Can anti-convulsants have bad mental side effects?

Question

Such as disturinb thoughts, giggliness, etc? And how to counteract them without changing meds?

Answer 1

But yes. Anticonvulscents do strange things because they operate so globally on the brain. Most of those strange things tend to go away as you're on a med. Couple of exceptions are Keppra Rage(from the anticonvulscent Keppra), 'Dopamax'(topamax's nickname for making people stupid. Zonegran can do this too). As for dealing with your side effects, you're going to have to talk to your neurologist/prescribing doctor. Giggliness sounds a lot nicer than seizures (or cycling if your bipolar).

Oh. And try www.crazymeds.us - on their forums people can give very good advice for dealing with med issues.

Answer 2

In some patients, anticonvulsants may produce usually mild side effects. Headache, nausea, and unusual tiredness and weakness are the most frequently reported side effects of anticonvulsants. Other general side effects of anticonvulsants that do not usually require medical attention include:

mild coordination problems

mild dizziness

abdominal pain or cramping

sinus pain

sleeplessness or nightmares

change in appetite

mild feelings of anxiety

feeling of warmth

tingling or prickly feeing on the skin, or in the toes and fingers

mild tremors

diarrhea or constipation

heartburn or indigestion

aching joints and muscles or chills

unpleasant taste in mouth or dry mouth

Many of these side effects disappear or occur less frequently during treatment as the body adjusts to the medication. However, if any symptoms persist or become too uncomfortable, the perscribing physician should be consulted.

Other, uncommon side effects of anticonvulsants can be serious or may indicate an allergic reaction. A patient taking any anticonvulsant who experiencs one or more of the following symptoms should contact the prescribing physician immediately:

rash or bluish, purplish, or white patches on the skin

jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

bloody nose or unusual bleeding

hallucinations (seeing visions or hearing voices that are not present)

sores in the mouth or around the eyes

ringing or vibrations in the ears

depression or suicidal thoughts

mood or mental changes, including excessive fear, anxiety, hostility

severe tremors

prolonged numbness in the extremeties

general loss of motor skills

persistent lack of appetite

altered vision

frequent or burning urination

difficulty breathing

chest pain or irregular heartbeat

faintness or loss of consciousness

persistant, severe headaches

persistant fever or pain.

DISTURBING THOUGHTS ARE LISTED UNDER THE "CONSULT A PHYSICAN LIST:SERIOUS" SO PLEASE CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND TELL THEM THE THOUGHTS... IT CAN BE A BAD SIDE EFFECT, OR ALLERGIC REACTION

Answer 3

Unfortunally, they can, as well as seziure disorders. I have epilepsy with a life history of grand mal seziures. The medications (anti-convulsants) can & do slow reactions, thinking,distirbing  thought,etc.yes, but as far as the giggliness, never had that problem.

I've taken Phenobarbitol,Dilantin & Valium for seziures almost all my life.

If you don't have to take this stuff, don't. It's nothing to expirment with.

Ask your doctor or pharmist about side effects, tell him/her how it's effecting you. You'll get better answers than from Y! Answers.