) since the spring of 2022, and I am tolerating it better than Keppra (which caused anger issues and more seizures) or Lamotrigine (which caused memory loss, hair loss, tremors, and other side effects). However, that is not saying much. On Lacosamide, I feel completely exhausted and lethargic 24 hours a day, which is the hardest part. I also experience dizziness, blurred vision, bad memory, difficulty focusing, hair loss, heart palpitations, and loss of interest/pleasure. Despite these side effects, I have not had any seizures for the first time in nine years. Is this as good as it gets? Honestly, I have not felt like myself since I started taking prescription medications."

• djc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 6, 2021

Lacosamide for Seizures "I've had seizures since I was 8, mine were tonic-clonic on both sides of the brain. Normally, I was seeing a neurologist but didn't know there is an epilepticus doctor that just specializes in just epilepsy and can help you better. Anyway, I'm 45 now and take Vimpat and Keppra and can't sleep. I keep smelling ammonia and sometimes I feel so angry, but thank goodness I can control my rage. I get so tired sometimes I sleep until I pee myself. It is just crazy, I'd rather try to get off these meds than be on them!"