Side Effects of Anti-Convulsants
People with migraines or cluster headaches may be perscribed anti-convulsants at one point or another. As their name implies, these are drugs that were originally meant for helping people with epilespy or other conditions that cause seizures. Now, anti-convulsants are prescribed off-label for bipolar disorder, schitzophrenia, Alzheimer’s, obsessive-compulsive disorder, restless leg syndrome, drug addiction rehabilitation and pre-menstrual syndrome.
Common Anti-Convulsant Meds
These can include Stavzor, depakote, gabepentin and the big one — Topamax (topamirate).
Normal Side Effects
These include feeling dopey all of the time, having nightmares and having an increase in appetite. Many people also loose interest in sex. Your blood pressure may go down when on these, so guys — your body may not be able to pump enough blood to Mr. Happy in order to get or maintain an erection. Some people also lose their hair or get thinning hair.
Long-Term Effects
These are a little more serious. For some people, the loss of interest in sex winds up being a long-term side effect instead of a short-term side effect. Same for baldness or thinnng hair and feeling sleepy all of the time.
Perhaps the most common long-term side effect is weight gain. You feel sleepy and your appetite increases, so weight gain is kinda inevitable. You need to be sure you are eating sensibly when on thiese kinds of medications.
But you may not be that hungry, because some anti-convulsants like depakote give chronic heartburn. Yummy.
With some meds like depakote, you may need to take tests to be sure your liver is functioning properlym because the medicine could make your liver very cranky.
For a more complete look at anticonvulsant medications, I recommend taking a look at Crazy Meds.
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